The right image

After a lot of searching and getting lost in the backstreets we eventually found the Istanbul Museum of Photography, which can be located in a rather edgy and not at all touristy part of Istanbul. It’s an oddity, a little clean white building in a scruffy district with a rather beleaguered looking police station and a large pen full of lost dogs. If one aim of art is to take culture (at least geographically) to the disenfranchised then they’ve got it right. But I suspect they just couldn’t afford premises in the tourist areas.

We put a brave face on the request for a 75p admission fee and went round the rooms, which were excellent exhibition spaces and well curated. The quality of the picture was variable from clones of Kertesz to obscure portraits of Turkish radio stars from the 1950s; but there were some very thought provoking shots and some lovely images from Istanbul in the early twentieth century. But TSM liked these comfy chairs the most, which I have to admit were brilliant for the footsore tourist.

As for the rest:

Went to the Blue Mosque, which is stunning but spoiled by the lighting and the cables. Very interesting reading up the history of the prophets as perceived by Islam leading to the Quran and the many positive and compassionate messages therein.

Then walked through the arts quarter, which was very very expensive but very nice to window shop. Looked at a lot of things but didn’t buy. Found a tiny recently opened coffee shop which was run by the sweetest man, who gave us extra biscuits for free with our Turkish tea and coffee and helped us find the photography museum.

Then we climbed the hill through what can only be described as The Shoe District as it consisted almost entirely of shoe factories and shoe shops. Really interesting but - sorry bad gag coming - very down at heel. Lot of derelict but rather beautiful buildings and some obvious child labour.

Back at the Bazaars we succeeded in buying stuff to take home with us including a lot of saffron which is much cheaper here than at home. You practically buy it by the strand in the UK but I got a little tub of the stuff which will hopefully last a while.

By now we were pretty exhausted and went back to the hotel for a cup of tea and a doze before going out for a beer and dinner. As a last night treat we went too the Olive restaurant attached to our hotel which is high up and has spectacular views of the Bosphorous and the Blue Mosque. Blow out meal and wine and again very very good value. Extraordinary in fact. And I have to say I've been impressed with the quality of Turkish wine.

Came home and started packing - have some time tomorrow to do the Hagia Sophia and some more shopping before getting our 5.30pm flight home. 


It’s been an amazing week and there is so much we haven’t done … would love two or three more days.