Istanbul~Day 4~ The Bosphorus, Yalis, Dolmus and Simits!

All of the tourist information about Istanbul recommended a trip up the Bosphorus on one of the many ferries or boats on the water.  I picked a sunny day, with temperatures in the high 60's for a cruise to see some of the highlights along this busy waterway.   One of the most unique things about Istanbul is that the city is on two continents~ Asia and Europe.   The Bosphorus divides the city in two.  Ferries are constantly shuttling people back and forth between the two continents.  

The Bosphorus has two long suspension bridges near Istanbul.  This is the Bosphorus Bridge where Tiger Woods hit a golf ball across while we were there. 

Bosphorus Bridge

The Dolmabahçe Palace was the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922 and was home to six Sultans.  

As we made our way down the Bosphorus, we saw houses like this  built on the hillside.  

On the hillside directly opposite the above houses were these houses.   They were quite different than the ones on the opposite hillside. 

A seaside walkway with cafes and bustling with people

Starbucks~ There's always a Starbucks

 an unrestored Yali

The Bosphorus waterway was known for it's Yalis that were built in the 19th century.. A Yali is a house or a mansion built directly  on the waterside.  This was a secondary residence for a family.  

Anadolu Hisari is a fortress on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.  It was built between 1393 and 1394 as part of the preparations for the Second Ottoman Siege of Constantinople.

Anadolu Hisari with wooden houses in front

beautiful homes (Yalis) built directly on the water

Fishermen along the Bosphorus

Mosques were also built on the waterway

This is the Galata Tower as seen from our ferry on the Bosphorus.  It is a medieval stone tower in the Karaköy quarter of Istanbul.  It was built as the Tower of Christ in 1348. 

Galata Tower

Istanbul at sunset with the Blue Mosque in the background

By coincidence, my sister was reading the book, Istanbul Passage, the same week I was in Istanbul.  We were emailing back and forth about what I was seeing and experiencing.  In one of her emails, she asked if I had seen any Yalis, ridden in a Dolmus or eaten Simits.  I had no idea what she was talking about.  After researching, I realized that I had seen Yalis that same day, had not ridden in a Dolmus but I had seen lots of them and I had eaten a simit but I had no idea what they were called.

a Yali

  So, I leave you with a small sampling of this amazing city.   A Yali, a Dolmus and a Simit. 

a Dolmus

Simits at a food stand

Sunset and the Bosphorus Bridge 

Istanbul is a city that I won't soon forget.  The friendly people, the ancient history and the culture make it a city that will feed your soul and beg you to return.