Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and also is a
transcontinental city across Europe and Asia. The Bosporus Strait connects the
European and Asian sides with 65% of the city’s residents living in the
European portion and 35% in the Asian side. When the stars of McCombs visit the
European side of the star-city of Turkey, Istanbul, the eventual collision
course of the complex culture, ideas, business, and most important, the
cherished experiences are set to navigate the Taksim Square. To bring home a
unique blend of memories, here are a few highlights that include how to reach
the square and a look and feel of the square:
Taksim Square is considered the heart of modern Istanbul and
the travel-hub during our visit in April of 2014. Independence Avenue, a long pedestrian
shopping street, ends at this square and a nostalgic tram runs from the square
along the avenue and ends near the Tünel, a short underground railway line of
the city and was inaugurated in 1875. Tünel is the second oldest
subterranean urban rail line in the world, only after the London’s Underground
(1863). Surrounding Taksim Square are restaurants, pubs, international fast
food chains such as Pizza Hut and Burger King. The square is also home to The
Marmara Hotel, the location of stay during our visit to the city.
Marmara Hotel:
View from the roof bar of the Marmara Hotel:
Istanbul
Atatürk Airport to the Marmara Taksim Hotel
Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the main international airport serving Turkey
was opened in 1924 and renamed Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the Republic of
Turkey. The time-saving way to travel from the airport to Taksim Square is to
use the Havatas bus service at a cost of 10 Turkish Lira and about 40 minutes
of travel time.
Once arrived in Taksim by bus, travelers
will need to walk toward the Taksim square. (Most likely the bus just passed
under the square when it came in from the airport). Gezi Park is on the left
and toward the middle of the square is located the Marmara Hotel and a stature
of Ataturk on the right. Havatas coach services are also available when
returning from the square to the airport.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
is one of the greatest surviving Byzantine architectures. Constantine became
the emperor of the Roman Empire in 324 and established Constantinople as the
capital of his empire in 330. This act served as one of Constantine’s most
lasting accomplishments. Hagia Sophia, built during the reign of Justinian the
Great in 537, remained the world’s largest cathedral for a thousand years.
In 1453, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. Sultan
Mehmed II ordered to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Bells, altar,
iconostasis, and relics were removed; the mosaics depicting Jesus, Mary,
Chistian saints were also removed and plastered over. Islamic features such as minarets
were added. It remained a mosque until 1931, was closed to the public for four
years, and reopened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. In the
recent years, several cathedrals have been converted to mosques and a movement
to re-covert the museum into a mosque continues amid outcry among the nation’s
minority orthodox Christians. A visitor to Hagia Sophia would not only be
amazed at its architectural marvels but also would witness the country’s
cross-roads. The site is about 7 km from the Marmara Hotel and can be reached
using local transport.
Dining
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