""Been a long time gone, Constantinople" " a Istanbul Travel Page by terrycowan

"Istanbul" 1953

Words by Jimmy Kennedy
Music by Nat Simon

Lyrics:

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works
That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul

I have been fortunate enough to visit Istanbul twice: in the summer of 2003 with my best friend Bill, and in the summer of 2004 with my son, John. In my estimation, Istanbul is one of the most fascinating, incredible, intoxicating cities on earth. History literally oozes from the pores of the city--but Istanbul is no museum piece; it is vibrant and bustling.

On my first visit to the city, my friend Bill somehow remembered the words to the old 1953 song above. He started singing it as we walked down the streets. The stupid song stuck in my own mind and I ended up humming it for days.

A first visit to Istanbul will invariably center around Sultanahmet. And this is as it should be--this is the old city, the original Constantinople. In a short walk, one can visit the Aya Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Cisterns, the Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar.

By all means, do not leave the city without seeing these sites, but there is much more to Istanbul. Visit Beyoglu, the old European quarter with its classical architecture and stroll up the Istiklal Caddesi from the Galata Tower to Taksim Square. Visit the most over-the-top baroque pile in all of Europe--Dolmabache Palace. Visit the Chora Church and view some of the most sublime mosaics and frescoes to be found anywhere. Hop a ferry across the Bosphorus into Asia. Or just wander the streets and get into the rhythm of the place. After a while, even the Sultanahmet carpet hawkers and shoeshine bandits no longer annoy. In short, Istanbul is a vibrant city, steeped in history and situated in a stunning locale. On top of that, I enjoyed meeting Turks and found them to be engaging, generous and gracious.