Istanbul, Turkey

Atop the Justinian wall that protected the city from marauders.  A view of the Istanbul and Bosphorus is behind me.

Women watching a fashion show and local gathering in an Istanbul neighborhood.

The end of a famous Turkish bath at a bath house near the city centre.

One of the many rejuvinated parks that has been undertaken recently by the city.

In front of the legendary Hagia Sophia.

An interior view from the second floor of the Hagia Sophia.

The massive courtyard of the Blue Mosque.

A ceiling view of the astounding Blue Mosque.

Watching an intense football game in Istanbul.

The third interior courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, where the Ottomans ruled for centuries.

The massive cisterns underneath the old section of the city.

               Culture, history, tourism, cosmopolitanism and a crossroads of the Middle East meeting the West: Istanbul has it all.  A city built as the “New Rome” by Emperor Constantine, immortalized for the Hagia Sophia and walls built by Emperor Justinian, conquered by Mehmet in 1453 and ushering in the rise of the Ottoman Empire, and recently transformed back into a cosmopolitan city by the Turkish state, this city has no shortage of fascination for tourists. 

                Historic buffs can get their fill in the Old City section featuring Emperor Justinian’s magnificent Hagia Sophia (initially an Orthodox church, converted into a mosque during the Ottoman reign, and finally made a museum courtesy of Ataturk), Blue Mosque (a massive, magnificent 400 year old mosque that is as light and airy as many Gothic cathedrals), Topkapi Palace (the Sultan’s palace during the Ottoman reign), and Byzantine cisterns (a 1,500 year underground water storage facility).  While most history is centralized in this beautiful renovated area, the city has other treasures for tourists as well.

                Turkish food is a delight rarely known by westerners.  Eggplant, garlic, yogurt, and cheese are just some of the basic ingredients found in this amazing array of food.  If you’re a meat lover then you’ll like the slow cooked fish, dolma housing different types of meat (especially lamb), or the kebab with different varietals including spiciness.  Breakfasts usually have sesame style bread with a scrambled eggs concoction complete with Turkish tea or coffee.  Istanbul shows off their food at excellent restaurants throughout the city with the added bonus of more than helpful waiters showing you how to cut up and eat your food. 

                Turkey is a highly dominant Muslim state (hence the crescent on their flag), but Istanbul is hardly a mainline conservative Muslim city.  While you’ll see women wearing hijabs and niqabs, you’ll also notice Turkish women wearing the latest western fashion designs and men dressed in suits and western wear too.  It’s a classic east meets west place: situated at the end of the Middle East while courting a massive amount of investment from abroad, Istanbul is one of the most diverse places in the world.  You’ll see gorgeous mosques at every turn and hear the call to prayer while you are venturing out to see the newest rooftop bar.

                What will transform Istanbul into one of the next great cities aren’t the bars or history but its infrastructure.  Recognizing the need to build up (whether this is a tenant from Ataturk or a desire of the current Prime Minister) is a massive effort of the Turkish government to get Istanbul ready for the massive influx of immigrants to the city.  New bridges, subway lines, and parks are pervading the city everywhere.  As a civil engineer, it’s impressive to see the plans to modernize the city while keeping the style and essence in place. 

                If you have a week and want to see a truly different place while not feeling like you completely left home, if you want to dip your toe into the pool that is the Middle East, or if you want to taste new foods, then I highly recommend Istanbul.