Anticipation

Istanbul Ferry to Kabatas

Come for a ride on one of my favorite delights of Istanbul.

Forget Me Not

I'm home. All is well, except my computer. I need a new one. So, even though I have lots of thoughts and pictures to share of Istanbul, it will have to wait. It could be up to 2 weeks before my new computer is here and running. I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't forget me. I'll be thinking of you. xoxo

Turkish Friends

triple: my favorite 3-legged dog. we met last october

misty: tiny hunter of seagulls

sylvester: winner of the most charming cat award

bongo: sweet, half-tailed ghost of the music district

bodhisattva: subway guardian, offering salvation in disguise

Glimpses Of Istanbul 3

Glimpses Of Istanbul 2

carve flowers out of rubble

Where fantasy meets reality,

let the true work begin.

From that beginning,

carve flowers out of rubble.

Praise the pain and the petal.

Mosque Graveyard

Off the beaten stone road, tucked behind the tourist traps, a little garden of art commemorating the wealthy patrons of a neighborhood mosque. Gravestone words written in Arabic script, approximately 200 hundred years old.

Basilica Cistern, Istanbul

This underground cistern was built by Byzantine Emperor Justinianus (527 to 565). 140 meters wide, by 70 meters long, with 336 marble columns, each 9 meters in height. The capacity is 100,000 tons of water storage. 2 Medusa heads were taken from unknown locations and used as the base of 2 columns. The heads are the highlight attraction for most visitors.

For me it was the fish. Big carp, little carp and a few ginormous ones, all swimming and dodging coins in an almost perfect environment.

The English translation pamphlet sums up the experience of the cistern adventure best:

"The cistern, like in the past, has been going on its survival adventure with fish everywhere. The visitors melt into disappearance when they are here in the cistern to see the Medusa head, in accompany of fish and smoothing music."

And there you have it.

Glimpses Of Istanbul

blue mosque hiding

grape hyacinth

daily propane delivery

female riot police at a protest rally

recycling paper:  pick up by over-sized hand cart

my compulsion

imagined glamour at the street-side cafe: 

resting with my bag of lunch meat for cats.

Fussing and Feeding

Without missing a beat, I am at it again. Fussing and feeding the stray cats of Istanbul. I have met some terribly ill ones (the grey and white in photo #2) who may not see the summer arrive. I have met some charmers who showed up on my balcony just in time to lick the plate and walk into the room, don't-mind-if-I-do. And the trio down the street: the kitten, the almost-mother and the white with 3 legs, they waited for kibble that couldn't be found and settled for pre-packaged lunch meat instead.

The cats I discover tomorow will feast on Champion chicken bits, divided in baggies and stashed in my purse, ready to dole on demand. There are alot of mouths to feed and most seem surprisingly well off. It is unnecessary for me to fuss. But it is impossible to hold back. Aside from the Gypsy King, the cats in the streets are my greatest Turkish delight. 

Lale (LAH-Lay)

Emirgan Korusu park, on the European side of Istanbul. Land of tulips (lale) and picnics.

The Tulip Hotel