It was a favorite haunt of Ottoman intellectuals and a center of European expatriates, who called it Granderuedepéra. 19th-century travelers called Constantinople (now Istanbul) the "Paris of the East," referring to Granderuedepéra and its half-European, half-Asian culture.
The Republic Government announced that the street would be renamed Independence Avenue to commemorate the victory of the Turkish War of Independence. In addition, according to information found on the Internet, the Turkish War of Independence was a military war after the end of World War I to resist the partition of the defeated Ottoman Empire, led by Kemal, the founding father revered by thousands of Turkish people.
The result was the complete collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern, secular Turkey. The buildings on both sides of Independence Avenue are very European, and there are all kinds of shops on the pedestrian street, restaurants, hotels, boutiques, bookstores, libraries, and theaters here.
I really like these lamps with local Turkish characteristics. Locals like them very much and cooperate in taking photos. The nostalgic trams remind pedestrians with their ding-dong sounds. Why don’t we feel it is chaotic in Turkey, but interesting instead? There are also consulates of France and other countries on Independence Street (I only saw the French flag at the intersection).
Church, etc. You can eat, drink, have fun, shop, visit, and most importantly, feel the atmosphere. It is said that on weekends, the daily traffic here is 300,000 people. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi went there on weekends, and there were indeed a lot of people. The paths on both sides of Independence Street are also very beautiful and winding, and how can there be no snack stalls on the bustling pedestrian street?
Roasted corn, roasted chestnuts, and naughty Turkish ice cream. But the price here is a bit higher than other places. There are also these traditional snacks that look tempting. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi once turned into a market with a transparent roof, which had all kinds of food. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi bought large almonds soaked in water that they had never seen anywhere else.
It only smells fresh, but not as good as cooked food. I also saw a snack bar with its glass windows facing the street wide open. The huge iron plate was steaming hot, with marinated minced meat or seafood skewers sizzling in the hot oil, and the aroma was everywhere. Take it out while it's hot, put it in a long bread, and add onions, lettuce, and tomatoes.
The chefs were banging the iron plates in various ways while making the hamburgers. There were marinated chili peppers, ketchup, etc. on the tables. Although it was just an ordinary hamburger, the lively movements of the chefs attracted many onlookers. The aroma was so tempting that many people were waiting to buy it. Yun Luo was very greedy.
It was a pity that Natasha didn't eat mutton, and Yunluo's teeth were not healed yet, so they gave up. But the temptation of the aroma made Yunluo remember it for a long time. In the third food kingdom, because of Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi's own reasons, they were unable to taste the local feast that represented mutton cooking, which was the biggest regret of the trip to Turkey.
Independence Avenue in the old city ends near the Galata Tower. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi walked randomly in the alley towards the Galata Bridge. The roads here seem to be connected, as long as the direction is right. After crossing the Galata Bridge, the spice market is next to the eye-catching Yeni Mosque. Let's experience the Spice Republic.
This Greek movie was downloaded to my iPad when I was planning to go to Turkey, but I didn't have time to watch it until the end of my trip. The Spice Market, also known as the Egyptian Market, originated from the Ottoman Empire. Many Egyptians gathered here to do business and sell spices and other goods from surrounding areas.
Back then, this was the largest spice distribution center in the entire Middle East. Today, the market is famous for selling spices and aphrodisiac perfumes. It is also said that this is where locals go shopping. Therefore, the prices are much cheaper than in the Grand Bazaar. There are many people in the market and the goods are abundant. This is a scene that can be found in all markets.
The characteristic of this place is the colors, and the extremely colorful commodities, including food, are so colorful that people dare not eat them. All foods can be tasted, including nuts, dried fruits, soft candies, olives, cheeses, and various teas. Natasha accepts all the food that is brought to her, and is happy to be a "city management officer of the spice market."
Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi bought pomegranate tea, cranberries, dried figs, cinnamon, and essential oil soap. The colors are so colorful. Yunluo didn't spend much time shopping. First, it was a closed market after all. The air inside was not good. Second, I received a call from a colleague who had just arrived in Istanbul. He missed his flight and needed to adjust his route.
In Otogar, Istanbul, I saw countless bus schedules and destinations, and I had no idea how far Pamukkale was from Ephesus. I was at a loss for a moment. Beside the dazzling spices, I spent all the phone bills I had saved, and even owed some money.
With Yunluo's limited experience of traveling along the western coastal areas of Turkey, he was able to roughly negotiate his next trip. His colleague, who left a week later than Yunluo, had much worse luck. First, he missed his flight from Istanbul to Izmir, and then it was rainy for consecutive days.
Later, Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi gathered together to talk about Turkey. He did not have the strong nostalgia and love for Turkey that Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi had. He reacted indifferently to the scenery and recognized the enthusiasm and kindness of the locals. Leaving the spice market, we continued to walk in the old city of Sultanahmet. The lights were on, and the lights in the small shops were shining softly.
The buildings in the old city are more European, the goods are still exquisite, and the smooth stone brick roads convey the message of the old times. At such a street corner, Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi opened the map and looked for the direction of the Blue Mosque. "Are you lost? Do you need help?" Although it was not very standard, it was definitely in Chinese.
Yunluo looked up and saw a young face that was definitely of Western origin. "You can speak Chinese?" Yunluo was more surprised than he understood the road conditions. The man introduced himself to Yunluo as someone who had lived in Sihai City for a year and could speak some Chinese. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi asked him about the Blue Mosque and whether there were any places to watch whirling dances nearby.
The man really only knew a little Chinese and didn't respond to the spinning dance. Yunluo tried to switch to English, "dance", and he must have understood it, so he stretched out his arms and spun around. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi said yes. The man said there was one at the old train station not far away, twice a week. I can't remember the exact time.
Thinking that they might not be able to catch up by chance, Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi decided to go to the Blue Mosque. The man said that the way there was not far and they could walk. They could also visit small shops along the way. There was a dessert shop with very good pudding, but the road was a bit roundabout, so he could take Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi there. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi chatted as they walked.
Yunluo said that she liked Istanbul very much, and the man was very happy because he was a local of Istanbul. He also said that Istanbul was better in the past few years. In the past two years, many refugees have come, most of them are Kurds. They have no home, no house, and will sleep on the street. There are also many children who have no schooling and will ask tourists for money.
He also reminded Yunluo and Nalanshiqi that most of these children were gathered near the station and the pier. Yunluo suddenly remembered eating grilled fish burgers at the pier last night. He saw the old city wall and the light rail. The man stopped at the intersection and pointed Yunluo and Nalanshiqi in the direction of the Blue Mosque, saying that they would not get lost as long as they followed the track.
After saying goodbye, he turned around and left. He specially led the way for Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi again. Yunluo couldn't remember how many locals had offered to help him. The kindness and enthusiasm of the Turkish people were beyond words. The brand new light rail whizzed past the old city wall and was about to reach the old palace.
There was a car accident on the road, and the police arrived in time to deal with it quickly. I arrived at the entrance of the old palace and went up along the track. The street became wider and more beautiful. In addition to various restaurants and souvenir shops, there is also a travel agency that provides tours around Turkey. The local specialty restaurant "Jiucai Box".
This local woman in white. Making Turkish pasties on site, which look like chive dumplings. I was a little greedy, but I thought that if I went there early, I might be able to catch the last bus for the tour. Hagia Sophia. After the visiting time, it was very quiet in front of the door. There is a square between it and the Blue Mosque not far away.
There are many tourists in the Blue Mosque. It is the landmark of Istanbul. There are many wooden benches in front of the mosque. Natasha, who was tired from walking for a long time, sat there and refused to move. She said that since Hagia Sophia was closed, the Blue Mosque must not be visited anymore, so why not sit here and take a rest. When looking for a place to take pictures of all six minarets at the same time.
I found people coming in and out of the Blue Mosque. I guess it was open. I happily ran to the bench and pulled Natasha up. The minaret of the Blue Mosque at night. There were some promotional signs introducing Islam in the corridor. There was a table that seemed to introduce the inheritance of religion, and Muhammad was at the bottom of the table.
That means he showed up very late. I couldn't understand the rest, and once again lamented that I lacked relevant knowledge. The place with the green curtain was the entrance to the mosque, and people took off their shoes to enter from time to time. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi wrapped their headscarves in front of the door, but were stopped by the staff.
They pointed to a sign saying that they would not accept tourists after 8pm. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi, who had no faith, were easily discovered. Thinking that they had to leave the hotel for the airport at 11am the next day and wanted to take a look at the old train station, they didn't have enough time, so they begged the staff unwillingly. At this time, several more Western tourists came.
The staff just kept saying "sorry" to Yunluo and Nalanshiqi. Yunluo thought that few people would come to Istanbul without visiting the Blue Mosque. Yunluo and Nalanshiqi were too greedy for the passing scenery and gave up this most representative scenery. The regret in their hearts was still very strong.
Outside the Blue Mosque there is an ancient stone surrounded by glass, which must have a very interesting origin. According to the instructions, it is the "zero kilometer" of the Roman Empire. I can't recognize many of the places on the sign. The city where Yunluo lives now is more than 1,700 kilometers away. Coming out of the Blue Mosque, the lights are bright in the opposite direction of Yunluo and the Naranshiqi Hotel.
Tourists were everywhere. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi walked towards the bustling area. Natasha seemed to have forgotten her fatigue and was strolling around with great interest. Actually, it was quite interesting to think about it. When they booked a hotel in Istanbul, Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi did not hesitate to stay in the old city in the face of many choices.
The reason seems to be very good, it is close to the attractions. During the two days I stayed in Istanbul, I went to the European New District every day, and did not visit any attractions in the old city. The planned walk in the old city was delayed until now. Fortunately, the night view of the old city is very good and popular. Except for this open-air restaurant that was never full.
Various local snacks appeared alternately. There was also a large supermarket on the road. Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi went in and bought local bathing products, such as loofah or sisal bath towels, etc., ready to take them back as gifts. Then they walked around one street after another, and the lights on each street were very gentle.
Itinerary: Walk to the Blue Mosque and take the tram to Sirkeci Railway Station. The Blue Mosque is a must-visit place in Istanbul. I went to Sirkeci Railway Station with some complex feelings, and there was no surprise or disappointment. I took a flight to leave Istanbul in the afternoon, ending the trip that Yunluo didn't want to end.
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
Cost: tram 4 lira/person, airport shuttle bus I can't remember, about 15-25 lira per person. When I woke up in the morning, I found that Yunluo's smart iPhone was one hour behind Natasha's manual Huawei. The iPhone was slow (actually I was worried that it was broken). Confused, Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi went to the restaurant downstairs for breakfast.
In the restaurant, there were only Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi, besides the waiter. After asking the waiter, I learned that Turkey changed from summer time to winter time that day. Turkey gave Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi another surprise for no reason. The joy was indescribable. So what are you waiting for? Finish your breakfast quickly.
Go straight to the Blue Mosque. Cold Spring Street, turn left from the old palace and go up. It is a scenic spot recommended by Baidu Travel. It is not long and has a brick road. There are retro old houses on both sides, most of which are now coffee shops, hookah shops, and painting stalls. It is very quiet. I remembered that I stopped at the intersection last night, and then I chose the road directly facing the old palace.
Because that street is more lively, you can go to Cold Spring Street (So?uk?e?me) and turn a corner to reach Hagia Sophia. It is the only building in the world that has undergone many changes and gone through many vicissitudes. The first generation was destroyed and the second generation was built. After the second generation was destroyed, the third generation was built on the original site. After the regime changed.
Four minarets were added around the church. It became a mosque. Later, it became a museum. The murals inside are extremely exquisite. Hagia Sophia was open to the public at 9:00, so Yunluo and Nalan Shiqi went to the Blue Mosque across the street first. There was a long row of taps to wash the Muslims' bodies.
Not far away, in the chapel, the teachings of the Koran cleanse the souls of Muslims. But tourists can only go through the side door inside. The Blue Mosque opens at 8:30 in the morning, and Yunluo and Nalan Seqi are the first group of tourists. As with all Islamic religious sites, you must wear a collared and sleeved top, and a skirt or pants that is longer than the knee.
Hair must be wrapped with a headband. At the entrance, there are two staff members, one male and one female. If they see tourists who are not dressed properly, they will point them out and ask them to wear the large shawl provided by the mosque. The interior of the Blue Mosque is simple and elegant. One of the highlights of the Blue Mosque: Iznik handmade blue tiles. It is said that there are 20,000 pieces of blue tiles. The second highlight of the Blue Mosque.
The third view of the Blue Mosque is the morning light from 260 colored glass windows. It is said that it was written by a great calligrapher. It is completely incomprehensible, not only the meaning. This calligraphy is also one of the views of the Blue Mosque. The entire building is also a miracle. It is said that no nails were used because it was the first batch of tourists to enter the interior for a visit.
The air felt good, without the bad smell as rumored. Unfortunately, I didn't see the believers praying, probably because Yunluo and Nalan Seqi came too early. In fact, since the day we entered Turkey, we could hear the sound of prayer every day, especially in small towns like Selcuk, Pamukkale, and Saffron.
I was always awakened by the call to prayer from the minaret. Even in my daze, I knew that I was in an Islamic country. The sense of foreignness and religion was strong. How far is it from the East to the West, from the Islamic mosque to the Christian cathedral, from Muslims to Christians? This narrow door and a distance of less than 200 meters.
I don't know what this can explain or make clear. Let's take a panoramic photo. The mosque with six minarets reminded me of the Buddhist temple in Bangkok. I was so confused. I walked to the Hagia Sophia, which is now a museum. There was a long queue of visitors. It looked like it would take at least half an hour to get in.
Calculating the time, I can only regret it. When will we meet again in Istanbul? Istanbul-Moscow Sirkeci Railway Station, the starting point of the Orient Express, the end point of the Yunluo Turkey trip. The sun shines on this building under renovation, with a beautiful European style. The station was once selected as one of the fourteen most beautiful railway stations in the world by an American magazine.
It was put into use in 1890, and has a history of more than 120 years. In Istanbul, the word "old" cannot be used to describe a 120-year-old history. Outside the station, there is no bustling traffic hub. Compared with the obviously deserted Sirkeci tram station a few steps away, the former bustle and luxury can only be imagined.
The steam locomotive was parked in the green grass, as if it was parked in the old times. The white-haired old man saw Yun Luo's curious face and took the initiative to open the mottled wooden door. There were no bells, whistles, broadcasts, or shouts in the waiting hall, and there were few seats and passengers. Sirkeci Railway Station now has only two platforms, and it is easy to see from beginning to end.
Empty. The once noble celebrities, the once vendors and porters, the once noisy and prominent coming and going, have been replaced by modern simple motorcycles. The tension created by Agatha Christie. (To be continued...)