Tourist Time

This afternoon I went to Taksim to be a typical tourist for a few hours. I took the bus from school to Kabatas which took forever in stop-start Istanbul traffic - a reminder of how frustrating trying to get somewhere can be in this love-to-hate-it city. From Kabatas I used the funicular* railway to Taksim, and the first pic shows the pulley gear that drives the system.  

Second pic is Taksim square - the Republic monument to commemorate the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Behind is the new Taksim mosque, inaugurated in May 2021. 

Third pic is of the famous 'nostalgic railway' tram that constantly runs the length of Istiklal Caddesi. The city's original tram network closed in the 60's but this line re-opened in1990 with original cars, as a tourist attraction.

Fourth pic is the entry facade of the famous "Cicek Pasaji" - originally called "Cite de Pera" - full of cafes and shops.

Fifth and sixth photos are of inside and outside St Antoine Church, Beyoglu, one of the most important Catholic Churches in Istanbul, St. Anthony of Padua Church, 

After a delicious cup of Salep (traditional hot, "milky", sweet winter drink made from dried tubers of orchids!!) in one of the traditional cafes on the street, at 5pm I started to make my way back by metro, sometime later almost literally falling in to Midpoint restaurant at Akmerkez for dinner and a beer, before finally walking home.  Really rather tired.

Who knew?
A funicular is a type of cable railway system ... laid on a steep slope. The system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages ... permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track. The result ... is that the two carriages move synchronously: as one ascends, the other descends at an equal speed. (Wikipedia)