A Happy New Year in Istanbul

A New Year in Istanbul

New Years Eve in Istanbul saw us in our own flat, with flatmates we chose, in a quiet part of town called Moda. Right in the thick of the coolest part of the Asian side of Istanbul. We had a party to attend down the road in Kadikoy, with some other Ex Patriot Teachers. All of a sudden the Istanbul that we had left behind a month earlier was relegated to the depths of an unsavoury memory and we were away. The new year brings a new wealth of opportunities and with it, renewed motivation to get out into this city and get to know the inhabitants. One of the oldest and most complex places on Earth, Istanbul is full of surprises and never rests for too long.

Our new apartment is only a few minutes stroll from the shore of the Marmara Sea, a walk away from downtown Kadikoy – the throbbing heart of the Asian side and a relaxing 30 min ferry ride from Sultanahmet or Taksim – Europe.

Through the huge wall to wall windows in our front room I can see snow falling, it has been doing so for about 30 hours, there is snow on the ground throughout much of the city and we are doing our best not to freeze. So too are the hundreds of birds of every type, flying about the place from balcony to balcony, I am amazed that there is so much birdlife in a city that is so polluted.

İ am also amazed at the weather. İt has snowed here a couple of times since we came back. İt is freezing cold.

The snow from our loungeroom window...

We have had a couple of visits since we moved in. We will put some pics online soon...

So life is good for the Bevans we are both working enough to save som e money and have enough time off to contemplate this amazing city.