Have Lunch Like the Locals Do: Sultanahmet Köftecisi

April 20, 2008

This may seem like a strange restaurant tip. Sultanahmet Köftecisi is a place that doesn’t have a real menu, obviously doesn’t care too much about its interior design, doesn’t serve alcoholic beverages, has no starters and only one dessert, expects you to vacate your table in less than 30 minutes, yet is a must-have-done experience […]

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The Harem – Video Gallery

April 17, 2008

There has always been some mystique attached around the Harem. Below you’ll find a fair impression of the Harem in Topkapi Palace. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in size). The length of both movies is the same: 2:17 min. Enjoy! YouTube Version Local Version

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See How Easily You Can Visit the Harem of Topkapi Palace

April 15, 2008

The word Harem comes from Arabic and originally means forbidden. Contrary to what many (want to) believe, the Harem was not just an erotic hothouse. It was the private area of the sultan and his sons, hence forbidden for all other males, except the black eunuchs guarding the premises. Women on the other hand, had […]

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Topkapi Palace – Video Gallery

April 13, 2008

Topkapi Palace has also been the setting for a few caper movies. Topkapi (1964) is the oldest and won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Peter Ustinov); the second film is a sequel of The Thomas Crown Affair starring Pierce Brosnan and is scheduled to be released in 2009. I’m afraid my movie […]

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Little Known Ways to Make the Most of Topkapi Palace – Part 3

April 10, 2008

As mentioned in the first part, the First Courtyard was the most public one, and therefore not really considered as being part of the Topkapi Palace. But the deeper you go into the palace, the less accessible it was for the people of the Ottoman Empire. Where the Second Courtyard was already semi-public (see Topkapi […]

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What Goes Up Must Come Down

March 14, 2008

While there are several countries that lie on more than one continent, Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents. Istanbul’s coordinates are 41 degrees north, and approximately 29 degrees east. Not a big deal. But if you would follow that 41°N parallel around the globe, you’ll find out that Istanbul […]

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Stuck In The Middle With You

March 12, 2008

Whatever means of transportation you choose to reach your hotel, if it has inflatable tires, chances are very likely you’ll be confronted with one of the biggest problems Istanbul has to cope with: traffic! Of course, Istanbul is not the only metropolis in the world suffering from clogged streets. But the massive proportions of these […]

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Four Ways to Reach Your Hotel

March 10, 2008

Once you’ve made your way out of the airport, there is of course still the matter of getting to your hotel. If your hotel reservation includes a free airport pick-up, you’re all sorted. If not, do keep on reading since you have a few options. Let me give you a rundown of the cheapest, quickest […]

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Duty-Free Upon Arrival?

March 4, 2008

After passing the border control and being let into the country, you normally go look for your luggage and head for the exit. But hold your horses, there is still a small surprise ahead. At the Atatürk International Airport of Istanbul, you can also buy duty-free goods upon arrival. Although you can experience this opportunity […]

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How To Buy Your Way In?

March 2, 2008

This may seem like a strange article, not in the least because of its length. But people who have ever queued the line at the Atatürk Airport passport control for half an hour or more, only to find out that they had to buy their visa somewhere else first and were therefore sent back to […]

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