International Istanbul Tulip Festival

Istanbul Lale Festivali , Istanbul tulip f estival, 2012 photos by ozgur ozkok

First days of Tulip Festival. 2013 photos are coming, these are some old photos

Istanbul Lale Festivali , Istanbul tulip f estival, 2012 photos by ozgur ozkok

Early tulips

Istanbul tulip festival , Sultanahmet Mosque

I cannot live without my phone

istanbul , sultanahmet square, photos by ozgur ozkok

istanbul , sultanahmet square, photos by ozgur ozkok

istanbul , sultanahmet square, photos by ozgur ozkok

istanbul , sultanahmet square, photos by ozgur ozkok

It must be love … “Christel De Preter”

It must be love …

When I booked another citytrip to Istanbul, my friends asked me: ‘What is it with you and Istanbul?’
At first, I didn’t really know how to answer that question exactly so I started with: it’s its culture, its  present and its past, its colors, it’s the people, it’s the food, it’s the atmosphere, it’s the sun shining on the Bosphorus, it’s the moon rising on a clear night, it’s the smell of the spices at the Egyptian Bazaar, it’s simply …. magic. A thousand words wouldn’t have been enough to describe how I feel about Istanbul but there is only one word that is universal and which everybody understands so I finally said: it must be love. I fell in love with the city a few years ago and it was love at first sight.

Istanbul photos by Christel De Preter

I’m not much of a photographer, but this year I was determined to capture some of Istanbul’s lovely colors. I hope, you readers, enjoy them as much as I did. But it would even be better if you would just go out there and find out for yourself! As I said: there just aren’t enough words to describe all the sensations you feel when you visit this city. And neither will the pictures (I think I should apply for a
job at the Istanbul Tourist Information Center ).

breeze says a secret

İstanbul Lale Festivali, İstanbul Tulip Festival 2012, Sultanahmet, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.
Like this.

Mevlana Rumi

Sleepy Face

looking for Love

Istanbul lale festivali, İstanbul tulip festival, Sultanahmet square, Sultanahmet meydanı, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

Don’t look for Love,
Look for the one looking for Love.
Mevlana Rumi

love appears on the wings of grace

Istanbul lale festivali, İstanbul tulip festival, Sultanahmet square, Sultanahmet meydanı, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

You cannot learn about Love,
love appears on the wings of grace.

Mevlana Rumi

The dawn is coming

Istanbul lale festivali, İstanbul tulip festival, Sultanahmet square, Sultanahmet meydanı, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

Be patient where you sit in the dark.
The dawn is coming.

Mevlana Rumi

the balm of Love

Istanbul lale festivali, İstanbul tulip festival, Sultanahmet square, Sultanahmet meydanı, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

This world is in deep trouble, from top to bottom,
But it can be swiftly healed by the balm of Love.

Mevlana Rumi