Magically divided between Europe and Asia . . . . . .

Istanbul is magical, Istanbul is incredible, Istanbul is my new home now!

Nights 241

Istanbul is many things to many people. To me, Istanbul is my new home and I've resolved to make my stay a happy and memorable event. Seven months had passed and I am still struggling to communicate with the locals even though I'm rated the best in my household LOL! I guess its a victory considering that I don't have to wave my hands anymore when I talked to them. Either I have mastered the necessary phrase or they have given up trying to understand my 'strange accent' and pretended to understand me. Good enough for me.

Turks are truly intriguing, friendly when you get to know them, helpful when you get to know them, very 'amorous' if they don't know you and are not easy to understand if you don't know them. I have gone through a phase of disliking them to the current phase of liking them. I suppose in anywhere you live, once you get to know and understand the people and culture of the locals, you'll learn to like them, even love them. After completing reading  a book on Kemal Ataturk (by Andrew Mango),I could truly understand them and why and how they come to be in that manner today. And its really fascinating !! The history is just as magical as the city itself. Someone once described to me of the beautiful Lebanese (from Lebanon)  women. He said "Imagine that when God created women, He took one second to complete the work. For Lebanese women, He took three seconds". Ouch !! Now...where is that contact for the plastic surgeon again? In my eyes...both Lebanese men and women are gorgeous. Think Shakira and you'd get my drift.

So...I'm quite sure that when God created Istanbul, He must have given His all for all its abundance. The Bosporous being my favorites among all. It magically divides the Europe and Asia and remain a very important International water. As such, it belongs to no one but was and is still loved by all. Very thearaupetic (not sure if the spelling is right) and just looking at it will calm all the worries, stress and whatever trauma thats whirling in your little body and mind. Trust me....i'm having lots of stress and it has calmed me down all the time without fail! Try it...come to Istanbul and see for yourself. If you don't fall in love with the Bosporous..then nothing ever will. You do have my sympathy.

view from my neighborhood Sariyer....

this was taken from a retaurant while having breakfast

jetty to board a feribot to cross the Bosphorus to go to the other side, the Anatolian side 

have a breakfast....a chat...a smoke..pick your choice...its sunday morning by the Bosphorus.. 

my very own view of the Bosphorus from my balcony....don't hate me...

my fishmonger..can't get any fresher than this...can you see the boat that brought in the fish ?

i know jealousy is bad....but i am fiercely jealous of this villa owner !

there's no barrier along the Bospohorus...and cyclists have been known to ride straight into it from uphill

cheers......ala Turkce.......

not a good photo but...this is the reason why the Roman,Byzantine, Messodonians and Ottoman wanted Istanbul 

ahh...my very own Monalisa....she turns head, doesn't she !

And now spring is in the air! Ohhh...what a lovely sight...with all the blooming flowers and colorful folliage and the air smelling of strawberries and portakal ( big juicy oranges) and other fruits that I don't even know the name. There's this beautiful purple (or is it lilac) tree where the flowers completely cover the entire tree. Its just so beautiful. I understand now why all great designers come from four season countries. Every season bring new colors and theme and the beginning of spring is just like a beginning of a new life.

And don't let me start on the tulips.....wow....in all the colors of the world! Pink, purple, maroon, magenta, white, dull yellow, funky yellow, blue, black....Istanbul has them all. Do you know that tulips originated from Turkey and not Holland? During the Ottoman empire, the Sultan gave the tulips to the Dutch king as a gift and thats how Holland started their tulips commercialisation and industries. The Dutch made the tulips famous but the world hardly knew that it came from Turkey. For the last four years, the Turkish government started a campaign to create awareness for the tulips and every April is dedicated to tulip shows and promotions. I was really amazed to see how big the tulips are by May. When I first saw them in April, they were small and scrawny. Now....they are soooo huge and beautiful!

i was late in capturing the tulips as i went 'home' most of April, they are really better looking than these..

..now imagine them to be in full bloom in all the colors of the rainbow....viola !!
sorry tulips..i didnt do you justice.....

Design of tulips have been featured very widely on fabrics and garments, pottery, tradisionally famous Iznik and Kuthaya tiles, carpets and almost on everything else. (More on these products in later postings. Ladies, please be patient). Fondly known as 'lale", one Ottoman dynasty was even called a "tulip dynasty" due to the significance and love of tulips by the Sultan.

While enjoying the beauty of tulips and other flowers, I am patiently waiting for the cherries to start its season. Boy....I love cherries and will hold my breath till the day it appears.....yummy...yummmy !!