Yeni Camii , Tulip Festival

Istanbul Tulip Festival 2013, New Mosque, Istanbul, photos by ozgur ozkok

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Nuruosmaniye Mosque is located in Çemberlitaş, near Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş), Gazi Atik Ali Paşa Mosque and entrance of Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı). It is one of the finest example of Ottoman Baroque style mosques.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

It was built on a square plan.  There are 2 marble stairs to get in the mosque. 174 baroque style windows illuminate mosque. These windows are made of gypsum. Nuruosmaniye Mosque’s dome is one of the biggest dome in Ottoman architecture. The major dome’s diameter is 26 meters. Arch are carrying this dome. There are 32 windows on the bottom of major dome.

Entrance

The minaret of mosque

Windows

Windows

Windows

Nusretiye Mosque

Nusretiye Camii, Nusretiye Mosque, Istanbul, Pentax K5, photos by ozgur ozkok

Reading about Istanbul

Reading about Istanbul, 1

 

Well, last time I was in Istanbul in November 2011 during Kurban Bayrami. If I hadn´t known in advance that my visit coincide this holiday, it would have remained unnoticed for me. Kurban Bayrami wasn´t visible in the central Istanbul. On the other hand Turkish TV programs were constantly reporting how this major Islamic holiday is celebrated all over the country. Visiting Istanbul was really nice, as usual.

I met some friends, strolled along the streets, visited mosques, wonderful exhibitions, had some genuinely good food. Pure delight.

 

Just a remark – during that visit I also made a short trip to Canakkale. No, I haven´t seen Istanbul enough, but Istanbul isn´t Turkey and vice versa. Some adventure would not harm, so I thought.

Returning to a familiar place is always a secure choice. Doesn´t require too much effort, you know. Istanbul has become somewhat familiar to me, I guess. Canakkale was worth an effort. But I´ll stick to Istanbul now and report of other places in coming posts.

Istanbul and Golden Horn, photo by Eleka Rugam-Rebane

 

While I am not in Istanbul I truly miss this place. Gercekten. And what´s the best remedy for that?

I try to go back there in my mind. Reconstruct places through texts, photos, daydreaming… Sounds like a severe disease, really J There are some web sources I visit quite regularly in order to update my knowledge about what´s going on in this city/country.

 

Ortakoy Camii, Ortakoy Mosque, Istanbul, photo by Eleka Rugam-Rebane

Some nice reading

Sure, there are presumably thousands of blogs praising Istanbul. One of my recent favorites is Turkey´s for lifewww.turkeysforlife.com which is run by a British couple living in Fethiye. Therefore, this blog is mostly concentrating on Fethiye and its surroundings. But they also pay a lot of attention to Istanbul. Blog is written in a humorous and lively style. I recommend. Good links to other sources.

They will ask you what you have produced

Kalenderhane Camii, Kalenderhane Mosque, Beyazid-İstanbul, Türkiye, pentax k10d, photos by ozgur ozkok

They will ask you what you have produced. Say to them, except for Love,
what else can a Lover produce?
Mevlana Rumi

work has been put in every heart

Kalenderhane Camii, Kalenderhane Mosque, Beyazid-İstanbul, Türkiye, pentax k10d, photos by ozgur ozkok

Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.
Mevlana Rumi

your mirror will be polished

Sultanahmet Camii, Blue Mosque, İstanbul-Türkiye, pentax k10d, photos by ozgur ozkok

If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?
Mevlana Rumi

Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Camii photos

some photos from my 2009 visit

When you seek love with all your heart “Hz. Cabir Camii”

Hazreti Cabir Camii, Ayvansaray-Balat, İstanbul, pentax k10d, photo by ozgur ozkok

When you seek love with all your heart, you shall find it’s echoes across the universe. Mevlana Rumi

Galata, Bereketzade Ali Efendi Camii

Bereketzade Camii, Bereketzade Mosque, Galata-Istanbul, pentax k10d, photos by ozgur ozkok