A Charming City , NEVER sleeps, Istanbul…..

From the North-Western Turkey within the Marmara Region, and by the beauty of nature and fresh air, the charming Istanbul overlooks ….Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosphorus strait (which separates Europe and Asia).

Turkey is bounded on the north by the Black Sea, on the northeast by Georgia and Armenia, on the east by Azerbaijan and Iran, on the southeast by Iraq and Syria, on the southwest and west by the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, and on the northwest by Greece and Bulgaria.

Charming Istanbul is the largest and most important city in Turkey, and is the tourist, economic and cultural centre of Turkey, with its historical monuments and wonderful natural scenery, from Islamic civilization during the Ottoman Empire period until the present.

After a long-time thinking, about where I can go on May – my annual leaves for this month, Istanbul was the best place to travel , the talk came after what I read on Instagram, Istanbul was the most beautiful destinations and the first place from the most wonderful city on the world as a replied for question asked by “Matador”  famous tourism website under the title of “Which is the world’s most beautiful city” and Istanbul was the first choice for most people whos want to go to tourism, according to a competition organized by “Chelsea Monthly” magazine.

From the first day, the company representative met me once I arrived to the airport to transfer me to the hotel, and during the pass,  I kept my eyes open to watch the wonderful nature, sea, and many things until I arrived to the hotel.

From early morning, I was ready to start my vacation, I want to see Istanbul from the first hours, I want to interested for everything , and after I took my breakfast, I want out under normal temperature, fresh air, soft voice, it’s just look like dream land.

At the first time for this day, I visited The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, was completed in 1617 just prior to the untimely death of its then 27-year old eponymous patron, Sultan Ahmet I. The mosque dominates Istanbul’s majestic skyline with its elegant composition of ascending domes and six slender soaring minarets, after that to to Aya Sofia, one of the historical architectural wonders that still remains standing today, has an important place in the art world with its architecture, grandness, size and functionality.

More and more, I missed The Bosphorus bridge which connects the European section and Asian section of Istanbul.

The Bosphorus is the water bridge connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Marmara. It generally extends in the northeast-southwest direction and divides the city of Istanbul into the European side and the Anatolian side. The settlement area spread on both sides of the Bosphorus is called Bosphorus.

Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque of Istanbul built by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century, until I arrived to Dolmabahch Palace was built in the mid-19th century along the Bosphorus and used as final residence of the Ottoman sultans.

Despite the large number of traffic  and the transport crisis on the streets, Istanbul has big public transportation network on the world.

After that, I visited Taksim Square is the most known modern city center of Istanbul. Many hotels and restaurants are in or near the Square and on Istiklal Street, and there is a local bus terminal for public transportation and the main subway station. Istiklal pedestrian street has many bars, night clubs and movie theaters therefore it’s always busy with young people almost for 24 hours a day, and I stayed there overnight.

The next day was started from Al Fatih , district is located in the historical part of Istanbul, it offers the oldest and also the biggest market place of the city.

The Fatih was the first great imperial mosque built in İstanbul following the Conquest. Mehmet the Conqueror chose to locate it on the hilltop site of the ruined Church of the Apostles, burial place of Constantine and other Byzantine emperors.

After that, I arrived to Galata Bridge, The oldest recorded bridge over the Golden Horn was built as a simple one in 1453 during the Turkish siege of the city. The Galata Bridge was a symbolic link between the old Istanbul at Eminonu neighborhood, site of the imperial palace and principal religious and secular institutions of the Ottoman Empire, and the districts of Galata, Beyoglu, Sisli and Harbiye where a large proportion of the inhabitants were non-Muslims and where foreign merchants and diplomats lived and worked. In this respect the bridge connected these two distinctive cultures.

And from Galata Bridge to Galata Tower, one of the highest and oldest towers of Istanbul, the tower houses a cafeteria on top, there was also a night club which is closed down after the last restoration in 2013.

After that, I arrived to Topkapi Palace, this enormous palace was the Imperial residence of Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years.

As a traditional markets and bazaars were world-famous, they had a share of my trip, and the most important one was The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world

From the markets and bazaars to the Bosphor again, especially to Kabatash, is a quarter of Beyoglu municipality  in Istanbul, Turkey. It is situated on the European shore of the Bosphorus, between Beşiktaş and Karakoy.

And continued to  Princess Islands which are a combination of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. Motorists are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to the local municipality for public works, therefore you have to walk or rent a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage. Many local people in Istanbul just go there at the weekends for swimming in the tiny beaches and for picnicking.

The East and the West brought together by their famous and cheap food in every corner and every street, and the most famous one is “Simit”, a sesame-coated ring of dough, is the most common all-day street food in Istanbul. Quite a simple yet delicious meal made of grilled white fish, raw onions, and salad in a half loaf of white bread, the balık ekmek” fish sandwich is an Istanbul classic,  head to the Eminou Pier, grab a fish sandwich and sit and watch the people.

People who are unfamiliar with the country of Turkey assume the national drink is coffee, but in fact, tea is the inseparable drink of Turkish culture. Women, family, and friends often meet in tea gardens, on beside of Nergela “Shisha” which was still one of the best things for interested on some streets, restaurants, caffes and bazaars.

For shopping, Istanbul famous for shopping by big number of markets, malls, shopping centre, brand centre, parfume and others such as , Metro Shopping Mall, Historia Mall, Jawaher Mall, Shishli Souq, Osman Bey and many more.

Affordable and suitable for the enjoyment of adults and young people, Vialand is a great theme park, one of the best theme parks in Istanbul located in Eyup, at the Golden Horn region of Istanbul. Then, I visited the Biggest Zoo in Turkey that is located in Darica which is 1,5 hours driving from the city center. At the top of it you can see wonderfull view overlooking to Bosphorus harbour and a part of Istanbul.

A great time to explore the architecture of a Turkish bath. In most cases an impressive room completely covered in marble featuring a big dome, several basins which located in all places.

Every day, Istanbul ready for refreshing like a bride, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Half of Istanbul is located on the continent of Europe and half is in Asia. Istanbul was once called Constantinople. It was the capital of civilization of three different empires. The Byzantine Empire ,The Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

Every day, Istanbul ready to be more wonderful and amazing by developing what will come and focused on what was passed, sometimes, Istanbul moved you from the past to the present by jiffy way to relax and rest yourself.

I was very happy with my vacation, I am unable to explain everything, you should come and taste everything by yourself.

All my respect and appreciation for Turkish people who is tireless and not tired of continues research on all details to improve their country; Economic, commercial, investment, development, tourism and industrial activities to achieve all plans and dreams.

Maybe, The smile is the secret of Istanbul’s success, on my opinion, once you want to be happy and smile, you should do what you can do by all of your best, and that is why Istanbul is smiling!! From the embodiment of ideas on reality especially by amazing way and this what Istanbul focus on after the God’s creativity…..