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Istanbul, Fall 2019 ~ Read
The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak was recommended by my Fodor’s travel guide to Istanbul, so I figured I’d read it to see if it’s a good preview for the city that survived millennia, different faiths, earthquakes and fires. It is an entertaining read, detailing adventures of a young Indian boy, who ends up in Istanbul by accident, and grows into a figure of influence at the Sultan’s court. The reader gets some insight into the processes surrounding construction some of Turkey’s most celebrated mosques, while catching a glimpse into imagined lives of 14th century residents of Istanbul, as well as courtiers, merchants and various transplants from all over the…
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Istanbul, Fall 2019 ~ Travel
When looking for cheap tickets for myself to visit Russia in the Fall of 2019, I came across flights via Turkish Airlines with 20+ hour layovers in Istanbul each way. Yes, please! Accommodations via AirBnB in the historic part of the city were $50 per night, so overall the airfare was a steal compared to some other, quicker alternatives. Having done one of these long layovers in Frankfurt, Germany a few years back, I knew I would pack in as much as possible. Both of the layovers were early evening to mid-morning, so of course I had to sleep, especially contending with a 9-hour jet lag. But I managed to…
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Istanbul, Fall 2019 ~ Create
In full transparency, I made this project to go with my “Greek” corner at the front of the house, but the inspiration for flag design did come from “evil eye” amulets and jewelry that I saw everywhere in Turkey. And since these are both Mediterranean countries, I guess it is representative of the region. The three interconnected circles within each little flag in the bunting also represent trinity, reminding me of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which once functioned as a Christian church, and is filled with gorgeous mosaics depicting Christian saints.
