Ministry Of Eccentricity

Istanbul, where East meets West

Other than several ones in the Middle East, Istanbul was one of the few destinations I had the honor to visit and I would kill for another opportunity to! It was merely at the age of nine that I did the first time. Ranked by TripAdvisor, as tourists' favorite destination for 2011, a review to Istanbul can easily be captioned with the title, "A Destination of a kind".

Set in the beautiful, mountainous lands of Turkey, Istanbul captures a unique essence which is the result of the infusion of two cultures, the Islamic Middle Eastern one delicately embroidered with the European. Services required such as public transportation are world class and so, unlike a trip to Africa, as a tourist, you will never feel inconvenienced with poor conditions.

The Blue Mosque

For you, history lovers, out there, Istanbul was the home of the the Ottoman Empire which conquered the Moslem world before Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded Turkey as a republic, so, you have plentiful tours to visit. Hagia Sophia, is one place you shouldn't miss as it is one place where Christianity and Islam come into cohesion, in a manner like no other. The sight was originally an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, from 360 AD to 1453 AD and then converted into a mosque which was finally secularized in 1931 and reopened as a museum in 1935. Another must-visit is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as Blue Mosque, which combines classic architecture with a modern ingenuity. My favorite tour though was the Topkapi Palace which held Jewelry, furniture and rooms with an exquisitely oriental touch which is hard to find elsewhere. I do not recommend Dolmabahçe Palace at all as it is very devoid of the class shown in the brochures when it comes to real life. Moreover, the tour schedules are very rigorous and all visitors have to conform to a tour guide which is frustrating when you want to do things at your own pace.

For you, shopaholics, out there, the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı in Turkish) is a great place to WINDOW SHOP, as it captivates an Eastern, ethnic atmosphere; however, it's actually a tourist trap. If you're in for real shopping, better alternatives are available such as Mahmutpasha Bazaar which is actually just a couple of blocks away. Another personal recommendation would be Taksim Square which is not only a great place to shop but holds a vibrant momentum only equivalent of Times Square in The Big Apple.

Another aspect which I particularly enjoyed in my trip was the food which leans a little towards the Eastern side and many platters were no different from the Middle Eastern ones I ate in Egypt, Syria and the Gulf Countries. Do NOT miss the Shawerma or Turkish Delights! They are Musts! The moderate exchange rates are great as you rarely ever come across anything that would be labelled as, 'Expensive', regardless of where you come from.

Haiga Sophia's interior!

The weather in Turkey is pretty moderate with rarely ever any extremes so touring is applicable all year long, yet I went in the summer and if I got the opportunity to go again, I would still choose the warm summer. Hands down, my favorite part of the trip was the boat trips to all the nearby islands with the beautiful scenery. The boats trips are a perfect opportunity for immense peace and meditation.

To conclude, if you're in for a fabulous holiday with history, shopping, nature, nightlife and good cuisine, head to Turkey as it is hands down the best place ever! For more information, tips or support contact me at adamashraf97@hotmail.com or visit TripAdvisor.