Gülhane Park

24 May 2006

The View from Hamdi

Hamdi Et Lokantası (Hamdi Meat Restaurant) is one of the best restaurants in Istanbul, not last for its spectacular views across to Galata, up the Golden Horn, and down to Old Istanbul. And a FABULOUS place to rest weary feet for a cold beer and smoe food in the afternoon.

It was from Hamdi's terrace that I took the shots of Galata and Yeni Camii.

Galata Bridge

Some pictures of the Galata Bridge as it is now (well, May 2006) and, below, the older bridge which burned down in 1992.

The current bridge is the 5th Galata Bridge.

Can anyone who knows Istanbul guess where the first photo was taken from??? I shall reveal it soon.

12 August 1989

A bit of Paris in Istanbul

This stand is located in the area outside the Yeni Cami.

Corn for sale

In the area outside the New Mosque

Yeni Camii (New Mosque)

New Mosque (left) and Spice Bazaar (right)

New Mosque and Spice Bazaar from Hamdi restaurant



New mosque (foreground), and Süleymaniye mosque on hill behind

Interior of New Mosque, with blue Iznik tiles

Looking out fron the New Mosque

Started in 1597 and completed in 1663. This mosque is very prominent, being located near the waterfront at one end of the Galata Bridge.

Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar)

Not only a place to get exotic spices, this market, estabblished in the early 1`7th century is a good place to stock up on miscellaneous aphrodisiacs.

It was built as pary of the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) complex, which dominates the waterfront at the foot of the Golden Horn. It was built with money paid as duty on Egypyian products, hence the name in Turkish. In English it is usually called the Spice Bazaar.

The next entry will be on the Yeni Camii.

Entrance to the Bazaar, 20 Nov 1990

Between the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar - shopping streets

The streets between the Covered (Grand) Bazaar and the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar down by the Golden Horn are always thronged with people. You can buy every imaginable household item in these streets.

Damping down the dust outside the shop.

1989 - no difference to the photos above which are from May 2006

Kapalı Çarşısı (Grand Bazaar)

Istanblue

My friend Tuncay has a shop right in the wall of the Blue Mosque. We met Tuncay when we were living in Istanbul in the early '90s when he had a carpet shop in the Covered Bazaar. Several years ago he moved out to this location, which is really gorgeous. We have several kilims, sumaks and afshars bought from Tuncay, who like the best of carpet sellers is part psychologist, part philosopher!

The view from upstairs at Tuncay's shop, looking out the little window.