Oct 28th, 2009 at 10:00AM: In Ottoman times they were the daily ritual of the wealthy and middle class. Hammams were a place to unwind and socialize while getting clean. But in the twentieth century with the rise of internal plumbing and changing attitudes, the traditional hammam declined. Many decayed or were converted to other uses. Now hammams are becoming popular again. Turks are once again interested in their Ottoman ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Istanbul posts
Istanbul's hammams becoming more popular
Oct 28th, 2009 at 10:00AM: In Ottoman times they were the daily ritual of the wealthy and middle class. Hammams were a place to unwind and socialize while getting clean. But in the twentieth century with the rise of internal plumbing and changing attitudes, the traditional hammam declined. Many decayed or were converted to other uses. Now hammams are becoming popular again. Turks are once again interested in their Ottoman ...Turkish smoking ban? Your survival plan
Apr 19th, 2009 at 1:00PM: I never thought I'd have to write about a smoking ban in Turkey. It just struck me as one of a handful of locations that would never extinguish the flame. But, on July 19, the impossible will come to pass.
In part, it exists already. Since May of last year, smoking has not been permitted in Turkish taxes, malls, offices and ferries. Of course, the prohibition does not seem to have been taken ...Breaking: Yet another plane crash. This time near Amsterdam
Feb 25th, 2009 at 6:00PM: I have to say, as much as flying does not bother me, it's a bit unnerving to click on The New York Times to see if any thing new has happened in the past few hours to find out that the new thing that has happened is another plane crash. This time the crash was just outside Amsterdam, but in a soft field instead of on a house near Buffalo, New York, on snow near Nome, Alaska or on the Hudson ...Ferry Pier Sinks in Istanbul
Nov 24th, 2008 at 12:00PM: It was a rather bizarre series of events. A floating ferry dock on the European side of Istanbul became unhinged, began to list, and then sank during a particularly violent storm over the past weekend. Usually it is the boats themselves that are at the center of ferry disasters (like the tragic accident in the Philippines earlier this year), not ferry terminals, which are, theoretically, firmly ...Photo of the Day (10.28.08)
Oct 28th, 2008 at 4:00PM:
Usually I pick a Photo of the Day that's somehow reflects on my current situation or feeling as I shop around for photos. But sifting through some of the pictures during my weekly duties last week, I stumbled across the picture of a mosuqe taken by flickr user flicts in Istanbul. I'm a sucker for mosque and cathedral photos, probably because I'm always in awe of the architecture and silence in ...Photo of the Day (08.12.08)
Aug 12th, 2008 at 4:00PM:
Istanbul's Blue Mosque -- one of my favorite places in the world in one of my favorite cities in the world. Walking into The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of those jaw dropping experiences that you remember for the rest of your life, its vaulted ceilings and Ottoman and Christian influences gently meeting far above the silent crowd. Today's photo of the day comes from smallscreen, who does an ...Photo of the day (06/30/08)
Jul 1st, 2008 at 12:50AM:
Beautifully cropped! A shot of a hot air balloon in Istanbul by smallscreen. This is what they call big sky in Turkey, I guess.
I realize I am a little late with this Photo of the day, but it's still June 30 here on the West Coast.
***To have your photo considered for the Gadling Photo of the Day, go over to the Gadling Flickr Pool and post it. Make sure it is not copyrighted, otherwise we ...My week as a Turkish farmer
Jan 31st, 2008 at 11:00PM: Ever wanted to know what it's like to be a farmer? That's what I set to do last summer, albeit on a different continent and in a country whose language was completely alien to me. Yep, I chose Turkey. Looking back, it was my perfect introduction to the world of Islam (and agriculture). It's a pretty safe place, the people are at once cosmopolitan and traditional, and there's just so much history ...One for the Road: Rick Steves Istanbul
Jul 10th, 2007 at 9:12AM: European travel guru Rick Steves has changed things up a bit for one of his latest books. This new stand-alone guide to Istanbul was not written by him--a first for the super active and involved guide book master. Instead, Rick turned the project over to a pair of trustworthy and knowledgeable Europe Through the Back Door tour guides. Husband and wife team, Lale Surmen Aran and Tankut Aran are an ...Word for the Travel Wise (08/30/06)
Aug 30th, 2006 at 8:00PM: So today I'm out and headed for Tajikistan by way of Istanbul. I can't tell you how very excited I am after weeks of waiting. As always I will do my best to report from the road, but you can assure I'll provide full detail afterwards. In the meantime I'm hoping to make good use of my long layover in Istanbul. Hmm, a hamam perhaps? Or maybe just a bite to eat somewhere... I'll be sure to let you ...Six Hours in Istanbul
Aug 26th, 2006 at 9:47AM: The clock is ticking and I'm still trying to narrow down what to see or do during my layover in Istanbul on Thursday. I've been told to visit the hamams or have lunch on a roof top or do both. The blue mosque, Galata Bridge, Taksim, Sultanahmet, Golden Horn and Tower of Galata have also been tossed my way, but I'm more for quality than quantity so seeing ALL the sites in one run isn't a priority. ...National Geographic on Istanbul
Jul 31st, 2006 at 3:14PM: My travel agent is doing his best to convince to me to stay and play in Istanbul on my way into Dushanbe, but I'm on a mission. I have to get in and out of Tajikistan in a reasonable amount of time. Yet, this Nat Geo guide to spending 48 hrs in the city is making it much more tempting than I thought. My layover will permit me to feast on Turkish fare onto of a roof or soak in a Turkish bath, but ...
