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...
University Guide: Yıldız Technical University
Yıldız Technical University (Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi) commonly shortened as YTU or Yıldız, is one of the top public technical universities in Turkey. It was...
The Basics of Pairing Drinks with Turkish Street Food
Pairing in Spanish means “maridaje”, which can also be translated as "marriage". So when we pair drinks with food we are metaphorically marrying a food...
Setting of Records: Istanbul’s New Mosque
Three years ago building of a new mosque began on one of the highest hills of the city, where roosters still crow and visitors...
Haydarpaşa Cemetery: A Cemetery with Something to Say
As a long-time lover of cemeteries, I’m often telling people about my trip to this or that burial ground. Most have one question: “why?”...
166 Reasons Not to Leave Istanbul
These last months have not been easy. Our hearts ache for the country that has been a welcoming home away from home for so many of us....
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...
In Conversation with Cynthia Paulauskas, Founder of Mediterranean Delights Fitness Voyage...
This post is sponsored by MDFV.
When you think of a blue cruise, fitness is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. But...
A Moment for Istanbul
This weekend has seen the country suffer yet another senseless terror attack, leaving 5 dead and 39 injured in the heart of our beautiful,...
Take 5: Cihangir (A Morning on Başkurt Sokak)
Istanbul arguably doesn’t really have one central district, like a downtown or a city center. It is a city of many centers, each with...
Take 5: Karaköy (Shopping Edition)
Karaköy is a unique neighborhood with a mishmash of art, culture and food all packed into a zigzag of tiny streets and alleys. Although...
Broke and Lost in Istanbul
“Habitash! Habitash!”
The unfamiliar deckhand appeared as a silhouette, repeatedly emphasizing this made-up word as though I would finally understand what it meant the sixth...
City Highlights: Sancaklar Cami
A friend of mine from the Czech Republic once told me her feelings while she visited Istanbul one year ago. She said that it...
That Pink Elephant Mystique: A Celebration of International Women’s Day, in...
“Silence is the worst. Whenever a thick cloud of silence descends, the yapping voices inside me become all the more audible, rising to the...
Take 5: Çengelköy
Coming around a bend on the Anatolian side between the two bridges is the aptly named Çengelköy. The neighborhood, whose name means hook village in Turkish, is...
Weekend Getaway: Muğla
Looking to experience a city with a mellow vibe? Head to southwest Turkey, away from the crowds, to the picturesque city of Muğla, located...
Romancing the Old City: A Somewhat Cynical Love Note to Istanbul
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he...
The Creme de la Kaymak of Eccentric and Interesting Expat Istanbulites
Someone recently described Istanbul to me as a city where you can "have the best day of your life, followed by the worst day”,...
The Allure of Elsewhere
Wherever you go, there you are. And wherever you are, there is someone who wants to be somewhere else. After living in the United...
42 Istanbul Resolutions for 2016
1. Find some way to convince our friends & families that we're safe here.
2. Stop going to malls so much... or at all.
3. Use...
Remembering Bowie: An Occidental Ode to the Original ‘Space Oddity’
My first memory involving David Bowie is from when my Aunt took me, at age 4, to a screening of “Labyrinth”. The details are...
We Are With Istanbul
This week has been one of sadness and deep reflection for all of us in Turkey. These heinous, tragic attacks are all too frequent and...
Small Projects Istanbul: Emphasizing Education
“They first need to learn Turkish to be better integrated into their Turkish communities -- namely, their schools,” stressed Anna Tuson, the communication manager...
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...