Risab & Family's Istanbul Trip Report
Jan 25th, 2009, 05:32 AM
#41
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Opaldog I will do my best to finish.
However, I will be happy to share with you what we liked best about Istanbul, which is pretty much everything.
How long are you going to be there and where are you staying?
However, I will be happy to share with you what we liked best about Istanbul, which is pretty much everything.
How long are you going to be there and where are you staying?
Jan 25th, 2009, 06:02 AM
#42
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We will be departing BOS March 5 and returning on March 11; so 5 nights in Istanbul. We have reserved the Penthouse Suite at Empress Zoe. I have read many good reports about the hotel and we look forward to it.
I have a general idea of what we plan to do. I chose Sultanhamet with reservations. As a first time visitor we want to see all of the "old" sites. However, that said, I am leery about everything I hear about the very touristic atmosphere. We are after all tourists, so I should not be too concerned.
I do plan to go over across the Golden Horn and investigate that area. We hope to go on the Bosphorus and head over to a town on the Asian side.
Recommendations from anyone are welcome.
I have a general idea of what we plan to do. I chose Sultanhamet with reservations. As a first time visitor we want to see all of the "old" sites. However, that said, I am leery about everything I hear about the very touristic atmosphere. We are after all tourists, so I should not be too concerned.
I do plan to go over across the Golden Horn and investigate that area. We hope to go on the Bosphorus and head over to a town on the Asian side.
Recommendations from anyone are welcome.
Jan 25th, 2009, 04:05 PM
#43
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kikiv...glad you had a great trip and I am also glad that this post helped you to plan your trip. Sorry to hear Selem Sessler was away. Can't wait to read your report.
Sally30...don't worry about the weather - as my report indicates we had quite a few days of rain but there was so much to do inside that it really did not matter. The only day that it did put a damper on things was when we traveled to the Asian side to Bagdat Street. The best advise I can give is plan your days according to neigbhorhoods because Istanbul is really big and be flexible like we were - when it rained we just rearranged our schedule and did more indoor things. It is such a wonderful city.
...as for weather...my daughter and I spent a week in Rome at the end of November into the first week of December. It rained a bit almost every day but we had a marvelous time. Nothing stopped us.
Sally30...don't worry about the weather - as my report indicates we had quite a few days of rain but there was so much to do inside that it really did not matter. The only day that it did put a damper on things was when we traveled to the Asian side to Bagdat Street. The best advise I can give is plan your days according to neigbhorhoods because Istanbul is really big and be flexible like we were - when it rained we just rearranged our schedule and did more indoor things. It is such a wonderful city.
...as for weather...my daughter and I spent a week in Rome at the end of November into the first week of December. It rained a bit almost every day but we had a marvelous time. Nothing stopped us.
Jan 26th, 2009, 07:33 AM
#44
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risab"
Reading of your pronounced interest in synagogues and Jewish sites...please drop me a note and I will email you my "Synagogues Visited Worldwide"....I would be happy to fill in any detailed information on any of the places listed whenever you decide to travel there. It contains nearly 100 locations...all of which I have visited in decades past....
stu Tower
[email protected] (L.A.)
Reading of your pronounced interest in synagogues and Jewish sites...please drop me a note and I will email you my "Synagogues Visited Worldwide"....I would be happy to fill in any detailed information on any of the places listed whenever you decide to travel there. It contains nearly 100 locations...all of which I have visited in decades past....
stu Tower
[email protected] (L.A.)
Feb 10th, 2009, 11:27 PM
#46
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risab -thanks so much for the great report - we're headed to Turkey for a week (my second trip, husband's first) in May to visit friends living there and combining it with a week in Greece (also with same friends who have family and a home in Greece as well) and your report both brought back memories of my first trip there with my father when I was much younger and also gave me some great tips for my upcoming trip.
Feb 11th, 2009, 02:25 PM
#47
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opaldog-I was sorry to seeyour changed where you decided to stay in Istanbul. We were there in 06 & stayed at the Dersaadat and loved it so much. i hope you enjoy the Zoe. Istanbul is a wonderful report-I was reminising when I was reading Risab's report. Thenks for the memories all.Chris
Mar 18th, 2009, 12:24 PM
#48
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well, you shouldn't go without a response for the month of March. so many fodorites have enjoyed your report as I have.
We are staying in the sultanhamet, but its our first time there in Nov. Will be contacting e-mail for chief rabbinate.
Thanks you, Tania
We are staying in the sultanhamet, but its our first time there in Nov. Will be contacting e-mail for chief rabbinate.
Thanks you, Tania
Mar 18th, 2009, 01:16 PM
#49
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BeniciaChris: I just saw your remark on Feb. 11. I really did love Empress Zoe. The view was amazing. We did walk past the Dersaadat on our last morning in Istanbul and it did look nice. There was construction directly across the street. I had read on tripadvisor that there was a car wash across the street. It didn't appear to be there anymore. I wondered if the new construction was replacing the car wash.
risab: I too enjoyed reading your report; even more so after returning and having experienced Istanbul. Thanks for all of your info.
risab: I too enjoyed reading your report; even more so after returning and having experienced Istanbul. Thanks for all of your info.
Apr 24th, 2009, 04:22 AM
#50
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Istanbul in April-May is spectacular... the nightingales sing and the lavender "erguvan" (Redbud trees) are in bloom above the tulips... As a travel consultant, this is my favorite time of year there....And if you are a foodie, the artichokes (peddled by street vendors!) will blow you away.
Right now you can follow Ketzel Levine-- who was the horticulture & environmental correspondent on National Public Radio-- as she explores Istanbul for the first time and leads our botanical tour in Western Turkey.
Yesterday I sent her to the wonderful Zencefil, a vegetarian restaurant that serves traditional Turkish & a little fusion food. ZENCEFIL is at No. 3 Kurabiye Sokak (just off Taksim Square)
See an overview of the botanical tour
http://hollychase.com/ketzel-levines-botanical-tours/
We're tentatively planning a 2nd itinerary for Fall 2009.
For now, you can also follow Ketzel's own comments on Turkey
www.ketzel.com
Holly (at) Hollychase (dot) com
Right now you can follow Ketzel Levine-- who was the horticulture & environmental correspondent on National Public Radio-- as she explores Istanbul for the first time and leads our botanical tour in Western Turkey.
Yesterday I sent her to the wonderful Zencefil, a vegetarian restaurant that serves traditional Turkish & a little fusion food. ZENCEFIL is at No. 3 Kurabiye Sokak (just off Taksim Square)
See an overview of the botanical tour
http://hollychase.com/ketzel-levines-botanical-tours/
We're tentatively planning a 2nd itinerary for Fall 2009.
For now, you can also follow Ketzel's own comments on Turkey
www.ketzel.com
Holly (at) Hollychase (dot) com
Apr 27th, 2009, 06:45 AM
#52
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My friend who owns Istanbul's ZENCEFIL reports that her restaurant's street number has changed.
This charming (mostly) vegetarian place has expanded to Nos. 8-10 KURABIYE SOKAK-- on the same street.
Zencefil is a great choice for any group that includes both omnivores and vegetarians. The restaurant serves a variety of seasonal produce, and seafood, as well as the occasional bit of poultry, do appear on the menu. Wine is also available. This place is NOT doctrinaire-- it's simply DELICIOUS!
There is no website for the restaurant, but if you email me, I can send you some photos.
Thank you Stu. T (above) for your translation comment above...
I had looked around myself (as my own Yiddish is limited) and found the Hebrew derivation of "Ketzel" to be from the word referring to the scent of Cassia (cinnamon). To a botanically-tuned cook like me, that sounds delightful.
And for a plant person like Ketzel Levine, perfectly apt!
Follow Ketzel and her tour group as they set off along Turkey's Aegean coast in search of spring flora. Daily updates will be posted on the tour's website.
The first one went up today, 27 April 2009.
http://hollychase.com/ketzel-levines-botanical-tours
Holly (at) HollyChase (dot) com
This charming (mostly) vegetarian place has expanded to Nos. 8-10 KURABIYE SOKAK-- on the same street.
Zencefil is a great choice for any group that includes both omnivores and vegetarians. The restaurant serves a variety of seasonal produce, and seafood, as well as the occasional bit of poultry, do appear on the menu. Wine is also available. This place is NOT doctrinaire-- it's simply DELICIOUS!
There is no website for the restaurant, but if you email me, I can send you some photos.
Thank you Stu. T (above) for your translation comment above...
I had looked around myself (as my own Yiddish is limited) and found the Hebrew derivation of "Ketzel" to be from the word referring to the scent of Cassia (cinnamon). To a botanically-tuned cook like me, that sounds delightful.
And for a plant person like Ketzel Levine, perfectly apt!
Follow Ketzel and her tour group as they set off along Turkey's Aegean coast in search of spring flora. Daily updates will be posted on the tour's website.
The first one went up today, 27 April 2009.
http://hollychase.com/ketzel-levines-botanical-tours
Holly (at) HollyChase (dot) com
May 3rd, 2009, 07:28 AM
#53
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this is a great report. I'll be using it to help plan my own first trip to Istanbul late June-early July. I've arranged for a half day private tour of Jewish sites with a guide. I guess I'll visit synagogues, and save the museum to visit on my own? Are any advance clearances needed to visit the museum?
