Istanbul - To Stay
Istanbul - To Do
Istanbul - To Eat
Istanbul - To Do
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*View from the train crossing the Galata Koprusu bridge back*
*Asian Squat as I was told. Updated version from
Battery Point Lookout of SFO bridge, 06April2016.*
*These weren't the actual colored steps but we better get a shot if we couldn't find it. It was just down this very very steep slope.*
*Approx 20TL/pax*
*This picture paints a thousand words.*
ABBATips:
- Getting into town is relatively easy, but getting out was near impossible. Uber wasn't having any of the jams and we had to quickly find out how to travel back via public. (Some drivers even bargain on a price before accepting the pickup especially when heavy jam into tourist locations. These range from what would have cost TL50 - to TL200/300 or more.)
- Uber Vs flagged down taxi. There are many scams involving taxi charges. Even with taxis, they often negotiate for flat rates. Uber riders do that too. Always go by the running meter and if you have to by pay cash in taxi, make sure of the change you give as there have been instances of switch-a-roos. You had a 50TL but they claim is a 5TL. Vice-versa for returned change.
- Getting into town is relatively easy, but getting out was near impossible. Uber wasn't having any of the jams and we had to quickly find out how to travel back via public. (Some drivers even bargain on a price before accepting the pickup especially when heavy jam into tourist locations. These range from what would have cost TL50 - to TL200/300 or more.)
- Uber Vs flagged down taxi. There are many scams involving taxi charges. Even with taxis, they often negotiate for flat rates. Uber riders do that too. Always go by the running meter and if you have to by pay cash in taxi, make sure of the change you give as there have been instances of switch-a-roos. You had a 50TL but they claim is a 5TL. Vice-versa for returned change.
- Public transport is your best bet from crowded city centers. The system is a
stored value card and can be used by multiple pax. i.e one person taps for all to go through and it was priced at 8TL per ride. Whenever
exit and entry of another mode is another 8TL for that ride segment.
Similar to public system in Barcelona. E.g. We took tram, metro and a
station change = 8TLx3.
Istanbul - Area of Balat
(approximately 4.1km from the Grand Bazaar)
(approximately 4.1km from the Grand Bazaar)
Balat can be summarized: An artsy, Euro/Greek, Instagrammable haven. Locally speaking, think Haji Lane Singapore mashup with Peranakan colored house Singapore with a little Euro flare. Its a little aways from the main cluster of attractions in Istanbul but this area is well worth it!
ABBATip:
- Start from Yildirim Caddesi street and work your round circuit towards Vodina Caddesi, followed by the anchor point attractions. This seemed to the common entry point as soon after many other tour groups started to appear.
- Start from Yildirim Caddesi street and work your round circuit towards Vodina Caddesi, followed by the anchor point attractions. This seemed to the common entry point as soon after many other tour groups started to appear.
Below are some of the key anchor attractions people go to and enjoy everything in-between. There are tons of photography options, little cafes with cats and more.
Thou
it was labeled specifically as such but it wasn't unique to that
specific location. Most of the architecture along the way were
beautifully colored and each had their unique look and feel. Very much
like actual movie sets and moving from location to location.
Battery Point Lookout of SFO bridge, 06April2016.*
Just for the experience of it all. Its reminiscent of SFO's castro rainbow crossing.
Turkish Coffee at Anadolu
Nargile Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi
Nargile Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi
Click here for ABBA location Anadolu Nargile Çorlulu Ali Paşa Medresesi
So while researching for good, authentic Turkish coffee, this place was eventually shortlisted for its close proximity to the grand bazaar as well as the overall 'authentic atmosphere with Shisha smoke filling the air whilst in Istanbul.
So while researching for good, authentic Turkish coffee, this place was eventually shortlisted for its close proximity to the grand bazaar as well as the overall 'authentic atmosphere with Shisha smoke filling the air whilst in Istanbul.
Ordered On
29Oct22
29Oct22
*This picture paints a thousand words.*Come for the atmosphere, try one traditional coffee at least (probably not to our pallets) but order the tea. Perhaps there are better locations for great Turkish coffee, but the sediments, flavors were a total miss for our pallets.
Ending the rest of the day trip with
Grand Bazzar
Grand Bazzar
