Istanbul - City of Contrasts by brewgirlca
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Description
Now I bring you back to Turkey, I hope you do not mind. Last time I showed you some ancient cities in western Turkey, now I will show you some of Istanbul. Many think that Istanbul is the capital of Turkey; it was for a very long time, but after the revolution the capital was moved to Ankara, which was the headquarters of Ataturk.
I love this city, and I will tell you some bits about it over the next several slides. It is wonderful to be in a city that is so old and yet still so alive. It was established in 657 BC, can you believe that? It was founded by a Greek general named Byzas hence its original name Byzantium.
On my first morning in Turkey I was awakened at 4:30 by what I first thought was a guests radio playing too loud, but then realized it was Adhan, the call to prayer. I have to tell you it was one of the most hauntingly beautiful moments of my life to hear my first live Adhan, in Istanbul, that morning. It was pitch dark and so I could not see anything and all I could do was listen. Even though "sung" in Arabic it could not fail to move you.
This is from my hotel room at about 7:00 AM when I got up. And you can see the mosque with its minerat where the call was made. And right across the street from the mosque was a huge arty advertisement for women's lingere plastered on two sides of a building! Isn't that just so cool?
What a perfect juxtaposition of culture and indeed what a welcome to Istanbul, a city of contrasts where the ancient and traditional literally live right next door to modern Euro chic styles.
I hope you join me while I here explore Istanbul for a while.
Comments (26)
Apparently there is a bit of progress in Turkey in relation to the rest of the world. Great photo and cool description fo the city! I am looking forward to seeing and learning more
This is truly a marvelous place Roxy, incredible capture, the colors are marvelous, superb photo and information, thank you for sharing!
It's sort of cool that the large modern skyscraper there in the back center has domes at the top. I'd imagine the views from up there are amazing. That is a huge flag draped on the side of that building. What a great place and a wonderful image :) Thank you for sharing Roxy and I too look forward to more!
Love the diversity, bring it on!
What a wonderful view of the city! Interesting the Mosgue across the street from that Bill board but it does look like a fairly modern city. Looking forward to see ing more.
Rayvn: There are a lot more contrasts seen here that I was going to write about but seemed a bit long already. Briefly: yes the huge red flag against the blue building; one of the most densely populated cities in the world but still have lots of parks and trees; the domes sitting on top of the rectangular towers and these imitating mosque domes and yet on modern office buildings; the vibrant clashing colors and yet they seem in harmony here. I thought Americans flew the flag proudly in abundance but Turkey puts America to shame in how much they display their flag. That huge flag on the office tower is not atypical and whole hillsides will be covered in rock or flower flags.
This is a magnificent photo, you captured this amazing city so well Roxy
Beautiful City View!! Roxy-sensei
what an extremely exciting and colorful vantage point. It's almost as if the city is in a dance with itself! A tremendous capture -- I love it.
As a member of the Paleologos family, the last Byzantium dynasty who lost the city to the Turks, it always moves me to hear about Istanbul. An amusing detail is that Constantine Dragases Paleologos and Mehmet II were cousins! Their grand-mothers were sisters from the Paleologos family. Great picture!
This must have benn a fascinating experience in the morning. We Westerners know so little of the oriental cultures (so how do we dare to judge them by our own standards I wonder sometimes when I read the news?). I have never been to Turky before. The blend of modern style building with the bright colors of the oriental style mix well!
It's cool that you the perspective to show us the "cool" side of diversity.
wow! tremendous photo hon.
Thanks for sharing...
I like all the colors and it is nice to see more than just the side of another building staring back when you look out your window. Beautiful and some nice narration... great info. Thanks for sharing this Roxy.
Wonderful capture and information!!!
Beautiful city and cityscpae! Wonderful capture!!!
Wonderful shot!
excellent
Beautiful capture :O-)
Awesome
The Mosque, all by itself, surrounded by such tall and modern buildings nears the height of contrast. The lingerie ad adds some irony to image. I could only imagine the uproar if such an ad were placed across the street from a church in the States. Who knows, maybe there is one somewhere, but I doubt it. Beautiful city and it's nice to see such large trees among the buildings. I look forward to seeing more. Thanks for the journey.
It's wonderful to see this city through your eyes, Roxy! I'm looking forward to more, indeed! Quite a contrast indeed - a city established 657 years BC, with satellite dishes on nearly every roof.... You've gotta love it!
Great view of this city, Roxy!! The old and new seem to mix in a good manner!! :o)
Outstanding capture Roxy.
Such a colourful city with modern architecture, Clive