What to see in Istanbul Asian side
As you know, Istanbul is divided in two halves by the Bosphorus. One city side is in Europe, and the other – in Asia. It is washed by the Black Sea on one side and by the Sea of Marmara on the other. Since we haven’t ever been in Asia, we first decided to go to the other side (we stayed in the European part).
To get there by public transport, you need to do three changes. First we took up a tram (blue line), then we moved to Marmaray subway line and traveled underwater. Afterwards we changed to another line and went out on large crossroads.
We headed to districts with skyscrapers. In fact, we were looking for fine bright and modern designs. There are such but they are scattered around Istanbul and you still need to find them. In general, we were coming across not what attracts us, but it was interesting to walk among the giants.
17 million people reside in Istanbul!!! New districts, streets, and roads emerge here every year. So it’s not surprising to see 25-storey buildings here.
How can one live in such houses – we can’t imagine and don’t want to, but the majority chooses such options 🙂
And if there is a terrace in such an apartment, this is another pair of shoes.
The only interesting architecture. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to reach others. Although we walked 17 km on that day in Asia…
Areas … Such residential areas.
We were looking for such colorful designs. This is nearing completion.
Construction here is on the go at every step of the way.
We walked to these colored giants. This is a residential district consisting of three or four skyscrapers. Each has a separate enclosed and area that is guarded. Inside there is a swimming pool, park, restaurant, and shops. This is what we managed to see, perhaps there is something else. As it’s a district for the rich.
It looks great from a distance, but if to look closely, it’s more like an office building and it’s difficult to imagine how it is to live there. Maybe the case is in the landscape seen from last floors.
Here we took photos from distance and then went around from all sides. Everything is fenced with two-meter high fence + surveillance cameras are stuck everywhere. There are guardians at the entrance who forbade even to take a photo of what was inside. There is only roadway between these districts – from fence to fence – no sidewalk even provided. And really – why? All dwellers have at least one car and use it everywhere, they don’t walk, and instead of a small shop near home they go to a mall for shopping. So it seems that there is an oasis inside, where one can sunbathe, walk the dog and enjoy coffee at a restaurant on the ground floor. But outside everywhere concrete is: roads, fences and other skyscrapers. This is what we saw)
Not far from this district there are many usual quarters.
It’s hard to be a pedestrian in this area (especially in the heat) as well as go by car and get stuck in traffic jams)
But if you go closer to the shore of the Sea of Marmara, on the promenade, you will see many locals resting on lawns, running the track, riding bikes and feeding seagulls, all this city mobility vanishes in the thin air and the time stops.
And someone is walking all the dogs at once. Perhaps it was for the first time, because people looked back and were just amazed 🙂
Here we saw sewage of large Istanbul. We decided not to give closer shot as floating hocky is seen here … this is sheer shock.
Finally we reached the area where people hang out and there is bunch of diverse establishments. We spent half a day walking through empty residential quarters.
The coolest coffee shop we found in Asia.
And then we went to the port to take the sea bus and reach the European part of Istanbul. This is very cool and cheap and you should pay with a single Istanbulcard for all means of transport (there is a separate article on this card). Tourists are offered the Bosphorus tours from 11 liras and you can go by sea bus for 15 minutes just for 2.15 or 1 lira. And to ride on the same ferry on the way to the Prince Islands for 1.5 hours
Here we first tried Balik Ekmek – bread fish with vegetables.
Sunsets are just incredible. In this color and with mosques and ships constantly moving on the background… Sellers, tourists, Turks – everyone is doing something, taking pictures, eating. It is noisy and crowded here, and when to look at the sea, you simply freeze and watch the sun.
Boats, seagulls, sunset, rough water and the city silhouette – one may watch all this forever.
Ferry-bus from the European part accosts. This is where most Turks work for tourists and go home to Asia in the evening.
Galata Bridge, which is touched by legs of every tourist.
With love, RH.
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