Architecture of Istanbul, Turkey | Part I

The summer of 2012 found me in Istanbul, Turkey for a week. I chose Istanbul mostly because I had to leave the Shengen region of Europe which I had been inside of for too long. I found a place to stay for relatively cheap using the amazing services of airbnb.com, but the place was fairly sub-standard to most North American destinations. I would wake up in the morning and shower and there would be a slug on the shower floor, and I won’t even describe the kitchen. However, when you’re on a budget, and all you want is a place to stow your bag and rest at night, these kind of things are perfect. It turned out extra good, as the first night there I met an Australian traveler from Paris named Olivia (of Oh la la livia and Cleopatra’s Bling fame) who was staying in the same place I was. As it turned out, she had also met another Australian on her flight, Tabitha (who takes some pretty cool photographs), who lived in Paris too and was on the same quest as Olivia was. Olivia, being the friendly soul she is asked me if I’d like to join her and Tabitha to one of the Princes Islands, Burgazada I think, the next day, so there’s five photographs in a row, starting with a wood house and ending with an upward glance of a mosque minaret, from the little island. It was actually amazing because the island had very few cars, and most of the transportation was by donkey or walking.  We spent most of the afternoon sitting on a small spit of beach/cement we found at the end of a road alongside a handful of locals who couldn’t keep their eyes off of the two ladies I was with! (I found it a bit amusing and cute, they found it a bit odd and peculiar)

The other photographs are from my wanderings around the city streets. I would usually get up, and just start walking. It was so hot, I’d usually be in a tank top, shorts, and sandals all day. I’d usually leave around 1000 hrs, and get home around 1900 – 2100 hrs.

I particularly love the lighting that would come as the night closed in. It was a certain golden glow and really added to the romanticism of the place.