Tag: Dolmabahce Palace

  • Turkey: Land where climates, people and cultures meet

    Turkey: Land where climates, people and cultures meet

    Sunday, February 10, 2013 – Islamabad —Viewing Turkey through the lens of Erkut Onart was pleasantly refreshing for many as the photographs reflected a Turkey, culturally rich and diverse. Erkut Onart’s photography exhibition titled “Turkey: the land where climates, people and cultures meet” that opened here at Satrang Gallery was attended by art enthusiast and diplomats. Mr. Onart himself, H.E Babur Hizlan, Ambassador of Turkey, and Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker of National Assembly were the chief guests at the occasion. The exhibition is first of the events as part of the cultural activities between Pakistan and Turkey. “2013-2014 would be celebrated as the Cultural Years of Turkey in Pakistan and Pakistan in Turkey to strengthen the ties of the two countries” said the Turkish Ambassador, Babur Hizlan. Faisal Kundi hoped that Pakistani artists would also go to Turkey under the cultural exchange program.

    The vibrant photographs, portraying places, people, architecture and landscapes of Turkey, depicted a rich culture full of diversity. “Mr. Onart has truly captured the beauty and spirit of the people and places of Turkey,” said Asma Khan, director of the Gallery. Every photograph allows a glance into nature, ambiance, people and places of different cultures. “Each photo reflects a different region of Turkey and is a great opportunity for Pakistanis to learn about the country” remarked Madame Hizlan.

    The exhibition reflects the diversity and richness of the Turkish culture. “It is refreshing and different from what we generally see in Turkish dramas on our (Pakistani) channels” said Ahsan Akhtar, a visitor, who was impressed enough to plan a visit to Turkey.

    Places of Istanbul are the highlight of the exhibition but the photographer has brought out other striking places as well such as the city of Bursa and Konya, city of Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes. Photographs of the Blue Mosque, the prestigious landmark of Istanbul; photo Dolmabahce Palace, in all its glory, stood tall among other photos on display.

    via Turkey: Land where climates, people and cultures meet.

  • Pampering with a personal touch at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

    Pampering with a personal touch at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

    Pampering with a personal touch at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

    Mo Gannon

    AD20110903795956 1 The hammam at T

    The hammam at The Ritz-Carlton.

    The welcome

    It’s impossible to miss the Ritz-Carlton’s modern skyscraper looming above the more historic buildings on the Taksim skyline. This is definitely not your classic Ritz-Carlton, I think as we pull up, but my first impression is dispelled at the entrance, where we are greeted by attentive doormen in uniform and whisked past the baggage detector into a lobby with marble floors, chandeliers and wood-panelled walls. Walk through the lobby and the main selling point is revealed: a wide view of the sparkling Bosphorus Strait from the European side at our feet across to the green hills of the Asian side.

    Standing on a hill overlooking the 19th-century Dolmabahce Palace and its mosque, the hotel doesn’t have much of a neighbourhood, but it’s a fit person’s walk away from both Taksim Square and the Kabatas tram, which runs to the historic sites of Sultanahmet. It also stands next to the stadium at Kucukciftlik Park, where Elton John recently played, so check the listings before your visit. Best of all, it’s a short taxi ride from Nisantasi, home to high-end clothing and design shops and trendy sidewalk cafes (the trip should cost about 10 Turkish lira [Dh20]).

    The service

    “My pleasure” seems to be the staff’s catchphrase, but the pleasure is all mine. There’s good hotel service, and then there’s hotel service so good it makes you want to come home to. Here, where everyone recognises me after one encounter, I experience the latter. The concierge staff look up the addresses of obscure stores and write directions for the taxis on cards with a map of the hotel that say “please take me to …”, as if I’m Paddington Bear. The doormen instruct the drivers in Turkish, telling me what price I should pay and offering to take up the inevitable dispute when I return. (Taxis are known to jack up their rates, particularly at tourist destinations.) After mentioning that I left my business cards in Abu Dhabi, I later return to my room to find my own personalised Ritz-Carlton cards, listing me as a guest in residence.

    The room

    My deluxe room, which has a partial view of the Bosphorus, is medium-sized with classic hotel-style furniture. Etchings of old Istanbul hang on the beige walls and painted Turkish tiles decorate my marble bathroom, which has a large soaker bath and a separate shower room. My feather bed has the finest linen, the kind one would expect in Istanbul, providing for the deepest sleep.

    The scene

    My fellow guests look like business travellers, equipped as they are these days with iPads, or middle-aged couples on vacation, many of them with children, from Europe, North America and the Middle East. I begin and end my day with them in the Club lounge, which offers small spreads of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as beverages at night.

    The food

    Cintemani, the hotel restaurant, provides a better-than-standard breakfast buffet, including miniature smoothies and Turkish staples like simit and borek (65 lira [Dh138]). However, the Club lounge offers an abbreviated selection of similar fare, so is well worth the value if you want to eat in the hotel. The outdoor grill at Guney Park Terrace is a nice place to watch the Bosphorus over cold and hot mezze dishes such as meatball rolled wheat (think kibbeh) with mint yogurt sauce (24 lira; Dh48).

    Loved

    Besides the first-rate service, this hotel is full of tiny, delightful touches, such as a language card in the room with basic Turkish phrases, plus complimentary Turkish Delight and cherry juice in the lobby.

    Hated

    The access cards for the elevator – one for the Club floor and one for my room. Both failed a few times, necessitating a trip to the lobby to have them fixed.

    The verdict

    In a city as historic as Istanbul, the hotel’s modern tower seems out of place but it’s what’s inside that counts. If you want to be pampered by trustworthy staff after a day arguing with taxi drivers or aggressive salesmen in the Grand Bazaar, then you’ll be relieved to return to the Ritz-Carlton.

    The bottom line

    A double room costs from €275 (Dh1,457) per night, including taxes. Club floor room rates start from €351 (Dh1,860). Ritz-Carlton, Suzer Plaza, No 9, Elmadag, Sisli, 34367, Istanbul (www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Istanbul/Default.htm; 00 90 212 334 44 44).

    mgannon@thenational.ae

    via Pampering with a personal touch at the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul – The National.

  • Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul

    Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul

    dolmabahcepalaceistanbu

    Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European side of Bosphorus, was the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The construction, cost five million Mecidiye, Ottoman gold coin, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. Fourteen of those tons of gold were used to gild the ceilings of the 45,000 square foot palace.

    More photos : Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul › Zuza Fun.

  • Best 10 Must See Attractions In Istanbul

    Best 10 Must See Attractions In Istanbul

    Here is a list of 10 tourist attractions that you do not should miss visiting when goiong to Istanbul.

    istanbul1

    There are a lot of hotels in Istanbul, which offer excelent service.

    1.St. Sophia- It is among the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture, well-known tourist attraction in Istanbul. Once a church, than became a Mosque and now it is a Museum. The interior of the museum is decorated with splendid Byzantine mosaics. While visiting the museum, you’ll want to spare some time to find out the upper gallery, where you need to climb up a path interior the building. The upper galleries give the very best perspectives inside the St Sophia. This is also where you can see the great mosaics and ambience of the church. It is much more interesting from the second floor and also a pictured summary of the historical past of the Church might be observed on this floor.

    2.The Blue Mosque it really is one of probably the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul. It is fairly impressive with its attractive domes and semi domes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets. Sultan Ahmet 1 founded the Blue Mosque. It was built between 1609- 1616 and also it had been named following him. The entire complex was completed in 1616.

    3.Topkapi Palace it is absolutely the perfect looking palace in Turkey. House for the Ottoman Sultans, is now a perfect location to be a Museum to reflect the glory of Ottoman Empire, Sultans and their way of lifestyle.

    4.The Basilica Cistern- Underground waterway was used as a reservoir for water storage for that Great Palace and other buildings. It is 132 m length, by 65m wide. There are 336 columns in the cistern. Most from the column capitals are both in Corinthian or Doric Model.

    5.The Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi in Turkish)- it is one of the most the largest covered markets in the globe with its 4400 stores in 64 roads and with 22 gates . It’s a real heaven for shoppers. It would seem like a labyrinth at very first sight but it’s actually not that complicated.

    6.Dolmabahce Palace-The phrase “Dolmabahce” in English indicates “The filled garden”, due to the fact the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It’s a beautiful 19th Century palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It is in baroque and rococo model and very French. Some people consider that it is actually a small version of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France.

    7.Miniaturk -Istanbul incorporates a Maquette park which has began to function as of April 23rd,2003. The mini Turkey park is often known as Miniaturk and have mini models of ancient ottoman architectural operates in Turkey. On miniaturk Turkey’s prosperous historical and cultural heritage is being displayed with their maquettes.

    8.Chora Church (Kariye Camii in Turkish)- it may be the most exciting Byzantine church afterwards St. Sophia in Istanbul. The importance of the church does not come by the design itself , the frescoes as well as the mosaics are amazing and reflect the magnificent heritage of Byzantine Artwork.

    9.Hippodrome-this is the square in entrance of a Blue Mosque. It truly is one from the most well-known parts in Byzantine Constantinople. You can find a variety of monuments in Hippodrome Area. Probably the most attractive one is the “Egyptian Obelisk”.

    10.The Galata Tower – Until the 1960s Galata tower was a fire lookout tower. Now the upper floors hold an uninteresting restaurant-nightclub, and a panorama balcony. It provides the most effective panoramic views of the city

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