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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Reflections on travel, people, poetry – and other random thoughts…
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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This poem is a summary of sorts of the anguish caused by a desire to change my life completely.
And it is also inspired by the UK shipping forecast.
Grey skies,
red brick…
It’s been a long, long few months of weekend coronavirus curfews in Istanbul. Turkey is actually a pretty good place to be in general and especially so now, because, although the Stay at home message was prevalent, citizens and residents above the age of 20 and below 65 were allowed quite a lot of freedom…
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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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A glimpse into the lives of the city’s stray cats and dogs. At this link: https://somenoteson.com/the-not-so-secret-life-of-pets-in-istanbul/
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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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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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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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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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When in Istanbul, should I visit the Blue Mosque? Find your answer here.
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