A very biased review of five Orhan Pamuk books – part 1

A very biased review of the novel ‘A strangeness in my mind’ by Nobel prize laureate, Turkish author Orhan Pamuk. Plus, some observations concerning the Istanbul street sellers from today.

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Ancient wonders of water engineering in Istanbul

Fresh water. What would we do without it? In the Aegean, the cradle of western civilisations, water springs were sacred. To pollute the water was a mortal sin. Ever since the beginning of humanity, people have chosen to settle near life-giving sources of fresh water; with one notable exception: Byznatium. The beginnings of the city later named Constantinople, today’s Istanbul, were rather dry, despite its numerous waterways.

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Yıldız park and porcelain factory, Istanbul

You know all these ornate plates, jugs and Turkish coffee cups that you see in The Mangnificent Century and other Turkish series? Some of them might just have been made in the Yildiz porcelain factory in Istanbul.

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The Fez water clock and the Islamic Science and Technology museum, Istanbul

This model of the water clock from Fez, Morocco, is on display at The Islamic Science and Technology museum in Istanbul.

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Haydarpasha British Cemetery, Istanbul

History speaks for itself in the Haydarpasha British Cemetery in Istanbul, where many soldiers and civilians that suffered during the Crimean and subsequent wars have finally found peace.

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Büyükada – Princes’ Islands

Exiled princes, ornate mansions, ancient monasteries, spectacular nature and some of the best meatballs in Turkey! Read on for more reasons to visit Büyükada, the biggest of the Princes’ Islands.

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