Monday, October 29, 2012

The streets in Istanbul are still fairly quiet. 

Families have been celebrating a long holiday weekend together since last week. Last Wednesday marked the Muslim celebration of Kurban Bayrami (Eid el-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice). Luckily, I missed seeing any sheep being sacrificed after returning from our U.S. trip.

Then, today, the 29th of October, is Cumhuriyet Bayramı (Republic Day) in Turkey, which marks the 89th birthday of the Turkish Republic. You can find the Turkish flag displayed with pride everywhere throughout the city. A nearby hospital's flag covered at least four stories on the front of the building. 
This is a great view of the Galata and Pera area in Istanbul.
You can see many Turkish flgas displayed here even on the Galata Tower.
Hope everyone has been enjoying the holidays in Turkey or wherever you might be! How do you celebrate the bayramlar with your family?

Cumhuriyet Bayramı Kutlu Olsun!

Here are more photos from last year's Cumhuriyet Bayramı in Istanbul: Turkiye'ye Kutlu Olsun!

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5 comments:

Julia said...

We've just got back from the start of a torchlight procession through Fethiye. So pretty. The first time we've made it up there and glad we went. Also too delivery of a wedge of goat from our friends last night, so all good. :) Have a good one.

Ozlem's Turkish Table said...

Merhaba Joy :) Mutlu Bayramlar!! I wonder if they still do the torchlight procession by the Bosphorus in Istanbul? I remember some neat fireworks displays too, enjoy it!
You have been at my recent blogpost, greatly enjoy your post, and so glad to meet you:)
x Ozlem

BacktoBodrum said...

We feel at bit guilty that we stayed in the village and missed the torchlight procession in Bodrum. It was blowing a gale so goodness knows how the torches stayed alight.

Joy said...

@Julia, I bet the procession was amazing. I didn't realize they did this in Istanbul too but we drove by it later at night near Besiktas.

@Ozlem, they do, but we couldn't see the fireworks from where we were unfortunately.

@BacktoBodrum, It rained very heavy later on that night in Istanbul too. Better to be indoors then.

gezilecek yerler said...

Turks are quite patriotic.