In an effort to improve my Turkish and learn what’s going on in my neighbourhood, I regularly check out the Kadikoy Council website. That’s how I discovered their initiative, Dukkan Kadikoy Council Waste Free Shop. It sells products and foods that are long-lasting, ecologically sustainable, produced from indigenous seeds, non-poisonous and seasonal, sourced from local…
I often hear expats living Istanbul say how they wish there were libraries here where they could go and hang out , somewhere to do some writing or just seek inspiration. Here are four easy to get to libraries anyone can enter without having to be a student, a paying member or by prior arrangement….
Like many people I’ve struggled to acquire Turkish. My bookshelves are full of textbooks, dictionaries and grammar explanations but nonetheless I still find it hard to explain what I mean at times. One of the main problems always seems to be vocabulary. I just don’t know enough words, and for someone who likes to talk,…
The Istanbul Metro system in Turkey only dates back to 1989 but Istanbul’s had a state of the art transport system since 1875, when Tünel, the second ever subway in the world, opened. On a normal day a total of 1,600,000 people a day use the Istanbul metro and rail systems (this includes the Metrobus…
When I was a child my mother gave me a choice between taking ballet classes or joining the Girl Guides. For some reason I can’t remember now I didn’t do either but I do remember the Guides motto (OK, it was the Scouts I know, but I’m allowed some poetic licence, aren’t I?) ‘be prepared’….
I’m never without a book in my hand, next to my bed or in my handbag. They’re as essential to me as breathing. Wherever I travel or live, finding the nearest bookshop is high on my list of things to do, and thankfully Istanbul is well stocked. There are pasajlar (passages) on both sides of…
When you move to a new country, getting involved in the same types of activities you do back home is a great way to get settled, make new friends and feel good. If you’re in Istanbul you’ll have probably already seen the way Turks look after street cats. People put out bowls of water, piles…
The internet is full of lists of top ten, eleven best or simply must buy Turkish souvenirs from your trip to Turkey. Carpets, apple tea and nazar boncuk are high on the list, but I can’t fit any more Turkish carpets in my house, apple tea is something only tourists drink and I have a…
Anyone who follows my blog will know I’m a Kadıköy girl. It was the first district where I lived in Istanbul, and other than a brief six month foray on the other side, Kadıköy has always been my home in Istanbul. So it was exciting to learn that Ataturk Youth and Sports Day, commemorated every…
The huge Istanbul Airport on the European side of the city opened in the district of Arnavutköy in 2019. It’s eventually expected to see 200 million passengers pass through its streamlined modern environment a year. However, for me and anyone who first arrived in Istanbul at the Ataturk Airport in Bakırköy, the big question is,…