Got a chance of a lifetime to visit one of the most beautiful countries in the world and I quite tried to make the most of the trip. While there were so many things that I explored, one thing that proved to be the most unforgettable was a visit to the Bosphorus, for no Istanbul experience is complete without a cruise up the Bosphorus Strait.
The excitement of sailing through the deep blue tranquil waters of the Bosphorus and taking a ferry ride for the first time was so high that, I was up early in the morning to catch the first ferry, ready and completely charged up to experience the fun of riding on the waves.
Began my journey from the biggest ferry station of the city, Eminonu, by catching the first ferry which leaves at 10:35 am, daily. I was told if one doesn’t wish to catch the first one then, there are other options too. The best options being the one at noon or the last one at 1:35 pm, any day of the week. The best part about these is that they are government-run excursion ferries, they are cheap and best suited for Indian pockets.
I was with a group, so chose the government run excursion ferry but if you have a bigger holiday budget and wish to enjoy this experience with your partner or family in private then, you can even go for a private boats or yachts ride. These have an advantage, though a little costly, these allow you to have some peaceful time with your loved ones, because to enjoy the ride in these government run ferries, one should be smart enough to grab a seat for himself, else the only option you have is, to stand till your last destination. And, you wouldn’t want that, right?
And, the moment of monotony was here- I stood in the queue, waiting for my turn to get into the ferry, the photographer in me couldn’t help but analyse the whole ferry, trying to figure out the best suitable place to capture some beautiful moments. Finally, my turn was here and I decided to take a seat on the top deck to catch a better view of all the sights that came my way.
As soon as I stepped on the ferry, my first reaction, “Oh God! It’s so overcrowded” and my ten minutes of planning went in vain. My smile and excitement were gone and after seeing the crowd on the lower deck, I could very well imagine the condition that waited for me on the top deck. But still, I decided to try my luck at-least once, to make some space for myself and my little camera. While moving towards the staircase, leading to the top deck of the ferry, I was only thinking of ways to convince people at allow me to sit with them and click some photographs. Never thought that a ferry ride would make me think of so many excuses!
After a little struggle on the staircase, I finally reached the top deck, and the breathtaking view of the Bosphorus and its surroundings said it all, bringing back the smile that got lost. My mission of finding a seat still remained unaccomplished but strangely, I had nothing left to complain about. With all my humility, I chose to move forward and stand at one corner, only after struggling to find my place between great varieties of people- young and old, small and big, belonging to different nationalities.
As my ferry started to zigzag between Asia and Europe, I saw old Ottoman wooden houses, palaces of the late Ottoman period, suspended bridges, medieval castles on the European side and the rolling hills, covered with high perpetual green pine trees on the Asian side.
A striking view of golden sun rays, twinkling like stars on the deep blue calm of the Bosphorus on one side, tall pine trees covering the undulating hills, colourful ancient houses, cool breeze, chirping birds and a spectacular view of the big ‘n’ small ships and ferries, is enough to miss your someone special. The feeling becomes stronger when you see not only young but, even old couples enjoying the romantic surroundings, hugging and kissing their partners. No-matter if you’re single or committed, cruising alone or with a group of colleagues, this feeling will definitely touch your heart once, for this is the magic of the beautiful Strait.
While I stood gazing at the captivating view all around, a honk by the ferry, made me realise that I had reached my final destination. This was an end to my ride but, it gave me a bundle of memories and an unforgettable experience to cherish for a lifetime.
As I stepped out of the ferry satisfied and completely in love with the Bosphorus and its city- Istanbul, a story awaited me. Sukran, my guide, unraveled what lied behind the deep blue waters as we made our way to Eminonu. She told me that the name ‘Bosphorus’ had an epic behind it. According to Greek legend: Zeus, the king of the Gods, who was strongest of the strong; had an affair with a very beautiful woman named ‘Lo’. When Zeus’ jealous wife, Hera discovered his infidelity, she turned Lo into a cow and sent dangerous flies and bugs towards disguised Lo, to sting her. Disturbed Lo, ran from Aegean Sea to the Black Sea, leaving behind a strait which came to be known as ‘The Bosphorus’, where ‘bous’ means cow and ‘phorus’ means crossing place thus, Bosphorus became the ‘cow passageway.’
If you thought that this was enough then, there’s more. Found out some interesting things that I didn’t quite know about the Strait, here are a few of them:
• Another name of the ‘Bosphorus Strait’ is ‘Istanbul Strait’.
• The Strait separates European part of Istanbul from its Asian part, connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea.
• It is one of the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation.
• Considered one of the most important waterlines, it’s also the busiest one in the world.
As, a visit to any of the historical monuments or sightseeing spots is crucial for completely exploring and understanding the rich historical and cultural past of a city, in the same way a cruise on theBosphorus, is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to experience the superb view of the magical city of Istanbul.
Image Courtesy: Lovely Mehrotra