Istanbul-Europe

Modesty dressed and ready for Islamic Turkey.

Istanbul has a population of almost 21 million people and the 3rd or 4th largest Airport in the world.

Some pics in airport.

Interestingly,  sections of this exotic city falls into two separate Continents, Europe and Asia.

The European section is larger, with around two thirds of the population living in  that huge, bustling city.

Huge crowds in the Grand Bazaar.

The European side also attracts the vast majority of visitors, so traffic jams are the order of the day.

Incidentally, we paid around twenty Euros more from the airport to the city, than when we were returning. The explanation for this anomaly was that airport taxis use toll roads while regular ones don't. 

I don't believe tolls make such a big difference though!😡

To tell the truth, I can't see why so few people travel to the Asian side, as while there may not be as much to see over there, I find it calmer and the food is just as good.

On the ferry, heading to the Asian side.

 The bridge joining both sides is visible behind me.

And talking about food, the Turks treat their stray dogs and cats as well as the Greek do, so you don't see any mangey, skinny animals in either country, as all are friendly and well fed.

This cat had dinner with me.

 There is no difference with how people are treated on either side of Istanbul (whether Europe or Asia) for all are Turks, regardless of where they were born or live.

(I have a separate blog on the Asian side at :https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2024/04/istanbul-asia.html?m=1.)

 Below are pictorial memories of the European side.

They seem to be very patriotic, as huge flags are on buildings all over the city.

We melted in with the crowd😁

Whoever is delivering the 'message ' in the mosque each day, stands atop the stairs 

Mosques galore all over the city. Loud recordings from the tower remind Muslims of their prayer times. 

 It's 5 times per day.

Everything under the sun is available at the Grand Bazaar.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised that things are not as restrictive in Istanbul as the western media implies about Muslim countries.

Women pray behind this partition

In Istanbul women are active in every profession from the army, police, taxi drivers immigration, everywhere, and they don't have to be modestly dressed or covered from head to toe, unless they wish to or are attending prayers. 

So I saw lots of women roaming around skimpily dressed. No problem at all.

The Sultan who built the famous Blue Mosque and his family are buried in this special area next door.

Hot, freshly roasted corn is very popular there.

A favorite of mine😊.

The guys selling ice cream cones made it into an hilarious ritual🤣

Everyone entered the Grand Bazaar here. I guess giris is Greek for entry . We thought it was girls and wondered why men were entering through that side.😁

Check this blog for further info.

https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2024/04/proud-of-turkish-women.html?m=1

Proud of Turkish women

Turkey, though a Muslim country, is far more liberal than I expected, as you see women involved in every type of activity.

At least in Istanbul.

There, I  saw very few covered heads outside the mosques and even saw a few girls in really short shorts on the streets.

We supported their fund raising effort, buying bracelets with Palestinian flags 

The only real distinction I saw was in the mosques where the prayer section for females is not open and they have much smaller spaces for this.

     Modesty clad Indonesian Muslim women. That's how I visualized Turks too😊

Clearly the type of reports you see about women in Muslim countries, does not prevail in Istanbul.

It was great too, to see that the majority of people active in Sultanahmet Square, in Istanbul, not only to publicly standing with and showing support for the people of Gaza where especially women and children are being massacred by the Israelis, but they were also raising funds to help feed them.

For as you know, a vast number of Gazans are being starved to death too.

For it's not too many places outside of campuses, that you see every day people showing concern about the terrible massacre occuring in Gaza.

 At this venue, the dominant leaders were definitely ladies.

Later the women were joined by a formal group of men for what appeared to be speeches and some kind of concert.

Proud of them.

Istanbul-Asia

Istanbul, the beautiful exotic city which is over 3000 years old, has a population of more 20 million, of which 2/3rds live on the European side and a third on the Asian side.

Our tour group comprised of two Jamaicans, two Austrians, and a British Couple. It was a friendly group led by Turkish students, Emre who lives on the Asian side and Burrak who lives on the European side.

It was am interesting , wonderful and educational tour.

I didn't find an 'Asian' look as over time, as both sides appear to have integrated totally so look rather similar.

However, I personally prefer the Asian side, as it attracts far fewer tourists, so is less congested.

There are  three distinct sections, Muslim, Christians (mainly people of Armenian descent who were mostly followers of the Roman Catholic faith) and Jews. 

However we were informed that while this was how it was originally, its mostly older Jews and Catholics who remain now.

 The synagogue was recently vandalized due to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, so it is being repaired.

As Turks tend to be mostly Muslims, every square has several elegant mosques. 

This is a modern mosque built by the current government.

In the olden days,  Muslims knew when it was "prayer time" based on the position of the sun. This plaque shows how.

The Bosphorus Strait separates Istanbul's European from the Asian side.

Numerous ferries take residents and visitors across daily. It's about a 20 minute ride.

You get a great view of European and Asian Istanbul from the Strait.

A community garden. You can only reap if you sow!

Fresh sardines. Had only seen tinned ones before😊

Where you wash up before entering a mosque 

The European side behind us.

A Turkish submarine heading to the Black Sea

Six streets converge here

A street of lamps

A Christian church