Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad. I have such a desire to do everything, my head is bursting with it. -Claude Monet-

The funny thing in this city is that although Turkish people do not celebrate christmas a lot of shops decorate their windows with christmas stuff. Cevahir, one of the hugest shopping malls in Istanbul, is completly in christmas fever, from inside as well as from outside. Everywhere you find lights, christmas trees and presents. Unfortunatly I missed the German christmas market organized by the German grammar school. I heard that Glühwein and gingerbread were sold there. Luckily I have a dear friend how brought me along some filled gingerbread hearts, thank you so much Gülşah! I also recieved a real chocolate Nikolaus from Germany, that really made my 6th of December!

So grab your self some Spekulatius and open yourself for the impressions of christmas feeling in Istanbul, ho ho ho!

December Istanbul'da

I was always floating around the city
Going with the flow without ever knowing
where I wanna be.

Ok, I have to admit that the weather is not always that nice as on this very nice moment I caught on the ferry on our way to Bebek. Bebek by the way is a very nice district of Istanbul where the rich and famous are home so it was obvious that we had to discover this place ;) The Starbucks there has a beautiful view over the whole city. We were sitting on the 2nd floor with our beloved brownies and watching the sun setting down and all the colourful lights turning on. Especially the two Bosphorus bridges looked amazing (you have not often the chance to see both of them together). 

Unfortunatly it is also raining a lot in Istanbul and the streets are definetly not made for rain. So after one hour the streets are full with mass of water. People in Istanbul never go out with an umbrella. As soon as it starts to rain the streets are full of shouting people who are selling umbrellas. But the thing is that the umbrellas they sell a so trashy that they only last for maybe one rain, and when there is wind - you are screwed. That's the quality you get for 5 Lira. At least we don't have minus degrees and there is no snow, which I actually imagine myself very beautiful on top of the mosquees..

The best thing you can do when the weather is bad is to go shopping ;) As I don't have so much time anymore before I fly back home to Germany I started to buy souveniers. Although Istanbul offers you a variety of nearly everything it is not easy to find the suitable things for your homies. And I don't like just to buy something that I got at least something, you got me? Of course I also bought something for myself. Do you remeber my post about the braclets? From time to time I got much more of them also because I discovered a little shop that sells every accessoires you can imagine. It is always croweded with fashionable Turkish women and sometimes their boyfriends are standing outside, kind of bored, smoking and carrying all of the other shopping bags of their girlfriends.


I also started an experiment I was very scared of all the month. But I could not handle the fact anymore that my hair is growing longer and longer. So I finally went to the hairdresser at our University (yes, we have one at our University because the spoiled Turkish girls go there nearly every day, sometimes just to have their hair straightend or curled, unbelievable). Luckily I went together with my Greek roomate who can at least talk Turkish. But how do you explain what you want when you first don't really know what you want and second you don't have a language in common? Ok, so I got first my hair washed and then he started to cut them. Shyly I told him that he can go on a bit and cut some more - which really surprised him. As I was satisfied with the result he washed them again (for what reason ever) and started to dry them and put every kind of care products and hairspray inside that he could find. Suddenly he realized that my hair is to thin for all this stuff and I looked like I had put my finger into the socket. So what to do no? Yes, wash my hair again. Maybe for an excuse or for a favor he also massaged my head and told my how beautiful my eyes are. After one and a half our and 35 Lira poorer I left the store again and finally I have to admit that he did a good job.

I Listen To Istanbul

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
First, a light wind blowing
A soft wind swaying
The leaves in the trees,
And far off in the distance
The tinkling cups of the water-seller;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
Now the birds are passing
In high clamoring flocks,
Nets are pulled in at the fisheries,
A woman's feet graze the water;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
The cool covered bazaar,
Mahmutpasha, the courtyards
Filled with warbling pigeons,
Hammer sounds from the docks,
Smells of sweat in my lovely Spring wind;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
An old world drunk in its head,
A waterfront palace with a dark boat shed,
The humming of the lodos ceases inside;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
A pretty young girl walks by
Chased by taunts, come-ons and curses,
Something falls from my hand—
Surely a rose;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed:
A bird is fluttering in your skirts,
Your brow is hot, I know,
Your lips are wet, I know, I know,
A white moon rises behind the pistachio trees—
I understand the pounding of your heart;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

Orhan Veli Kanik

 

WELCOME TO THE MOST INSPIRING CITY IN THE WORLD

Do you know the moment on the airport when you stand in front of the big door where all people who arrive are passing through and you wait for the ones you love? You are excited every single time the the door opens and just in the moment you expacted it the less they are standing right in front of you. Emotions are overwelming and the best thing to do is to stay hugged as long as possible.

Spending time with the most important people in your life in the most incredible city is hard to describe in words. You even feel a bit proud that you have choosen such a beautiful city where you can show them your favorite places you discovered in time. Seeing the Hagia Sophia, eating the best Lahmacun, drinking cay on the grand bazaar all these things are even more impressive when you have somebody familiar you can share these moments with. - Thank you soooo much for the great time, it felt so good with you <3

Don`t count the days - make the days count

Thanks the the Indian family for the photo of the three of us

"oh, this is a really nice camera" ;)

Blue Mosque - Sultanahmet the only one with six minarets

The blue mosque is simply stunning. A peaceful atmosphere like in a living room (because you have to take off your shoes) where you can sit down, you will sit next to other people from all over the world who obviously do not have the same religion as you have but this doesn`t matter. Everyone is faszinated by the light and the warmth that is spread in this magic place. Just lay back relax, forget about the noise from outside and reflect what you have seen so for from the city and what you still want to see.

shopping at the bazaar - like real Turkish citizens 

somewhere over the rainbow 

view from the ferry to maiden tower - kız kulesi 

 

 

 

FOR FUTURE INSPIRATIONS WE WISH TO SEE YOU AGAIN