Today I got up early to visit the seaside, the port, and the bridge to take photos of the morning scenery. My route from my guesthouse to the new town included crossing the Galata Bridge, a sea-crossing bridge connecting Europe and Asia. You've seen this famous bridge in photos in many travel magazines, with hundreds of fishermen casting their fishing rods over it. It's one of the many bridges that span the Golden Horn and has a rich and colorful history, having been rebuilt five times in five different locations. The current Galata Bridge, built in 1992, replaced a beloved floating bridge from 1912, and sways gently as the sea shifts beneath it.
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The snack bar on the sidewalk near the coast sells a variety of hot dogs, hamburgers, and drinks
Looking from the old city to the new city across the Bosphorus Strait, the most obvious building is Galata Tower
Galata Bridge connects Istanbul to Europe and Asia, with many restaurants under the bridge
We often see photos of people fishing on this bridge, but since it was so early in the morning, there were only a few people there.
This is really amazing. It's unattended. It probably uses a remote control device.
Golden Horn Bridge
Galata Bridge has three lanes on each side. In the middle is the T1 electric train passing through the bridge. Next to the lanes is a fishing spot. This is a very unique view.
New Town, Independence Avenue (İstiklâl Caddesi)
We planned a day to visit the New Town. Transportation was a bit inconvenient, and since it was near the end of our trip and we were a bit tired, we didn't do much research. Based on our research and a map, we figured the T1 tram would be the most convenient. However, when we got off at the end of the tram near the sea and prepared to walk towards Independence Avenue, we discovered it was all uphill—quite steep, and the walk took quite a while, about 20 minutes—and was quite tiring. Along the way, we encountered a Turkish trick: a shoeshine man would walk towards us and then deliberately drop something on the ground. Our natural reaction was to remind him, but he would then offer to shine our shoes for free, as a token of gratitude, and then he would keep asking for money.
Taksim Square
After about half an hour of walking in the scorching sun, my body burning and my breath pounding, I finally arrived. "Taksim" means "distribution" in Turkish, referring to the area as the former water collection and distribution center for the North Istanbul water pipeline. Once water reached Taksim, it was distributed elsewhere. Today, Taksim has become a bustling commercial square and a vital transportation hub for many public transportation options.
The monument commemorates the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923 following the Turkish War of Independence.
Taksim Mosque
Istiklal Avenue, located in the historic Beyoğlu district, is an elegant and bustling pedestrian street, approximately three kilometers long. Along its length are exquisite boutiques, music shops, bookstores, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, libraries, cafes, bars, nightclubs offering concerts, traditional pastry shops, chocolate shops, and restaurants. Its significance was established in the 19th century, when the Beyoğlu neighborhood where it is located was still known by its old Greek name, Pera, and the street itself was known as "Pera Avenue." This area was once home to Istanbul's Christians, including Greeks and Armenians, as well as European expatriates and Western embassies. It played a crucial role in the political, economic, and cultural life of Istanbul and the entire Ottoman Empire.
Cable Car: A cable car similar to the one in San Francisco runs down the middle of the street
Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul's Taksim Doner is the most famous place for kebab. Next door, at the Kizilkayalar food stall, I recommend trying the ıslak burger.
Turkey is probably most famous for its desserts! Haha, I've been trying Turkish delight since day one, and after trying so many, I still think the one from the century-old shop, Hafiz Mustafa 1864, is the best! Hafiz Mustafa 1864 has several branches in Istanbul. This one on Istiklal Avenue from Taksim Square is even bigger than the one we saw in the Old City. They even offer afternoon tea inside, which is absolutely delicious!
It's not easy for those guys who sing on the street. They can sing without any mistakes even if no one listens. I admire their courage.
Another guy asking for an entry camera! Turks really love being photographed.
If you haven't tried ice cream in Turkey, you haven't really been there! Turkish ice cream, with its many twists, can be found everywhere, in the streets and alleys, and at tourist attractions. MADO is a well-known Turkish chain of cafes and dessert shops, with over 300 branches worldwide. Their ultra-chewy texture and natural flavors are irresistible. MADO is marketed as both a cafe and a dessert shop, and the classic interior is a real eye-catcher, completely different from the exterior. The high ceilings create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.
An explosion occurred on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul, Turkey, around 8:25 a.m. EST on November 13, 2022, resulting in six deaths and 38 injuries. We visited this street during a trip there in June of this year. Armed police patrolled everywhere, and we didn't feel threatened at the time. The explosion occurred right in front of Mado, the ice cream shop where we had been eating. Thinking about it now is truly horrifying. Despite terrorist attacks, Turkey is generally very safe. Perhaps due to the presence of terrorists, we were stopped twice while driving on the mountain roads.
This kind of street ice cream is a specialty of Turkish streets. Not only do people perform ice cream stunts for people to watch, but they also please children because the ice cream is quite sticky so they can play with it.
The Basilica of St. Anthony, Sent Antuan Kilisesi, is the largest Roman Catholic church in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located on Istiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district. As everyone knows, Turkey is an Islamic country, with mosques everywhere, much like temples in Taiwan, and every town has its own religious building. The church's spacious main hall, with high ceilings and Gothic architecture, gives it a solemn and romantic atmosphere. Its towering architectural features can be seen on the exterior. Before his election as Pope, Pope John XXIII preached in this church for 10 years while serving as the Vatican's ambassador to Turkey. Because of his fluent Turkish and his frequent expressions of love for Turkey and Istanbul, he earned the title "Turkish Pope."
Another Orthodox church is near Taksim Square, Hagia Triada Greek Orthodox Church
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