Where Two Continents Collide
Ladies and gentleman!
This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for…..
Nope…..not the Greatest Showman but….
Turkish Delight!
For those who are new to our blog, we are a fun loving team that loves to share what we do at work as well as what we experience in our daily lives! To ensure that your marketing schemes reach the right target, we believe in the need to actually understand the cultures, characteristics and the atmosphere of the place itself.
So we are bringing you on a journey that Heather recently made to the beautiful land of Istanbul. Here’s our take of trying to be….. Lonely Planet!
Heather writes:
The city where you can be at two continents at the same time, Istanbul.
Remember the team was missing in action for a few weeks back in February? I made a trip to Turkey for 10 days and I have brought so many photos and stories as souvenirs. Let me bring you on a little site seeing hopefully it will tempt you to go on a real trip to Turkey soon!
Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, a narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe physically and culturally making the city very special. While people say Turkey is not a safe country to travel, I think it is one of the best cities I’ve ever visited.
The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is located in the historical and oldest part of Istanbul, Sultanahmet. Boasting to be one of Istanbul’s most iconic historical building and an essential part of Istanbul’s skyline, this is something you should definitely check out on your trip here. Over here you get to hear the Azaan, call to prayers five times a day. The prayer area is separated into male and female areas and just a little heads up, during the prayer times, visitors are not allowed to go inside the main halls until the prayers are completed.
Another main attraction is this Galata Tower where you can see a full 360 view of the city. I loved how the cobblestone pavement gives the entire city a very historic and ancient vibe、it is almost like nothing has changed since the past!
İstiklal Caddesi is my favorite street in the city. There is a traditional tram which runs along the street for about 2 km connecting Taksim Square and the Galata tower area. This historic tram car carries very few passengers and move relatively slow, so it gives you time to look at it or even just hop on. It is a very antique tram that the captain has to constantly ring the bell to clear the pedestrians in front.
Along the street, you can find restaurants that serve very authentic Turkish Breakfast and enjoy the traditional Kaymak spread (Turkish Clotted Cream/creamy yogurt) .
If you like cooking, you’ll love this place! The Spice Bazaar is one of the city’s largest and most famous markets, second only to the Grand Bazaar. It’s also known as the Egyptian Market where you can find all the spices, nuts, dried fruits, baklava, and, of course, Turkish delight (lokum) soaked in the traditional rose water as well as just about any flavoring you can think of.
They’re stacked high in colorful mounds, not like the boring little jars we get in our supermarkets and of course you know they’re going to taste better too because it is so fresh!
If there is one thing that best reflects Istanbul, it is the Grand Bazaar. It is the largest covered market in the world and because it is so HUGE,it is absolutely normal to get lost here (I lost count on how many times I did). The variety of merchandise that you can find here is amazing: from fashion and jewelry to Turkish ceramics, carpets and textiles, from food delicacies to raw spices ; you can literally find anything and everything.
Just a little tip: Haggling is the way to go!
Tell me how can you not love these cute Turkish rugs!
Similar goods are grouped into different sections in the market. Turn a corner and you can find glass lanterns in different shapes and colors! Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is not only a shopping paradise, but also a very interesting cultural experience as well as an opportunity to discover the lives of the locals.
If you’re the sort of tourist who likes to get off the beaten path and away from the crowds, this is the place to just spend a day getting lost in the fascinating streets of the historically cosmopolitan neighborhood –
Fener and Balat. The houses are painted in a myriad of colors, washing lines are strung between buildings, kids play in the streets, and traces of Jewish, Armenian, and Orthodox communities still stand.
End the day with a cup of Turkish tea overlooking the Marmara sea.
There’s just so much more than it meets the eye. Visit Istanbul and you will know what I mean!
Have a lovely weekend ahead!
Great post 😄