Smoke on the Water: Istanbul’s Vapurs
With its long and colourful history, its unique geographical position, its collection of characters, cultures, and creeds, Istanbul has no shortage of laudable attributes....
The Passages of İstiklal
İstiklal Caddesi is home to many eateries, stores and coffee shops. Although chains such as Shake Shack have been cropping up, the promenade manages...
The Balyan Family: Royal Architects of the Late Ottoman Empire
Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. Sultans and their wives, princes, viziers and pashas loved to show their power and...
Anatolian Travel Archives: Mustafapaşa
In the midst of all the fairytale magic of Cappadocia, there lies an overlooked jewel embedded in the valley known as Mustafapaşa. Despite its...
Rezan Has Museum: A Gem on the Golden Horn
The Golden Horn was of great importance during the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. This deep, natural harbor was a strategic point to defend the...
In Conversation with Samer Al-Kadri of Pages, Istanbul’s First Arabic Bookstore...
Located within quick reach of the historical Chora Museum, Pages, the first Arabic bookstore in Istanbul, marks a historic moment for the city and...
Turkey Day in Turkey
Yes, I just did that. Referred to the joke-question we all hear from home: Do they eat turkey in Turkey? Well, yes, yes they...
Top 10 Forgotten Historical sites of Istanbul
When I first lived in Istanbul for 6 months in 2013, some of my most memorable days were spent simply wandering the old city...
Introducing Piri: Audio Explorations of Istanbul’s Hidden Gems
Have you heard Piri before?
It is an audio walking tour app which urges explorers to discover amazing cities. With Piri, you can explore the...
(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...
Walking the Rainbow: Istanbul’s Colorful Stairs
Protest in Turkey can take many forms. Sadly enough, few of them will leave a positive imprint on your memory: TOMAs and tear gas,...
Insider Trading: Museum of Turkish Jews in Karaköy
You may not be aware that there is either a museum or a synagogue in central Karaköy, downhill from Galata Tower and directly facing the tram stop....
There’s No Such Thing as a Simple Turkish Wedding
The marriage bureaucrats at the Şişli marriage bureau seem like the unhappiest people in the world. Just a few meters from the miniature theater, where everyday...
The Woman Married to Mount Nemrut
In late 1881, the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin received a strange letter from the German Consul of Izmir, mentioning some mysterious statues...
CRR’s New Season in Full Swing
Cemal Reşit Rey launched the 2019-2020 season on Wednesday October 9th with the CRR Symphony Orchestra and Choir performing all-time favorite arias and lieds....
Insider Trading: Cook’s Corner for Expats in Turkey
I discovered a great passion for cooking when I started traveling around the world. I couldn’t believe what I’d been missing! I wanted to...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: The Camondo Stairs
Strolling through Istanbul requires two basic skills: a good sense of direction and a strong pair of legs. The steep hills and windy streets...
Review: Spoken Word Istanbul @ Arsen Lüpen
Three years ago, Merve Pehlivan, an art and writing enthusiast, decided to create a friendly environment where writers, poets, singers and performers of all...
Five Essential Turkish Films
Contemporary Turkish cinema often oscillates between bland, commercial movies (that range from broad comedies to over-sugared romances) and magnificent under-performing films that demonstrate the concerns...
Anatolian Travel Archives: Stratonikeia
Aside from the yet to be excavated ancient settlement near my home in Turunç (near Marmaris), Stratonikeia was my first, official, ancient city experience...
Tribute to Ayran: An Expat Love Story
Writing about the allure of ayran has been on my agenda for over a year now. Every time an expat informs me that they...
Book Review: The Time Regulation Institute
There’s a moment in The Time Regulation Institute, the novel by acclaimed Turkish author Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, where the protagonist Hayri Irdal explains the...
Volunteering in Istanbul: Tarlabaşı Community Center
Many of us find doing volunteer work to be a fulfilling way to connect with our community. For yabangees, volunteering can be a great...
Christmas & New Year’s in Turkey: Mixing Celebrations
In Istanbul, when December arrives, you might observe a sudden change in the streets. Decorations hung up on the poles in the shape of...