If you’ve ever been to Istanbul you’ll have probably already seen the way Turks look after street cats. People put out bowls of water, piles of dry food and even set up cat homes in parks and apartment block gardens. It seems idyllic, at least that’s what many Instagram influencers would have us believe. Although…
Most people, when asked to name one of the Princes Islands off the coast of Istanbul will say Büyükada, the Big Island. It’s long been popular as a summer escape, but so has its smaller cousin, Kinaliada. Kinaliada translates as Henna Island, in reference to the reddish colour of the stone on the island, which…
Late last year I finally made it to Joshua’s Hill, otherwise known as Yuşa Tepesi in Turkish. Yuşa is one of the four saints of the Bosphorus, and this holy site is famous for his tomb, aka the Giant’s Grave. It’s so named because the spot where he’s believed to be buried is 17 metres…
As someone celebrating a big birthday this year ending in 0 (I’m not saying which one), I know how important it is to treat yourself. As a freelance travel writer and well, just me, I always have a project on the go. If I’m not writing an article I’m making a new blouse, reading a…
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this website I’m no historian. When it comes to remembering important names and people, I’m forever looking things up and almost immediately forgetting them, unless I actually visit an historical sight and the experience brings the facts to life. As you can imagine, writing a brief history of the Ottomans…
Banks and other corporations have collected art as part of their private portfolios since the 19th century. Usually kept behind closed doors, it’s not often shared publicly. However in Istanbul, some of the most interesting exhibitions happen in bank owned galleries. Compelling painting displays, installations, photographs and film screenings are open to the public in…
Today Kadikoy is a hive of activity, packed with cheesemongers and charcuteries, cafes and coffee shops galore, popular bars, cheap student eats and a smattering of upmarket restaurants. So much so I decided to write this brief Kadikoy guide so you can find all my posts about the neighbourhood in the one place.
I’m a Sydney, Australia born sociologist, author and travel writer who’s lived on the Asian side of Istanbul for many years. I’m fascinated by the history, social life, religious customs and personal stories to be found in less famous sites around the city and set out to document the places that resonated most. Istanbul 50…
April in Turkey sees the start of spring, and nothing says life is for living better than displays of colourful flowers. The Istanbul Tulip Festival delivers this and more, with tulips growing in a former private garden belonging to the Ottoman Sultans or cascading down the banks of the Bosphorus in a public park in…
I’ve long appreciated cemeteries. As a teenager I spent a lot of time pondering over the lives of the many people buried in the Gore Hill Cemetery in St Leonards, Sydney, where I grew up. Even aged 14 I thought it ironic that rooms in the adjacent hospital overlooked the graves. Gore Hill was established…