Some Images of Istanbul

This is the view of the Bosporus on the way to the University. Again it is just 5 min. from home. As you can see there are lots of trees. There are so many great views here I could easily bore you with countless photos of them.

This is a shot of Taksim from a third story window on a moderately busy Sunday afternoon. I will take some more shots of Taksim, as I am working in that area and will probably spend a great deal of time there. When it is really busy the streets are a solid mass of people

Here are just a few of the hundreds of men one can see on a Saturday afternoon dropping a line into the Bosporus, hoping for a bite. So far I have not seen a single person catch anything. I suspect that it is just another reason to hang-out, which is definitely a national pastime here. On the right you can see a corn seller. If you are hungry there is never need to dispair, for if you wait two minuits a fellow will come by with a cart and try to sell you something to eat.

Here is a good example of some apartments with one of the two bridges that connect Europe and Asia in the background. This is just a 5 min. walk from my apartment. I knew that there would be many appartment buildings cramped together, but what has surprised me is that there are quite a few houses as well.

This is Mark kissing one of the numerous monuments to Ataturk. A person cannot go two blocks without seeing an image of him somewhere. His pictures are in most stores and all public buildings. As well, numerous public buildings are named after him, most notably the airport. He is the national hero par excellance. Some of us non-Turks are wondering if it is not time for some other national heroes, some variety perhaps. One thing that you do not do here if you want to avoid prison and beatings is speak ill of him. For those of you acquainted with the novel 1984, the image of “big brother” comes to mind.