Around The World In 72 Days - Istanbul - Part II - Neighborhoods and Food

More from our fully packed day in Istanbul. 

We went to the neighborhood of Kadikoy. It turned out to be a very, work-a-day, regular kind of place. At first we were wondering what we would see of interest to photograph. But, sure enough, as we wandered the streets, we found more and more of interest.

 Kadikoy

 

 The number of ATM's lining the main road in front of the ferry terminal was mind blowing. I wonder if it has to do with the intense inflation Turkey has suffered with in recent years where people probably only want to take out the cash they immediately need so it does not lose value sitting in their pockets.

Wandering the Streets

Something about the parking lots and their offices that generated a lot of odd stuff

Architecture we've seen before in Istanbul from the late 18th to 19th century

The local food scene. We ate nothing. We were so stuffed from breakfast (see below)

A real deal Turkish bath with separate entrances for men and women

On to Beyoglu

As mentioned in the prior post, we ended up in Taskim Square which is just little ways from where we were staying in the Beyoglu area of town. Taskim is not particularly thrilling photographically. I was wondering whether we should take a taxi back to the apartment. But Google Maps (spawn of Satan that it is) said it was only a 15 minute mostly flat walk to our place. I will simply say, IT WAS NOT FLAT except for the last 20%. Despite this there was a lot to shoot.

Taksim Square

Walking down to the apartment

Eating

Travel to different countries is a constant adventure of surprises due to not fully understanding things. This was the case with having breakfast. We go to this place right across from our apartment. We ask for breakfast. The server shows us a picture. We assume we are buying one item. We are not.

Yes my friends, that is our breakfast. Cheeses, vegetables, olives, borek (savory phylo dough cake), sweet pepper spread, butter in honey, fried potatoes, fried bread, eggs with sausage, braised beef. And washed down with Turkish tea. I'm not a great tea drinker but I love Turkish tea.

This was a feast and I'm proud that Wife and I did a very respectable job finishing a good portion of this off. However, we had absolutely no appetite for anything until the early evening. Then wandering our neighborhood we came across a bunch of kebab places. Kebab in Turkish means roasted. They will have a bunch of meats on skewers like this.

You pick out what you want and they grill it for you.

You get a salad

I had spicy ground lamb while Wife had chicken wings

It was accompanied by a large fresh baked flat bread and pilaf of bulgur wheat. There was a hot, smoked chile condiment with it.

SIGNS OF THE WORLD

Pointing is Prohibited