Istanbul Day 10: A trip to the Asian side of Istanbul

We decided to take a ferry cruise from Eminonu to the Eastern side of Istanbul, Uskudar. We found out that we could use our travel card so it was a very easy and very cheap trip, costing only about $1 AUD each way.   we managed to get a close look at the Istanbul Modern on the way over, plus get more snaps of the city.

It turned out that this excursion was a favourite Sunday outing for the locals too.   Once we got off the ferry, greeted by a very loud call for prayer from the loudspeakers of the mosque opposite the terminal, we strolled with the other couples along the foreshore and watched the fishermen hauling in little sprats from the sea.

A bit further on, we came upon old ladies in traditional dress of baggy floral trousers, tops and scarves selling flowers and floral crowns.  Two men were also each standing beside box containing a white rabbit.  The box was on a stand.  was it preparation for a magic trick? Later, we saw an area where cushions and umbrellas were set up on the stairs by the foreshore.  There, couples drank Turkish tea, smoked and feasted on sunflower seeds, looking out at the view, which included an intrepid swimmer being swept out to the Sea of Marmara.

 

 We watched boats taking visitors out to the Maiden's Tower where there is a popular cafe.

  

We had lunch and then strolled along the foreshore.  We came across a line of balloons in the water.  Turns out that you can rent a gun and use them for target practice.

Next, we strolled into the town and through a park where the oldies watched the world go by.  The town was decorated with vertical gardens like this one.

Then, we came across the inevitable market and bought a kilo of cherries for 7 lira.  We should have bought more.  They were scrumptious.

We would have liked to buy some of the ceramic cookware too but they looked a bit heavy.

 When we left, we got a view of the area we had strolled past, the locals still sitting under their umbrellas, chatting and relaxing.

In the evening, we ate our cherries and then went to Sultanhamet Park and ate freshly cooked corn in the dark, watching the world go by from the glow of the fountains.

 

 The next two days, we spent just walking around, shopping and sightseeing.

 

 

What an astounding experience this has been.  The two areas we have visited have been complex, interesting places, and the people of Turkey are very difficult to define clearly and to generalise about.  In many ways, we have been surprised at how open the Turks are to those who do not follow Islam - no one appears to blink an eye at the assertiveness of  the female tourists, the way foreigners and some locals dress, the requests for alcohol at meals.  And yet, there are reminders that what is okay for tourists is not okay for many locals, and that this is a mainly Islamic country  Only men work in most shops, more men frequent the cafes than women, alcohol is not served in most places out of the main tourist areas, I have never seen pork offered for sale, many of the tourists are from Islamic countries.  We learned so much during this trip and we have so much more to learn.  For instance, why did a lot of the travellers at the airport appear to be wearing towels as bath slippers as their mode of dress for getting on planes?  Hopefully we will visit Turkey again and learn more.