Tag: Istanbul

Istanbul’s 10 Most Romantic Spots

Istanbul is one of the most romantic cities in the world. So much so that JFK Jr. took his new bride Carolyn Bassett there for their 1996 honeymoon. Majestically astride two continents, it is a mystical playground of historical marvels, a palimpsest of civilizations that takes travelers back in time. When the sun goes down, the city turns intriguingly contemporary, luring visitors with pulsating night life and the most vibrant restaurants and clubs in Europe.

Whether you’re on a once-in-a-lifetime Valentine’s Day trip, a honeymoon, or simply looking for love, Istanbul’s exotic mosaic of tastes, sounds and aromas will surely sweep you away. Even Cupid would love that Turkish Airlines is offering an incredible Valentine’s Day fare sale to experience the allure of this exotic city – fly to Istanbul from one of the airline’s gateways (Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles), non-stop for $599. Travelers must book the special economy class fare by January 31, 2012 for outbound travel between February 1 and February 29, 2012.

Once you arrive in Istanbul, here are the top 10 romantic experiences you can enjoy in this unforgettable city:

1.) Take a walk at Akinti Burnu along the Bosphorous Straight, the waterway that divides Europe and Asia. As you stroll by locals fishing for the day’s catch, you will be carried away by the breathtaking views of the Asiatic shoreline adorned with palaces and picturesque wooden houses.

2.) Blend into the local crowd at the Bebek Kahve, a quaint coffee-shop perched on the water’s edge. Sip Turkish coffee, or try Sahlep sprinkled with fragrant cinnamon. This warm milky drink made from orchids is known for its aphrodisiac powers. A symphony of seagulls punctuated with the cracking sounds of dice from the ever-present wooden backgammon sets will serenade you in the background.

3.) Experience the mysticism of the Basicila Cistern, also known as the “Sunken Palace” or “Yerebatan Sarayi” in Turkish, an underground waterway constructed to supply the royals of the Byzantine Palace. Enjoy the soft classical music that echoes from the domes of the Cistern as droplets of water fall softly from the ceiling.

4.) Stroll in the spice market, the aroma of spices and the colorful canvas of herbs, seasonings and dried fruits displayed beneath the bazaar’s vaulted ceilings tantalizing your senses.

5.) Visit the Topkapi Palace museum, once the fabulous home of the Ottoman Sultans. Their emeralds and diamonds are still here for all to see. Be sure to lunch at Konyali, the palace restaurant with delicious Ottoman cuisine and beautiful views of Istanbul.

6.) Take in 2000 years of history when you visit Haghia Sophia, the magnificent architectural marvel that has serenely stood the test of time as a cathedral and mosque in the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Take in the mesmerizing views of the Sea of Marmara from the second floor of the museum, sip Turkish tea in the open-air tea garden, nestled under a majestic tree.

7.) Take a ferry to the Princes’ Islands. Get off at the Buyukada (the Great Island) and stroll this charming isle where no cars are allowed. Take a romantic tour with a horse-drawn carriage among the picturesque poplar trees and villas.

8.) Watch the sunset from the Golden Horn – the estuarine harbor that nurtured the ancient cities of Byzantium and Constantinople upon which Istanbul now stands. Ferryboat claxons orchestrate the city lights flickering to life along the waterways, slowly turning Istanbul into a fairytale land.

9.) Take in the nightlife of Beyoglu, one of the most eclectic areas of Istanbul. Be sure to stop by Babylon, the hottest spot in town for live music. Hang out with the stylish Istanbul crowd enjoying jazz, reggae or soul music from world-renowned musicians. Genre-bending Belgian singer/songwriter Selah Sue will be performing February 23rd. For more information go to the club’s website.

10.) Take a Bosphorus Night Cruise. It is one of the most romantic nighttime activities in Istanbul and a wonderful way to experience the city through its waterways. You will be traveling through time from the Old City to the new, ride beneath magnificent bridges, and gaze upon palaces, castles and decadent Ottoman villas sparkling like jewelry adorning the coasts of two continents.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/top-10-romantic-things-to_b_1234763

February 6, 2012
A weekend in Istanbul

By Anita Choudhary

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Istanbul is in many ways the ultimate weekend break destination. Its location means that visitors from Europe can fly only a few hours from home and yet reach the first fringe of the exotic and mysterious East. Budget airlines have made getting here easy and the history and culture of the city mean that there is more than enough to pack a weekend’s schedule full to bursting.

photo by laszlo-photo

One factor to take into account when planning a weekend in Istanbul is that, at four hours flight time from many major Western European cities, visitors will need to budget for considerably more travel time than for other destinations. This may involve booking an extra few hours or day off work where possible, as it makes little sense to travel that far for a very short trip. For this reason it may be best to save the weekend break in Istanbul for a long weekend over a Bank Holiday or other public rest day.

First time visitors to Istanbul can spend an entire day wandering the streets of Sultanahmet, the historic heart of the city on the European side. Major sights here include the twin glories of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia. The former is a working mosque so visitors should show the appropriate respect while the latter has been both a church and then a mosque and is now a museum.

Throughout Sultanahmet are various parks and gardens which can be peaceful places to rest before moving on. Finally in the area, visitors to Istanbul shouldn’t leave without visiting the Grand Bazaar. There are few experiences in the western world to match it and visitors are sure to be charmed into purchasing something by the highly skilled salesmen and their offers of bargains. Just be aware that any designer labels you see are fake, no matter how many claims of their providence you hear, and they should be priced accordingly.

It would be a shame to visit the only city in the world that straddles two continents and not take advantage of the fact, so visitors should take a boat trip across the Bosporus to the Asian side, which has a much more relaxed atmosphere than the bustling and manic European side. Stick to the bank of Bosporus as much of this side of the city is suburban housing which is practical but ugly.

The food in Istanbul is fantastic and visitors will be able to banish disturbing memories of late night kebabs back home. The variety of food on offer does include western standards although visitors are strongly advised to try the local dishes wherever possible. Check the web, press, expats or locals for suggestions on the best places to eat at the time of your visit.

via A weekend in Istanbul | Venere Travel Blog.

February 5, 2012
International Judge Muhammad Day vs. The Istanbul Process

2/2/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 1st, 2012

MEDIA CONTACT: 352-371-2487 or 352-871-2680 or info@standupamericanow.org

International Judge Muhammad Day vs. The Istanbul Process

“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” ~ George Washington

The Istanbul Process Begins 2011

Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State: “I want to applaud the Organization of Islamic Conference and the European Union for helping pass Resolution 16/18 at the Human Rights Council…. together we have begun to overcome the false divide that pits religious sensitivities against freedom of expression, and we are pursuing a new approach based on concrete steps to fight intolerance wherever it occurs. Under this resolution, the international community is taking a strong stand for freedom of expression and worship, and against discrimination and violence based upon religion or belief.

“…The resolution calls upon states to protect freedom of religion, to counter offensive expression through education, interfaith dialogue, and public debate, and to prohibit discrimination, profiling, and hate crimes, but not to criminalize speech unless there is an incitement to imminent violence.

“…we have seen how the incendiary actions of just a very few people, a handful in a country of nearly 300 million, can create wide ripples of intolerance. We also understand that, for 235 years, freedom of expression has been a universal right at the core of our democracy. So we are focused on promoting interfaith education and collaboration, enforcing antidiscrimination laws, protecting the rights of all people to worship as they choose, and to use some old-fashioned techniques of peer pressure and shaming, so that people don’t feel that they have the support to do what we abhor. ” ~ Hilary Clinton, July 15 2011, Istanbul, Turkey

Burning the Koran was an act of warning, of exposing the long entrenched intolerance of Islam. We did not create intolerance. We do not hate Muslims. We are also not intolerant of Islam. Muslims have freedom to worship and must keep it, unless their worship involves drowning daughters in canals, detonating suicide bombs among crowds of innocents, or supporting those that ‘worship’ in this way. This is not tolerated by any Western law, yet the West has begun to shelter such crimes as they are sheltered in many Islamic countries.

It is the radical, violent and oppressive aspect of the ‘worship’ of Islam that needs to be exposed. We need more ‘interfaith education’ about Islam and Muhammad, not less. Expose the ‘polarizing debate’ of the Koran! Expose the lack of respect Muhammad had for those he murdered and raped, for those that just had a different view from his own.

The Istanbul Process shifted to Washington DC in December 2011 where the Obama Administration met behind closed doors with the OIC. Why is the OIC telling the American government what to do? And why can we not know what they said?

Hilary Clinton said in a public speech, “…it’s one thing if people are just disagreeing. That is fair game. That’s free speech. But if it results in sectarian clashes, if it results in the destruction or the defacement or the vandalization of religious sites, if it even results in imprisonment or death, then government must hold those who are responsible accountable.

“We have to get past the idea that we can suppress religious minorities, that we can restrict speech, that we are smart enough that we can substitute our judgment for God’s and determine who is or is not blaspheming.” ~ Hilary Clinton, December 14, 2011

So when the Islamic leaders claim it is blasphemy to say anything nagative about their teachings or prophet, although we are just quoting from the Koran itself, or repeating what those leaders themselves say about the life of Muhammad, and those Imams and Mullahs incite violence among their followers, or individual Muslims react with violence, what is she saying? Is the White House supporting the OIC’s demand for holding people like us responsible? They certainly pressure the media to ‘shame’ and ‘abhor’ what we do, to call it ‘hate crime’ and ‘criminalize speech.’ Are these the ‘concrete steps’ planned to bow to Islamic ‘religious sensitivities.’

Istanbul Process Continues, 2012

The OIC is delighted with their puppets in Washington.

JEDDAH, 8 Safar/Jan 3 (IINA)- “Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said that the European Union offered to host the third meeting of the ‘Istanbul Process’, which deliberates, in a series of meetings, on developing mechanisms to implement UNHRC Resolution 16/18 on combating intolerance, discrimination and incitement to violence based on religion or belief.

“The Secretary General of Islamic Cooperation in his office in Jeddah on Tuesday 30 January 2012 pointed out that the EU’s offer to host the meeting represents a qualitative shift in action against the phenomenon of Islamophobia, which spread in many European countries, targeting the Muslim communities there.

“Ihsanoglu said that the growing role of the extreme right in politics in several European countries has become stronger than the capacity of the Organization, explaining that the extreme right, who hates Muslims, became leverage in the hands of politicians. He added that the rise of the extreme right through elections has become an issue that cannot be countered, considering the democratic way in which these extremist reach their positions. He pointed out to the referendum held in Switzerland, as an example, which resulted in suspending the construction of minarets there following a vote by the Swiss people.” ~JEDDAH, 8 Safar/Jan 3 (IINA)

So according to Mr. Ihsanoglu, the Swiss ‘hate Muslims’ because they banned minarets, and all the ‘extreme right’ in Europe do too, it seems. We are considered by some to be on the right, but we and many others on the right do not speak from hate. They are not ‘targeting Muslims.’ They speak against the hate that exists in some Muslims because of the hate that is evident in Islamic teachings and is emphasized by some Imams and Mullahs justifying more hate, violence and oppression. This is NOT ‘islamophobia,’ a popular word invented recently by Islamic leaders to shame dismiss any opposition to Islam. It is truth. In the West we care about truth and justice.
So the heads of Europe will meet with the US and the OIC in July to continue this ‘process.’ Will any in the West have the guts to block their demands which many see as an explicit aim is to enshrine in international law a global ban on all critical scrutiny of Islam and/or Islamic Sharia law. The four dead women in Canada cannot speak now. The countless mutilated from suicide bombs which the media cannot hide cannot speak. We will.

Terry Jones:

“International Judge Muhammad Day will be a day that we put Muhammad on trial. We will examine his life. Was he a prophet of God as is claimed by the religion of Islam? Or was he a pedophile? Was he a deceiver? Was he a man of peace or was he a man of violence? Did he leave behind a world religion that betters mankind and promotes the equality of mankind? Or did he leave behind a religion of violence, a religion of racism and prejudice? Did he leave behind a religion that does not promote living together in peace and harmony and disrespects others opinions and religions? Or did he leave behind a religion that believes only Muslims, believers in Allah and the so-called prophet Muhammad deserve the right to live and pursue their goals in life?”

Link to Video Introduction: International Judge Muhammad Day 9/11/12

On Facebook: International Judge Muhammad Day

Upcoming events: April 7, 2012 ~ Dearborn, MI ~ in front of the Islamic Center of America

September 11, 2012 ~ Gainesville, FL ~ International Judge Muhammad Day

Thank you,

February 5, 2012
How Istanbul Became One of Europe’s Safest Cities

David Lepeska

Political observers have recently been trumpeting the Turkish Model, citing Turkey’s democracy, its open-minded Islamists and economic zip as an example to newly liberated Arab nations and other Muslim countries.

In the 18th century, however, its capital presented a less positive model. The Istanbul of that era – with waves of migrants, an underclass of servants and unskilled laborers, overburdened housing stock, dirty slums abutting elegant mansions, high levels of petty and violent crime – looked much like Dickensian London.

“In Istanbul, I feel safer than I feel in Chicago.”

“The scholarship has kind of put all cities in the Middle East in the category of ‘Islamic cities,’ focusing on Islamic institutions and drawing a hard-and-fast line between these cities and European cities,” says Fariba Zarinebaf, professor of Islamic studies at University of California, Riverside.

In Crime and Punishment in Istanbul, 1700-1800, Zarinebaf uses court, prison and police records, surveys, imperial orders and a variety of Ottoman narratives to map the city’s criminal activity. She also highlights Istanbul’s importance as a port, its layered history and its great diversity. “It was so much more diverse than any other European city,” she says. “It’s the most cosmopolitan city in the Mediterranean world.”

To control crime and rebellion (the city experienced uprisings in 1703 and 1730, the latter of which toppled the leadership for several months) the state embraced heavy-handed tactics familiar to contemporary Arab autocrats: planting spies in coffeehouses to eavesdrop, rounding up and exiling foreigners and the marginalized and creating guilds and neighborhood associations to report back on questionable activity.

“What’s happening today with the Arab uprisings is just déjà vu,” says Zarinebaf, who points out that protest movements in both eras were due in part to simple hunger. “What happens when people rebel? The state cracks down.”

Yet the historic Turkish justice system offered a much more enlightened model, mixing elements of Sharia with modern law. With thousands of Albanians, Greeks and Kurds among its population of about 400,000—the same as Paris at the time—18th century Istanbul was about 40 percent Christian and 5 to 10 percent Jewish. “Istanbul was never really a Muslim city,” says Zarinebaf. “It had to cater to these various interests and as a result it became far more flexible.”

Rather than having his hands cut off, for instance, a man found guilty of pickpocketing was generally sentenced to row in the galleys. Rather than lashed, a woman guilty of prostitution might be banished to Bursa, in Anatolia. If the woman repented, she could choose to pursue rehabilitation.

In this regard, 18th century Istanbul was more modern than a handful of 21st century states. Saudi Arabia and Yemen still punish homosexuality with death. In Pakistan, women unable to produce four adult male witnesses to their rape are found guilty of fornication and jailed.

As a result of its complex history, 21st century Turkey balances Islam, liberty and a touch of authoritarianism. Alcoholic drink and public brothels are tolerated by the state – political dissent and a free press less so.

In terms of policing, Turkey’s vast cosmopolis offers lessons for the developing megacities of today, places like Dubai and Jakarta, Nairobi and Cairo. Istanbul has in recent decades been undergoing a rapid transformation, as urban expansion and modernization remake previously dilapidated and marginalized neighborhoods into welcoming retail and residential districts, often pushing the less advantaged to outlying areas. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a former Istanbul mayor, envisions the city as a global hub and world financial center.

It’s already one of the safer major international cities, for which Zarinebaf cites layers of law enforcement. Policing principles are drawn from the military. Training and education is essential – 85 percent of Turkish police have undergraduate degrees.

The city sets up police checkpoints at night to monitor movement. An integrated surveillance system connects hundreds of CCTV cameras to thousands of squad cars and scores of mobile stations, keeping an eye on most public areas.

At the same time, a community watch program maintains local vigil, via merchant guilds and neighborhood groups. “Today if I move to Turkey I have to report to the local police and tell them,” says Zarinebaf. “This kind of approach to policing – not only from the top, but also from below, keeping an eye on the neighborhood – this sort of policing is uniquely Ottoman.”

Zarinebaf lives in the Windy City but prefers the former Constantinople, which has the lowest assault rate in Europe. “In Istanbul, I feel safer than I feel in Chicago,” she says.

That should come as little surprise to Chicagoans, who saw their murder rate spike by more than half in January. Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at the Turkish model.

via How Istanbul Became One of Europe’s Safest Cities – Neighborhoods – The Atlantic Cities.

February 5, 2012
Sailing To Byzantium

From Istanbul to Vienna on the Aegean Odyssey
story & photos by
Tony Leighton

My love of travel is heightened when unlikely places reveal extraordinary things, which, of
course, they do all the time.

This past summer, my wife Leslie and I discovered that you can was of modest size (350 passengers), which we liked because we didn’t have to travel with 2,000 other cruise
passengers, and for a reasonable fee we would cruise the Aegean and Mediterranean for 16 summer days on a completely restored vessel, all inclusive, mostly in Greece.
Sweet.
The Byzantine part seemed reach those heights every day on quaintly interesting if we chose to an historical cruise. We spent 16 pay attention. Little did we know.
days on the Aegean Odyssey, a It quickly became the main event.
newly refitted, small-scale luxury cruise ship that carried us from Istanbul to Venice
through a string of unlikely places, all them containing exquisite and unexpected gifts.
The history angle also fit with a revelation that has come upon me fairly late in life, but I now believe fervently: that unguided travel with nothing but the Why unlikely? Because the trip Lonely Planet is like trying to have a conversation without was organized around Byzantine knowing the language, and that history, art, and culture. Ancient good guides are worth more than Byzantine capitals like Ravenna, Italy and Thessalonica, Greece are not exactly magnets for most tourists today. Yet for Byzantophiles, they are home to must-see art and artifacts. To us, they meant nothing. Until we got there.
you pay them. They bring it all to life. On this trip, the guides were said to be very good and
their services were part of the package.

Full Article : allthingscruise.com/wp-content/uploads/AllThingsCruise-Aegean-Odyssey-Tony-Leighton.pdf

February 5, 2012
Killer freeze hits Europe

Below zero: Snow falls on Istanbul’s Istiklal Avenue. Turkey was paralysed by the blizzard, and elsewhere in Europe the freezing temperatures proved deadly. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

FREEZING weather has killed dozens of people in central and eastern Europe over the past few days.

And temperatures are set to drop even further, authorities warned yesterday.

In Poland, police said 10 died over the weekend as temperatures plunged to -27C, raising the death toll from exposure to 46 since the start of the winter, which had been unusually mild up to now.

Ukraine’s health ministry said 18 people have died of hypothermia in the last four days. Most of them were homeless who froze to death in the streets or old people who died in their flats or after hospitalisation.

Nearly 500 people sought medical help for frostbite and hypothermia in just three days last week, the emergency situations ministry said. Authorities have opened 1500 shelters to provide food and heat, as temperatures plunge to 30 degrees below zero Celsius in some regions of the country.

Police also reported that at least three people died of exposure over the weekend in the Baltic state of Lithuania. A 91-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man were among the victims.

A Palestinian migrant froze to death trying to cross the river Evros between Greece and Turkey and two more were missing, one of them a nine-year-old girl, local police said yesterday.

The Palestinian, whose age was not disclosed, was part of a group of 15 Asians and Africans trapped by rising waters on the river, a key crossing point into Europe for scores of thousands of migrants annually.

Another nine migrants were rescued from the Evros on Sunday after their rubber dinghy allegedly overturned but a nine-year-old Afghan girl and her 55-year-old grandfather were still missing, a local police source said.

Temperatures in the area fall to around -20C after nightfall.

In the Czech Republic, a 26-year-old man was found frozen to death in a field near the eastern town of Opava on Saturday.

Forecasters have warned temperatures are likely to plunge to -30C in the country this week, after hitting -20C in some places on Sunday.

In Bulgaria, five died in snow storms last week, local media reported yesterday as a Siberian cold front hit the Balkan country with temperatures dropping to -24C in some places. Most were elderly people who lost their way and were left stranded out in the cold.

The towns of Chirpan in the south and Sevlievo in the centre recorded the lowest temperatures early yesterday, at -24C and -23.4C respectively, the national weather service said.

It forecast that the mercury would drop even further in the next few days.

Four more people died over the past 24 hours in Romania, the health ministry said, raising the overall death toll to six.

In Serbia, three died of hypothermia over the weekend, the Tanjug news agency said yesterday.

In the Valjevo region, 80km south-west of Belgrade, a 49-year-old woman was found dead by workers clearing snow on a road and a 52-year-old man died close to his home in the village of Bobovo.

An 81-year-old woman was found dead in her own home in the village of Taor, Tanjug said.

Heavy snowfalls, that seriously disrupted road traffic and power supplies, ceased yesterday but the country was still experiencing a fierce cold snap as temperatures fell to -20C overnight in central Serbia.

Heavy snowfall blanketed Turkey’s commercial hub Istanbul, a city of 15 million, yesterday, paralysing daily life and disrupting air and land transport.

Officials said almost 200 flights were cancelled due to the snow expected to continue until late today, while hundreds of people were stuck in private vehicles or public transport.

Turkey is facing a severe winter and temperatures in the capital Ankara are expected to fall as low as -15C in the next couple of days.

via Killer freeze hits Europe | The Courier-Mail.

January 31, 2012