old houses of Heybeliada

Heybeliada-İstanbul, pentax k5, photos by ozgur ozkok

Burgazada ” by Berkay Gulum”

İstanbul-Burgazda island, photo by Berkay Gülüm

the best love-escape from Istanbul “Burgazada”

 

Burgazada, İstanbul-Turkey, pentax k5, ozgur ozkok

Burgazada, the smallest and least visited of the Princes’ Islands.

Burgazada, İstanbul-Turkey, pentax k5, ozgur ozkok

this land is my land “Buyukada”

Istanbul-Büyükada, pentax k10d, by ozgur ozkok

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
Bob DYLAN

Istanbul-Büyükada, pentax k10d, by ozgur ozkok

Tired horse “Buyukada”

Istanbul-Buyukada, pentax kx, by ozgur ozkok

All the tired horses in the sun
How’m I supposed to get any ridin’ done? Hmm. Bob DYLAN

Istanbul-Buyukada, pentax kx, by ozgur ozkok

It all started when I was reading Jason Goodwin “Christel De Preter”

I already visited Istanbul about 20 years ago but it all really started when I was reading Jason Goodwin’s ‘The Janissary Tree’, a novel about Yashim, a crime-solving eunuch. His description of 1830’s Istanbul was so remarkable and so colorful I just had to see for myself again. And I must admit: getting older DOES effect the memory and I was sure the city had changed a lot over the years.

Istanbul, photo by Christel De Preter

So there I was, determined to rediscover that fascinating national treasure and step into Yashim’s footsteps as he climbed all the way up from the Bosphorus to the Galata tower.

Day one – Contact points

Buyukada, An hour away but it is a part of paradise

Büyükada, Adalar-İstanbul, prince's islands , by ozgur ozkok, pentax k10d

Touring by fayton is not enough if you really want to explore Büyükada. You have to walk to catch for hidden corners …

Büyükada, Adalar-İstanbul, prince's islands , by ozgur ozkok, pentax k10d

Aya Yorgi Church

Aya Yorgi Kilisesi, Aya Yorgi Church, Büyükada, Princes Islands, Istanbul, pentax k10d

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Aya Yorgi Kilisesi, Aya Yorgi Church, Büyükada, Princes Islands, Istanbul, pentax k10d

blue sea :)

Büyükada, Princes Islands, Istanbul, pentax k10d

When the foliage of Büyükada outside the settled areas is studied, it can be seen that coniferous forests (Pinus brutia Ten.)with Mediterranean scrub ground cover is widespread. The only tree species forming forests on the island are red pines. As the island is on the northmost border of the natural domain of red pines in Turkey, the soil cover is very shallow, and the trees have been under human influence for centuries, the individual trees are misshapen and stunted.

The second type of native foliage on the island is Mediterranean scrub. Mediterranean scrub is the most characteristic among the plant life on the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The Mediterranean scrub elements secondarily formed on the island are quite tall. On the other hand, on the settled areas of the island, many exotic plants have adapted to the conditions.

Buyukada, Ice cream seller

Büyükada, Princes Islands, Istanbul, pentax k10d

servicing for authentic home-made ice creams. It was delicious :)