Beşiktaş

Today's photograph is the entrance to Kuyumcular Çarşısı in Beşiktaş.  I had taken the 11.20 ferry from Arnavutköy (extra) so had my daily fix of the beautiful Bosporus blue. My mission? to go to my all time favourite haberdashers to stock up on all my embroidery needs having left everything in Akbuk and/or Chelmsford.  

I lived in Besiktas 1998-2001 before moving to Kuruceşme and it's many years since I last went to this shop and yet they remembered me, so there was catch up chat whilst searching options and choices and trying to exercise self control.  I don't know how long I was there... must have been nearly an hour -  but I left with a bag of goodies to start a new project. 

From there I continued wandering around the centre (extras) and memory lane. Crowded as ever, Beşiktaş is a vibrant district and a large commercial and retail centre. As well as my favourite haberdasher and favourite bar - Joker 19 - It is also home to one of three of Istanbul's famous football teams - Fenerbahce and Galatasaray being the other two.  It is one of the oldest suburbs with several significant sites including Dolmabache Palace (home to the C19th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire) and has a rich interesting history - more info here  Beşiktaş

After wandering about a bit more, I had a particularly tasty salad before catching the bus home for a quiet evening at 'home' on campus with Netflix, starting my new embroidery project, and the company of Nohut the cat.