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Binnaz and Jan at Ismet Baba

Our First Couple of Days in Istanbul, 2017

October 2, 2017 by A. Cemal Ekin
Binnaz and Jan at Ismet Baba

After a wonderfully comfortable flight, we arrived in Istanbul about 75 minutes earlier than expected, always a pleasant surprise! Mustafa met us at the airport, and we left the parking lot to a surprise! The ever crowded and jammed traffic was surprisingly flowing, and the lanes were empty, I saw one or two cars ahead of us. He took us home through the new Eurasia tunnel that connects the two continents and on the Asian side we exited extremely close to home. Yet even another surprise!

Binnaz and Ergun greeted us with a big welcome and it was good to see them both doing well. After we caught up in conversation, we brought the small mementos we brought for them. The glass printed photographs, one of Ergun’s and one that I took of Mina were a great hit. You will see Mina’s photograph hanging on the wall in a couple of the photographs. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner and went to bed. It was a good night’s sleep, even though we were comfortable on the plane sleeping is never the same.

The following day we caught up with our friends and family making plans to see them all. The second day was quiet mostly at home. Binnaz and Jan went to their favorite hair stylist and came back with a renewed look on their head.

On Sunday we went to Ismet Baba restaurant in the Kuzguncuk district. A place that still maintains the old charm of Istanbul with well-maintained older (and not too high) apartments, a market that becomes alive on Wednesdays, and small shops and restaurants, and friendly people. Ismet Baba restaurant has been there, next to the ferry landing for decades. Although it has gone through renovations, it retains its general character. The weather was a bit blustery but the corner of the small next to the Bosphorus was still a popular photography spot while some braved the big waves splashing on the shore.

The fish varieties we tried were very tasty, some of each of bonito, mackerel, and bass. All in season. Some salad and a little wine kept us there for a few hours. We returned home in mid-afternoon, rested, talked to some friends on the phone, and later enjoyed a bowl of soup Ergun made for us, tarhana soup. The soccer fans watched the Besiktas game which ended with a slight disappointment of a tie game, but better than losing it for the fans (no, fanatics!)

Today, the weather seems a little warmer and the sky a bit brighter. We’ll get a chance to go out again sometime soon and enjoy the garden a little bit firsthand rather than looking at it from the windows. Stay tuned for more … And see the photographs below to get a sense of our first few days.

Inside of the living room
Inside of the living room
Living room details
Living room details
Binnaz, Mina, Jan
Binnaz, Mina, Cemal
Dining table detail
Bannaz and Jan with the hair stylist
Jan's new hair do
Gunduz resting
Gunduz
Gunduz
Gunduz
Gunduz
Gunduz resting
Gunduz enjoyed spending some time in my arms
Kuzguncuk, boats and gulls
Kuzguncuk, boats and gulls
Towertown on the European side
Kuzguncuk, anhinga and the view of the bridge - Photo by Jan
Kuzguncuk, anhinga and the view of the bridge - Photo by Jan
Kuzguncuk, boats on the Bosphorus - Photo by Jan
Popular photo corner
Popular photo corner
Binnaz and Jan
Binnaz, Jan, Cemal
Chef at Ismet Baba preparing food
Our table at Ismet Baba, fish varieties
Tables and watiers ready at Ismet Baba
A polka-dot minibus

Category: Family, TravelTag: Family, Istanbul, Photography, Travel, Turkey
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Haluk Atamal

    October 2, 2017 at 6:21 am

    Hoşgeldiniz!

    Have a nice time in Turkey.

    Love and best regards,

    Haluk

  2. RAMAZAN KAMARI

    October 2, 2017 at 7:11 am

    Hocam hoşgeldiniz. Haftasonu bende İstanbul’daydım. Beşiktaş Belediyesi’nin öncülüğünde düzenlenen Fotoistanbul festivali için gelmiştik. Festival devam ediyor. Yağmurlu ve kapalı bir hava nedeniyle biraz üşütmüşüm. Pazar gecesi Ankara’ya döndüm tekrar. Fotoğraflarınız yaşamı sanatsal özümsemenin çok güzel dışavurumu.

    Selamlar.

    • Cemal Ekin

      October 2, 2017 at 7:53 am

      Demek yakindan kacirmisiz gorusme olasiligini, kismet. Sana da gecmis olsun, kalabalik yerlerde virus kapmak kolay. Fotograflari begendigine sevindim.

      Selam,

      Cemal

  3. Cemal Ekin

    October 2, 2017 at 7:54 am

    Thanks, Haluk, so far so good, the weather is improving every day.

    Take care,

    Cemal

  4. Binnaz Melin

    October 2, 2017 at 8:12 am

    Cemaller buradayken haddinden fazla mutluyuz ve her bir şey yolunda. Cemal olup bitenleri çok iyi özetlemiş.

  5. Binnaz Melin

    October 2, 2017 at 8:18 am

    We are utterly happy to have Cemal and Jan with us. We will go to Ayvalık soon.

    • Cemal Ekin

      October 2, 2017 at 9:58 am

      We are happy to be here with all of you.

      Cemal

  6. Tuba gokoglu

    October 2, 2017 at 9:24 am

    Wonderful pictures! Enjoy it on our behalf as well.

    Hugs,

    Tuba

    • Cemal Ekin

      October 2, 2017 at 10:01 am

      That is subject to extra charge, but for you Tuba and Suleyman, it is, as they say at the Grand Bazaar, “cheeper than cheep!” (Spelling is intentional.)

      We hug back!

      Cemal

      • Suleyman

        October 3, 2017 at 3:20 pm

        We want cheeper than free, cheeper than cheep won’t cut it :)
        Suleyman

  7. Ken Kraetzer

    October 2, 2017 at 10:56 am

    Cemal:

    Looks great, impressive format for presenting your photos, and narrative.

    Will follow along on your trip from here.

    Enjoy, Ken

    • Cemal Ekin

      October 2, 2017 at 10:58 am

      Thanks, Ken, we’ll be here for three weeks.

      Take care,

      Cemal

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