Istanbul

Day #2 of being a tourist in my home town, Robin and I went in the opposite  direction from yesterday, this time walking along the Bosphorus shore on this beautiful, warm (27ºC) sunny day.  There was a sailing regatta on the water, and a bustling, crowded fayre of craft stalls  and various entertainments in Bebek park and a jolly time was clearly being had by all.  It felt like thousands as we ploughed through the crowds to the water side restaurant we'd selected for a 'Turkish breakfast' to start our day. More of a brunch really.  

From Bebek we took a cab further along the water to Emirgan - I wanted to show Robin the Sabanci museum as she has never been.  One of my favourite places (and previously blipped) - it is up high with gently landscaped gardens and a view of the blue Bosphorus and the Asian side of Istanbul that never fails to impress.  In addition to the permanent collection of calligraphy and the original house itself, the temporary exhibition is currently the life and times and work of Turkish (Istanbul) artist Feyhaman Duran (1886-1970). Called "Between Two Worlds" the exhibition explores Istanbul of early C20th when compared to Paris (where Duran studied art) of the same time, as well as Duran's art works and a fascinating commentary on the Ottoman education in Istanbul provided for the genteel of late C19th early C20th.  A philosophy to be admired.   Duran's house was also imitated in a set design and the whole exhibition, as always with this modest but beautiful museum, was exquisitely curated. 

Feeling tired after two days of walking (probably miles!!), we left the museum at 16.00 and decided to take the bus. More than an hour later of kerb crawl start stop traffic, we still hadn't quite reached Bebek, (it's only a few km) so, like several before us, we got off and walked along the water front back to Arnavutkoy.  Finally reached home at 18.30.  Phew. The trouble with going anywhere in Istanbul, a city with an estimated population of about seventeen million (+tourists!!) is always the journey home - so, I couldn't resist the chosen pic for today, taken just before we left the bus, that, well, their faces and the stationary traffic through the window, says it all. 

Extras however, show what a joyful, sunny and interesting day we'd had.