Almost normal again in Istanbul
The past few days have finally started to feel normal, or at least what the new normal is going to look like . We went for a walk, just my husband and I and we spent an hour strolling through the streets of Nisantasi. A whole hour of walking with no purpose, other...
Istanbul’s Lockdown is almost over
Istanbul has been under partial lockdown for over two months. Weekly two to four day curfews followed by a few days of relatively busy streets, with people hurrying to stock up on groceries before the next curfew. Citizens aged over 65 years and under 20 years old,...
Spring in Istanbul
In Istanbul, spring arrives slowly and summer starts abruptly. The rain continues throughout the beginning of spring, so while many travel blogs and guides, recommend trips on the Bosphorus at this time of year, it could be a chilly ride without a water proof jacket....
Doorways and portals
Istanbul has some interesting looking doors along its oldest streets and it is amazing to think that people have been living behind those same doors for centuries. Each generation has stepped out into the street each day, witnessed history and then gone back inside...
Ostrich eggs, spiders and surprises
Istanbul is often described as magical because of its history and scenery. It is also magical in more ordinary ways, especially when disappointments turn into pleasant surprises. The bad tempered taxi driver uncomplainingly carries heavy luggage up the stairs, the...
Location!Location!Location!
On arrival in Istanbul, the hotel choices seem infinite. When we had our Big Fat Turkish wedding, I was a foreign bride oblivious to the fact that the number of hotels in Istanbul was equivalent to the number of stars in the universe. At least that's what I heard from...
Belgrad Forest – Istanbul’s Big Green Space
After six weeks of living in Istanbul, the reality of its sprawl and 17 million people, started to feel ever so slightly claustrophobic. The autumn rain didn’t help and the children were arguing. When the sun came out briefly, I decided to put the children and the...
Bread & Burger
Bebek Mahallesi Manolya Sokak 12/A Bebek, Beşiktaş (0212) 265 00 57 Instagram: Bread & Burger www.breadandburger.com.tr
Bahçeköy Merkez Mahallesi
Bahçeköy Merkez Mahallesi, 34453 Sarıyer/Istanbul (0212) 226 13 14 www.istanbul.ormansu.gov.tr
envai
Bebek Mh., Cevdet Paşa Cd. 57/B, 34342 Beşiktaş/İstanb (0212) 265 29 91 Instagram - envai_bebek
How to Gatecrash an Armenian Wedding
So, I should make it clear that I never actually gatecrashed the wedding. It just felt like I did! I received an official invitation, but I miscalculated spectacularly. I knew that I had misjudged the whole thing, just the minute I walked into the church and saw the...
Real housewives of Istanbul
Let me start this piece with one word: bleach. When it comes to the real housewives of Istanbul (or anywhere in Turkey), bleach takes the top spot on their cleaning supplies shelf. Every single surface in a Turkish home has to be touched by bleach, otherwise it can...
Is the School Bus Driver Really a Pirate?
As it turns out, the school bus driver is definitely not a pirate. He does look like one though, especially because of his beard (with beads in it), his silver earrings in both ears and his thick, dark hair in a pony tail. When he waves hello, every finger has a ring...
Don’t be Confused by Cheese
What do you know about the town of Baliksehir? Most people won’t even know where it is located. But I can tell you one thing that will make your inner gourmet want to visit this Turkish town right away. Over fifty varieties of cheese are produced here. My husband’s...
How to find a good doctor in Istanbul
I landed in Istanbul five months into my pregnancy. I had been seeing an obstetrician-gynaecologist in the U.S.A, during my first trimester and couldn’t have been happier with him. The ultrasound showed a healthy development and we already knew that we were expecting...
Following cats down alleyways…(or sometimes not?)
Last Sunday, I stepped out into a street in Bebek and did not see a cat. I went in search of a coffee instead and nipped into the nearest Starbucks. Starbucks isn’t my favourite, but there is one in almost every city and it works just fine if I run out alternatives...
How Babies Arrive in Istanbul
My hospital room, or I'd rather call it a suite, resembled a five star hotel. The view from the window was breathtaking and it all felt calm and serene, except for the noise. The crowd in the waiting room was getting louder and I wondered if there was a medical...
Turkish mother in law
Throw the Lonely Planet into the trash and don’t bother with the expat facebook group. If you want to learn how to live properly in Istanbul, then acquire a Turkish mother in law. It is not a choice. You will have one (or a collection of Turkish mother-n laws) who...