Kısmet in Gaziantep
Breakfast was served in the courtyard beneath the citadel. Little plates of olives, tomatoes, peppers, white cheese, bread, butter, jam, as well as piping...
The World is a Square: A Briefing on the History and...
With its own attraction and magic this game seems to appear everywhere, may it be in the çay evi or at home, tavla is...
Touring Turkey with Kids in a Camper Van
We are an English-Turkish family and we travel around in an old Mercedes bus that we converted ourselves to a camper van. A year...
Yabangee Supports Darüşşafaka Tekfen Basketball (Special Offer Included)
This October, the Yabangee community enjoyed a wonderful basketball match-day with Darüşşafaka Tekfen - one of the top teams of the Turkish Basketball League....
A Walk around Üsküdar
For many people living on the European side of Istanbul, crossing over to the “other side” (the Anatolian side) seems like a trek, especially...
Get Your Residence Permit in 10 (Somewhat) Easy Steps
Editor's Note: This piece was first published in 2015, and was most recently updated in May of 2022.
Important Note: The Covid-19 pandemic had a...
Ancient Love Affair: Carian Project, a Self-Initiated Artist Residency
After moving from Istanbul to the small village of Turunç in southwest Turkey’s Muğla region, I finally had the time and energy to explore...
Turkey’s Hidden Paradise: Maden Deresi
To anyone who begins reading this, I would like you to be absorbed by the magnificence of a serene song or melody that is...
The Lazy Olive: Book Your Mountain Getaway Near Olympos and Lycia’s...
We created the Lazy Olive (Tembel Zeytin) as our special getaway from living in the heart of Istanbul’s concrete jungle. It’s a spacious four-bedroom...
An ode to public transit. Thank you, Istanbul!
Public transportation in Turkey is pretty grand! And, really, has to be. It serves a city of upwards of 16 million individuals. A densely...
Condolences for the Victims in Suruç
Yesterday Turkey was rocked by a horrific suicide bombing targeting a group of people traveling to Syria on a humanitarian mission. The victims were bright, selfless...
Confessions of a Dumbphone Devotee
Thus with a text, I die. If any spark of life be yet remaining amongst Dumbphone owners in this developéd world, it will by...
Thermal Baths: The Ultimate Winter Holiday
Now, we all enjoy a good Turkish bath. They are very much part of the tapestry, or should I say the kilim, of the...
Introducing Turkish4 Children: Fun, Interactive Language Lessons for Kids
The experience of learning Turkish differs greatly from person to person, and there is perhaps no greater distinction than between children and adults. While...
(PAST EVENT) 18th Contemporary Istanbul @ Tersane Istanbul
Contemporary Istanbul, the city's premier international art fair, is back for its 18th edition, bringing together art enthusiasts, collectors, curators, and artists from around...
In Memory of Barış Mumyakmaz
It's with great sadness today that we've learned of the passing of long-time friend and contributor Barış Mumyakmaz.
A graduate of Galatasaray University and the...
Insider Trading: Twins Coffee Roasters
It would be disingenuous to say that Turkey doesn't have a coffee culture. But, I will go out on a limb here and say...
Insider Trading: Cosmic Yoga
Trying to balance my life is quite a job in the big city. That’s why I have been making time for the things I...
In Conversation with Itır Erhart on Running and the Adım Adım...
Itır Erhart, an Assistant Professor at the Media School, a part of Istanbul Bilgi University’s Faculty of Communication, studies a wide range of topics,...
(PAST EVENT) Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch: Café Müller @ Zorlu PSM
The 27th Istanbul Theatre Festival hosted by IKSV proudly presents one of the most anticipated events of the year: Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch's mesmerizing...
Tails of Istanbul: Despair to Hope for Stray Cats and Dogs
It was a bright, sunny Saturday, during my very first trip to Istanbul, when I went where very few tourists would dare – Yedikule...
The Struggles of a New Yabancı in Turkey
Moving to Istanbul was an exciting thought. I get to live in a new country, surrounded by people of a different culture. Oh, the...
In Search of Mantı
As you walk down the streets of Istanbul, the air swirls with color and unfamiliar smells. Occasionally, you stop and peer into shop windows,...
Aziz Nesin: Author, Humorist, Activist
At a gathering of the elite doctors of the world, speaker after speaker demonstrates a miracle of medical science. An operation able to change...