Some Beauty From İstanbul-Turkey
Haydarpaşa: To the north
of Kadikoy is Haydarpasa, and the train station built in 1908 with
Prussain-style architecture which was the first stop along the Baghdad
railway. Now it is the main station going to eastbound destinations
both within Turkey, and internationally. There are tombs and monuments
dedicated to the English and French soldiers who lost their lives
during the Crimean War (1854-56), near the military hospital. The
north-west wing of the 19th Century Selimiye Barracks once housed
the hospital, used by Florence Nightingale to care for soldiers,
and remains to honour her memory. .
Polonezköy: Polonezköy, although still within the city, is 25 km. away from the centre and not easy to reach by public transport. Translated as “village of the Poles”, the village has a fascinating history: It was established in 1848 by Prince Czartorisky, leader of the Polish nationals who was granted exile in the Ottoman Empire to escape oppression in the Balkans. During his exile, he succeeded in establishing a community of Balkans, which still survives, on the plot of land sold to him by a local monastery.
Since the 1970s the village has become a popular place with local
Istanbulites, who buy their pig meat there (pig being forbidden
under Islamic law and therefore difficult to get elsewhere). All
the Poles have since left the village, and the place is inhabited
now by wealthy city people, living in the few remaining Central
European style wooden houses with pretty balconies.
What attracts most visitors to Polonezkoy is its vast green expanse, which was designated Istanbul’s first national park, and the walks though forests with streams and wooden bridges. Because of its popularity, it gets crowded at weekends and the hotels are usually full.
Some Beauty From İzmir-Turkey
Torbalı: An ancient Ionian city, famous for its wines and religious
centre, has three marble alters devoted to the Roman Emperor August
and his foster child Germanikys, in an ancient theatre which dominates
the valley. Pieces of art found during excavations are exhibited
in Izmir and Ephesus museums. The town has the remains of an old
port and a few holiday complexes, and is set attractively against
a pine forest.
Ödemiş: North of Odemis, which is 113km southeast of Izmir, are the ruins of Hypaiapa. The historical importance of the region began with Birgi, west of Odemis, which was the capital during the Aydinogullari period and contained outstanding examples of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. Birgi has been on the World Cultural Heritage list since 1994, and points of interest here include Cakiraga Mansion, Imam-i Birgivi Medrese and Sultan Sah Mausoleum.
