Snapshots of Bebek

Bosphorus waterfront. 

Weathered old fishermen.

 Seaside cafes. 

The imposing Rumeli Fortress.

 Sun setting over the edge of Istanbul. 

What more could you ask of an evening?

Minnows loving their new home in a  Erikli water bottle.

Offering to share their trash can fire.

Three little boats, all in a row. 

Perched on an old yogurt bucket.

"Leaf in Love" is the name of this beauty.

Day Trip to Ortaköy & Beşiktaş

Lauren and I spent the better part of Thursday morning winding our way through the village streets of Kemerburgaz standing up on the awkwardly filled public bus, trying to make our way into the city. Being it Bayram this week (a religious holiday celebrating the trials Abraham suffered when God commanded him to sacrifice his son, Issac. More on this interesting holiday later) the private shuttle from our compound in Kemercountry was not running. The shuttle takes 30 minutes, the public bus takes an hour an a half. We had to make due with what we had. We had a late start, what with waiting in the rain for the shuttle for the better part of an hour, before giving up running back to our houses for umbrellas and warmer jackets to wait for the bus, and didn't arrive in Ortaköy (Or-ta-coy) until noon. I purchased an Istanbulkart, a card that will let me have my fill of public transit, and made our way riverside to do some browsing and photographing. 

Birds flying over one of the many, many boats that make it's run up and down the Bosphorus each and every day. You will notice that boats will only run one direction, that is because they are only allowed to head upstream during certain time during the day, and downstream certain times.

 A seasoned fisherman and his kindly old fisherman pals doing what they've done best for the better part of the last century. (Assumingly.)

 The Grand Mejidiye Mosque in Ortaköy stationed imposingly on the water on this overcast, gloomy day.

 Beşiktaş(Besh-ik-tash)

The third floor rooftop terrace at the Adresim Cafe. You can see the Grand Mejidiye Mosque in the background.

The Adresim Cafe, where Lauren and I ate baked potatoes with black and green olives, peas, corn, cheese and sıcak sos (hot sauce) for 8 TL and Diet Cokes for 4 TL (over 3 USD!) We sat on the rooftop cafe overlooking the streets of Beşiktaş.

Brunch on the Bosphorus

This morning brought on an unexpected excursion into Istanbul proper with Almira, my new abla, (sister) and my host family. We drove from Kemerburgaz through the winding, narrow streets of Bebek that find themselves sprawled over hill tops and along the Bosphorus River. Bebek, located on the European side of Istanbul, means baby, in Turkish. 

Sade Kahve, meaning "black coffee," the outdoor cafe where we ate brunch that looks out over the river and a massive, unsupported suspension bridge linking European and Asian Istanbul.

Right over our heads, high up on the hill sat the Rumeli Hisar Fortress. Before Constantinople was conquered by the Turks, the Rumeli Fortress was built by Mehmet II to prevent the Byzantine fleets from entering the Bosphorus straits. 

The Rumeli Hisar Fortress, as seen from the Bosphorus

Finally being in the city was a dream. I live for exploration and adventure, none of which can be found in Kemerburgaz, unless you are content comparing prices and trying to read the Turkish food labels at the local Macro Center. Interesting yes, do they put different thing in Dove sampuan (shampoo) here...? Guess we'll find out.