"My Favorita" Istanbul by diageva

Istanbul Travel Guide: 7,626 reviews and 19,444 photos

Istanbul

MY FIRST TIME

In a terrible summer for Turkey...

18 of August of 1999.

I arrived to Istanbul 2 days after the 7.4 earthquake that devastate Turkey. A terrible summer that surely will be remember by Turkish people for long time.

I bought the tickets the day after the earthquake, I was going to meet my turkish boyfriend there and, as the communications where down, I couldn't speak with him to cancel the travel. So, telling in my house that I was going wedding in Madrid, I did my package and went to Istanbul alone without knowing what I was going to find there and if I was going to be able to meet my boyfriend, that the day before the earthquake was at Ankara and from who I new nothing from days.

I took a plane from Madrid to Istanbul with 6 turkish men, a woman with 2 children and me. In the airport someone was going to pick me to take me to the hotel. I remember that I crossed a bridge and arrived to Marmara Hotel. I love this hotel.

At night the streets where full of people … no one wanted to be at their houses because of the fair of another earthquake. There where no tourists so I saw a different Istanbul. No tourists at the Bazar or anywhere more. Many museums where closed. But no problem ... I did find a incredible beautiful city of a very warm people. I don't need to go to museums when I visit a city, but to see people ...

I walked throught the streets eating dry fruits .. went to very nice restaurants at the shore of the Bosphorus ... make new friends ... and ... take the imagen of Istanbul at my heart for ever

SECOND TIME

Just beautiful

March 2005

It was my second time to visit this city. I was afraid to destroy the imagen I kept at my memory of this city ... I did have it as my favorita ... and I was afraid to find it was not so great ... BUT ... THIS TIME WAS BETTER ...

Walking along Galata's bridge with the mosque's siluets and callings, all so full of life ... I couldn't think of a place more beautiful than this one. If there is anothere place as great as this I will like to know it ...

When I travel I do look for feeling as I felt at Istanbul ... with all my sence so full of beautiful things ... I was just then the happiest woman.

PEOPLE

People

Once again people is one of the things that make a place what it is.

You will always find turkish people wanting to speak with you. Of course they will want to take you to their stores to sell you something, but I feel that more than that they are happy to speak and to chare a tee or coffee.

Hospitality is something that goes with turkish people. Don't close yourself in a group without speaking with local people, that is more important than visiting monuments.

Don't come to this page for monuments tips. Despite Istanbul is so so full of beautiful monuments and so rich ... I founded my self walking around without wanting to get inside nowhere but living each minunt I had at the streets.

Specials thanks to Selami (Badelo) for the time he spend with me at his beautiful city.

Pros and Cons

Pros:The most beautiful and magic place I have been

Last visit to Istanbul: Mar 2005
Intro Updated Apr 4, 2005
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Comments (13)

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ozhanu Jul 4, 2005 at 7:02 AM

Thanks for your good comments about Istanbul. I felt blue while I was reading. I didnt this beautiful city for 2,5 years. You can see the modernism and civilization there which means west and middle east. A dream city.
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viny32 May 6, 2005 at 3:19 PM

I really like the 2 guys picture Go on! Vincent
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dr.firas May 2, 2005 at 8:16 AM

Wonderful start of one of my favorite ten cities :-)) and by the way, that dog in your new picture is so cutie, and looks like one dog I adore with the name *Holly* :-D maybe its her brother!!!
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MalenaN Apr 8, 2005 at 11:59 PM

Istanbul is really a city to return to, over and over again!
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jenniferchin Apr 5, 2005 at 2:39 AM

Beautiful !!! Istanbul also calls me ... one day ....
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Erkmen Mar 31, 2005 at 10:39 PM

Can I use your "Second time " comments on my page...
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SirRichard Mar 31, 2005 at 1:27 PM

Favirita? Preciosa picture of the boy, the seagull, the ferries and the Istanbul silhouette, U R an artist, prima!
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aadil Dec 11, 2004 at 10:01 PM

No pictures and nothing else but two hotel tips?!!! That's really strange to see on your pages!!! Hope you show us some more of this beautiful place!!!
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gilabrand Oct 19, 2004 at 2:38 PM

Greetings from Jerusalem!
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KIZGINdamdakiKedi Jun 19, 2004 at 6:36 PM

We will never forget that 17 August !Most painful day of Turchia! but anyway,thanks for the nice compliments about my lovely country's lovely people.still w/the turkish boy friend? how curious i am !!! :-)