Lale Aran

Side, trick or treat with Turkish ice cream. Read More: http://lalearan.com/a-mediterranean-get-away/ #lalearan #lalesurmenaran #ricksteves #rickstevesturkeytours

#Istanbul Off The #Tourist Track, Side #Trip to Asia There are many benefits of staying in a city more than couple of days. It enables you to go behind the tourist scene to discover the living city, see the #inhabitants in their daily routine, and be a temporary local. Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/04/istanbul-off-tourist-track-side-trip-to.html

Where is the #12th man? I visit #Seattle frequently and I am very aware how much Seattleites love and support their team. As the 12th man, they have a rightful recognition nation wide in #USA. Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/03/where-is-12th-man.html

http://www.lalearan.com/

The civil ceremony ending the school week on #Friday, after the last class of the week. Students are singing the #National #Anthem. School system in #Turkey is similar to that of in #USA. We have both public and private schools in all levels of schooling. There are good and bad ones among both. Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/03/weekend-in-turkey.html

Inside our school bus. Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/02/what-is-rick-steves-guides-doing.html

When I got off the #taxi on the shores of the Sea of #Marmara, before walking to the church I made a brief stop to check the daily catch in the water front sea food market of Kumkapi. Although it was a cold morning with some snow, the market was busily getting ready for the day. I watched the fishermen proudly lay the “kalkan” on their counters. Kalkan or turbot in #English is a delicacy loved by #Istanbulites, it is most delicious in winter months. Than walking thru the #Kumkapi district famous with it’s sea food restaurants and #gypsy musicians, I reached the Church of #MotherMary. Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/02/christmas-in-istanbul-part-ii.html

Courtyard before the #church Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/02/christmas-in-istanbul-part-ii.html

Interior of the #church and mass in #Armenian Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2015/02/christmas-in-istanbul-part-ii.html

#Christmas in Istanbul This entry is about my marathon of Christmas masses in #Istanbul. I remember suggesting an #American #traveler to spend the Christmas #holiday in Istanbul. He had raised an eye brow in hesitation and said "Christmas in a #Muslim city? I don't think so". This was a quick answer without giving a thought to the fact that Istanbul was Constantinople, leading city of #Christendom for about 1,000 years. It has been home to numerous Christians communities who thrived in the region for centuries. While #Greek #Orthodox is the best known; there are also #Armenians, Georgians, Bulgarians and #Syrian Orthodox who still speak the language of Jesus Christ, the #Aramaic. #RickSteves Rick Steves Read More: http://www.lalearan.com/2014/12/christmas-in-istanbul.html

Public #Transportation in Istanbul Dear Reader, I get a lot of questions about transportation in #Istanbul. Many people seem to tend towards engaging a chauffeured #vehicle, or manipulated towards this choice. While I have no objection to the comfort of exploring Istanbul in your private vehicle driven by a driver, but I must also say that this may not be the optimum #solution. If you stay in a part of city not served by tram / metro or public ferry, optimum solution is engaging a private vehicle. But, if you are walking distance to one of the former listed public transport vehicles, I suggest you use it effectively. Notice that I am not listing public bus, as in very clogged traffic and numerous stops it makes, public bus is not an ideal option. Get a taxi instead! It will still be trapped in crowded traffic but won’t be making the frequent stops as the bus and you can sit down in it!... Read More: http://lalearan.tumblr.com/post/106225932681/public-transportation-in-istanbul