Istanbul

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

(sang in the tune of "Annie")

Couldn't be more excited for...

I've been soaking up my travel books and am all packed appropriately for a 10 day extravaganza to Istanbul :) 

It's the farthest trip I've ever taken and with that, 

I'm really taking the planning seriously. 

We've gotta make the most of a city that spans TWO continents!

Here's what's on the agenda for us

five adults with a five month old :)

- Bosphorus cruise & a boat ride to one of the Prince's Islands 

- The Grand Bazaar & antiquing in Cukurcuma

- Cooking class in the Spice Bazaar

- Visit a Turkish Hamam (bath house)

- Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia

- Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts

- Topkapi Palace and the Galata Tower

- Bebek, Sarıyer and/or Rumeli Kavağı

- Fortress of Europe & Emirgan Park

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A little bit about Istanbul

Country: Turkey

Region: Marmara

Province: Istanbul

Established: 

Byzantium (c. 660 BC)  

Constantinople (330 AD) 

Istanbul (1930 – to date)

Districts: 39

Population: 13,854,740

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Did you know? 

Istanbul (İstanbul) is the largest city in Turkey.

Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus
one of the world's busiest waterways—in northwestern Turkey, 
between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. 

Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, 
while a third of its population lives in Asia.

The first known name of the city is Byzantium, 
originating from the name of the king, Byzas, 
whose colony founded it around 660 BC. 

After Constantine the Great made it the new eastern capital 
of the Roman Empire in 330 AD, the city became 
widely known as Constantinopolis (Constantinople).

 The vast majority of people across Turkey, and in Istanbul, 
consider themselves Muslim, and more specifically 
members of the Sunni branch of Islam.

Turkish Muslims perform the prayer ritual (namaz) five times daily, according to the tenets of Islam. Tourists do not visit the mosques during these hours. 

The ezan (call to prayer) is chanted six times daily. 
The exact time of the ezan changes from day to day 
and from place to place, according to longitude 
and latitude, sunrise and sunset, and 
geographical relationship to Mecca. 

Homage is paid to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; 1881 –1938 who was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. 

He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey. His surname, Atatürk (meaning "Father of the Turks"), was granted to him (and forbidden to any other person) in 1934 by the Turkish parliament.

  His military campaigns led to victory in the Turkish War of Independence. Atatürk then embarked upon a program of political, economic, and cultural reforms, seeking to transform the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, secular and European nation-state. 
  

His face and name are seen and heard everywhere in Turkey; his portrait can be seen in all public buildings, in all schools and classrooms, on all school books, on all Turkish lira banknotes, and in the homes of many Turkish families. 
  

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Key Words & Phrases

ENGLISH	TURKISH
Hello	Merhaba!
Good-bye	Hoşçakal!
How are you?	Nasılsın?
Thank you	Teşekkür ederim.
You’re welcome	Birşey değil.
Please	Lütfen.
Do you speak English?	İngilizce konuşur musunuz?
I don’t speak Turkish	Türkçe bilmiyorum!
Pleased to meet you	Tanıştığımıza sevindim
Where is the washroom?	Afedersiniz, tuvalet nerede?
How much does it cost?	Ne kadar?
Excuse me	Afedersiniz.
Can you help me?	Yardım edebilir misiniz?
Yes	Evet.
No	Hayır.
I don’t know	Bilmiyorum.
Okay/Alright	Tamam.
Welcome	Hoş Geldiniz.

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MANY PIX TO FOLLOW!