It’s
one of the dozens of reasons I keep returning to Istanbul. It’s as if some mystical
force keeps pulling me back in; or maybe it’s simply the pure beauty of the
Bosphorus.
Whatever
the reason, I’ve decided to make another visit to Istanbul later in September.
Yesterday, I booked my tickets and then started looking through three years
worth of photos since it was a chilly, rainy day here in Warsaw. I realized how much photo editing still remains to be
done.
One
of the recurrent images in these photos is the city’s bridges – the Bosphorus Bridge,
Fatih Sultan Memhet Bridge (the second bridge), Galata Bridge and the lesser
known ones that span the Golden Horn. At night, the first two suspension
bridges always are lit up with colorful lights ranging from solid colors to a
full rainbow. (Hmm...I wonder if the Turkish government will end up banning the
bridge’s rainbow colors after the recent debacle around the rainbow-painted
steps in the Fındıklı-Cihangir nieghborhood.)
Anyway,
you’ll find hundreds of restaurants with prime locations along the water or on
the city’s hilltops where you can gaze at the bridges while you eat your Turkish mezes.
We often took visitors to Reina and the manmade island of SuAda for their views when we lived in
Istanbul. Last year, we also enjoyed a splendid dinner at Ulus 29 for our second
wedding anniversary and watched the lights change on the Bosphorus Bridge.
 |
| Looking out from SuAda to the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. |
It’s
interesting to think about how many of my memories end up revolving around the
city’s bridges. I never realized it until I started looking through all our
photos yesterday.
Vapur rides.
Visits from family and friends.
Special dinners.
Turkish breakfasts on the weekend.
Goodbyes.
So
I hope you enjoy my trip down memory lane. Soon, I’ll have some new memories
from Istanbul to share with you.
 |
| The Bosphorus Bridge at dusk as seen from a park just north of Ortaköy. |
 |
| The rainbow colors displayed on the Fatih Sultan Memhet Bridge. |
 |
| Looking out over the Golden Horn from Mikla's rooftop bar. |
 |
| View of Fatih Sultan Memhet Bridge from Tapasuma Restaurant on the Asian side. |
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11 comments:
My boyfriend took me to Reina, it was amazing party! We were also in Suada, we ate delicious supper there, I will never forget this moments.. :) What I like also about this places, they are full with foreign people :)
@Vixen, Happy to hear you had fun! I always found a mix of people at these places - Turkish and yabanci. :-)
I love reading your posts about Istanbul! Having visited the place only once, I still can't stop thinking about it, and hoping for a next trip asap! My friends, who haven't been there, look at me strangely, saying "you have been once, saw whatever there was to be seen, now go somewhere else", but I am being pulled by the same mystical forces to think about those bridges, my favorite Galata, and can't wait to be there again! I just wish I could live there, at least for some time, to be able to see as much as possible, and learn the language! Until then, I will dream while reading your beautiful posts........
@Svetlana, Even living in Istanbul for 3 years wasn't even time to see everything I wanted to! The city changes as the seasons do. Always something to discover on those little side streets. I definitely recommend a return trip! :-)
Also, try and check airfares with Pegasus, Turkish Air, Sun express. Sometimes you can get some really good deals in advance, depending on where you are coming from.
Yes, Joy, that is what I would like to see, seasons changes in Istanbul, must be awesome! I am based in London, so plenty of airlines to fly with, just have to be a bit more organised and, hopefully, get there soon. If I am optimistic, I think autumn should be really nice, fingers crossed :)
Those are beautiful photos! The first one is stunning!
it sounds like fall has landed in warsaw! we are still hot and sticky here. the bridges are beautiful! we live in the city of bridges and i love them all. can't wait to see what you do when you go back to istanbul!
@Svetlana, yes, Sept. and Oct. are still really nice in Istanbul!
@Moe, sometimes you just get lucky with a great shot! ;-)Can't wait to see those painted stairs soon!
@Joyce, Yep, until Wednesday, fall weather is definitely here! At least, the sun returns just in time for our friends visiting us from Istanbul.
Gorgeous, each one is postcard perfect! Great shots :)
Indeed mesmerising, gorgeous shots Joy!
@Sara Louise & Ozlem, thanks so much! I'll have to get some new shots later this month in Istanbul! :-)
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