Magazine

From Russia with Love: A Movie in 1960’s Istanbul

After the great success of “Dr.No”, the movie that introduced the James Bond character to the silver screen, Terence Young’s “From Russia with Love”, the second in the James Bond series, came into the screen in 1963. Filled with a heavy dose of non-stop action scenes with good-looking photography and pure spy story, From Russia with Love” is considered by many to be the best Bond movie. There’s intelligent plot, great pace, exotic locations, young Connery, and we are given Daniela Bianchi – the best Bond girl ever!

What’s more? Istanbul looks so beautiful on screen; the cinematography is too wonderful to show vistas of Istanbul in the 1960s. The great fight scene in the Orient Express train is the strawberries on the cake!

We have checked out and here are some photos of Istanbul from the legendary movie!

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi are standing on the ferry and the Hagia Sophia is in the background.

Daniela Bianchi posing in front of the Hagia Sophia.

Sean Connery is standing on an Istanbul hilltop overlooking the Bosphorus. The mosque is located right next to the Dolmabahçe Palace.

Sean Connery is taking photos of Daniela Bianchi on the Istanbul ferry on the Bosporus and iconic Maiden’s Tower in the background on the Bosporus.

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi are giving a lovely pose in front of the Hagia Sophia.

Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi are standing together on the Istanbul ferry.

Daniela Bianchi is on the İtfaiye Street and Şepsefa Mosque is in the background at the Atatürk Boulevard.

Daniela Bianchi is in front of the famous Dolmabahce Clock Tower. — Daniela Bianchi is in front of the famous Dolmabahçe Clock Tower.

Director Ian Flemming is posing in front of the Orient Express train.

Sean Connery and Pedro Armendáriz (Ali Kerim Bey) are in the famous Basilica Cistern.

Daniela Bianchi and Sean Connery are relaxing on a hilltop on the last day of the film set.

Another great pose by Sean Connery and Daniela Bianchi in front of a scenic background including the Hagia Sophia.

Daniella Bianchi is crossing the Golden Horn by walking on the Galata Bridge.

The Conflicted City: The Sound of Sulukule’s Drums

Sulukule was one of the first Romani settlements in Istanbul; communities believed to have arrived from India settled here, next to the city walls of Istanbul. Since then, Sulukule continued to be a Romani neighbourhood until urban renewal projects forced their relocation.

If we look at the time when the Democrat Party was in charge, we see that the destruction starts then. Solidarity between romani settlers started with the first destruction because the settlers had to be relocated.To renew and construct their solidarity they used the support of the Tourism Ministry. They set up the first NGO in Sulukule, calling it ‘Sulukule Turizm Yaşatma ve Koruma Derneği”. However their attempts did not bring a successful outcome and they had to cancel the association.

In 2005, when the new law (5366) passed, TOKI that is housing development administration of Turkey started the process of regenerating these historic areas, Sulukule being the first. The regeneration consist of the legislation that dismiss the settlers from their neighbourhood and re-build these areas with more valuable places .The aim can be defined basically as “gentrification” and “enrichment”. The settlers were generally from the lower income people so they were pushed to leave the places where they live. “Police officers and real estate agencies forced the settlers to leave their houses. However, with the declaration of urban renewal in Sulukule, lots of academicians, intellectuals, architects, journalists and activists decided to do their bests to save Sulukule and created the “Sulukule Platform” in which they declared their support for the local people of Sulukule; they were met with support from all around the world. They told the settlers to not sell their houses. They proposed an alternative plan of STOP (autonomous planners without borders) that is a group of people who try to plan alternative and humanitarian urban project in 2008. However, the destructions had already started by 2007. In 2012, the local court finally dropped the case and decide that the project was not in the public interest. Yet, in 2012 the TOKI project was nearly completed.

As we mentioned above, the Sulukule Platform was formed to stop the urban renewal project. By 2010 they realized two things: First, they accepted that they lost the battle, there was nothing they could do for the houses demolished. However, they did not lose at every point. From 2007 to 2010, the people from platform managed to show their goodwill to Sulukuleners. In our interview, F.E. pointed out:

[su_quote]Romani people are introverted and it is too hard to gain their trust, we had to work very hard to accomplish that. We went to every house in the neighbourhood and tried to convince them not to sell their houses by informing them about the laws and their rights. While we were visiting houses, we realized the actual needs of the people living in the neighbourhood, we needed a renewal project for sure– but not an urban one. Most of them did not have health insurance; most of the children were not continuing in school, and more importantly most of the people were not even aware of their rights as humans. By using media channels, Platform made Sulukuleners visible even to EU. With the help of the Platform, the whole world became aware of the situation in Sulukule, this is why the people in Sulukule believe in us.[/su_quote]

The second thing is that most of the Sulukuleners relocated during the project, now moved to Karagümrük and are living with worsened life standards. Because the Romani people were used to work in daily paid jobs, and the solidarity among them plays a significant role in their work live, the economic costs of their relocation were severe. When they moved back to Karagümrük, because of the rents they had to pay since they had to sell their houses, sustaining their lives became almost impossible. Besides, new TOKI housings are separated from the area by walls which creates pressure on Sulukuleners psychologically because the message here is that “you’re not welcomed in your streets anymore.” Because families are incapable of taking care of their children there are many abandoned children wandering around those streets, who have a higher chance of turning into potential criminals in the future.

When the people working at Sulukule Platform realized the situation of abandoned children, they decided to change their focus from the urban renewal project to children and human rights. The Head of the Sulukule Platform, F.E. explained this process with the words:

“In 2010, we rented a small room for ateliers and formed the association Sulukule Children Art Atelier. After the renewal project, most of the children had to change their schools and sadly some of them had to drop out, their education was in danger. We talked to the families of children who dropped out of school, we tried to help those children to continue their educations. We knew that these children were extremely talented at art and with the atelier we gave them the opportunity to improve themselves and become successful in life despite all the destruction that has been made.”

Despite the fact that Sulukule Children Atelier started off with limited resources, it obtained very significant outcomes. Sulukule Romani Orchestra and Sulukule Youth Orchestra for example are products of this association and they are quite successful today. They went abroad for concerts, won awards, and many of the children who took place in these orchestras are today playing with famous musicians.

The hopeful things about the Sulukule is that despite the fact that the government intervention pushing a lot of Sulukule-Romani people out of their neighbourhood , you can find still Romani people who did not leave or come back again to Sulukule, and the spirit of old neighbourhood, Sulukule, started to reconstruct . They love their homes eternally. Lastly, to better understand recent situation of Sulukule I recommend the group: Tahribad-ı İsyan. Specifically, their song Wonderland… It tells their story.

[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/78545350″ width=”640″]

In colloboration with Remziye Aslan and Sueda Evirgen.

Elites’ Food in Europe, Pigswill in Turkey

In Turkey, almost no one is aware of what truffle is! Being known as “black diamond” worldwide, truffle has a $ 6 Billion volume of trade and is valued about € 1000 per kg. Elites in Europe consume it, whereas in Turkey pigs consume it generally as it is not widely known.

The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs has taken action to create truffle mushroom forest in the amount of 400 decares. A committee has been sent to Spain in order to train about truffle mushroom .

In Muğla and Denizli, 1200 truffle grafted saplings have been planted. According to the action plan which will be completed in 2018, 400 decares truffle forests will be created as being used truffle grafted saplings in 17 regional forest directorates.

France has 45%, Spain has 35%, and Italy has 20% of the truffle reserve in the World. Among all the truffle types, black truffle called as black diamond is the most valuable one. Black truffle is one of the most difficult type in order to be grown is one of the most important ingredients of Italian cuisines.

Documentary “Istanbul – Changing Perspectives”

Why does a young person decide to pack their bags for six months, to move from home and to make a new start in a completely unfamiliar milieu? Which expectations, hopes, wishes and fears do these people bring along when they set off to start a new life in one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world? And why especially Istanbul, why this city at the Bosphorus with its special mix of cultures?

The documentary short film “Istanbul – Changing Perspectives” by Carolin Winterholler and Marie Hartlieb deals with these questions. The film was produced in 2013 and had its premier at the Europe Day of the Kadir Has University in Istanbul.

Three young students from Germany were accompanied by the filmmakers over six months during their studies in Istanbul. All three protagonists shone a light on different facets of their study abroad in this intercontinental metropolis.

Özgür tells how it was to go back to his old home town, to spent time with its relatives and to receive an impression about the Turkish job market besides his studies. Joanna rapidly dives into the creative scene of Istanbul and hikes through the city in search of the ambivalence of modernity and tradition. Janina talks about how she has overcome first time experiences and shocking moments and how long she has taken time to get used to her new life.

The documentation allows the students to talk about their expectations and their first moments in this country which is foreign for them, to reflect on their experiences over time, to overcome the cultural shock and to become a part of the city at the end. How do they develop and change under the impression of the unfamiliar city, unaccustomed culture and (mostly) unknown environment? How do they broaden their knowledge?

And what was the intrinsic aim of the producers, what was their motivation behind this project and which experiences did they gain from it?

We get in touch with the filmmaker Carolin Winterholler, who also came to Istanbul as an Erasmus student at first, and discuss with her about the background of the production.

Carolin about…

…the motivation behind the project:

[su_quote]Our motivation was that we both are interested in documentary films. In Turkey there are many issues that we would be really interested in, have a political background and are difficult to see through also because of the linguistic barrier. Due to this reason we wanted to deal with an issue that we know from our own experiences and in which we do not deal with language barriers.[/su_quote]

…the initial question:

[su_quote]How do people change if they are dealing with a totally new environment? We also underwent changes and noticed ourselves that there is something like a common thread regarding cultural shock.[/su_quote]

…the realization of the film project:

[su_quote]We contacted several universities which have an Erasmus cooperation with Istanbul and asked for assistance. We received positive feedback and we found some interested people within a short time, who offered to share their experience as Erasmus students in Istanbul.[/su_quote]

…own learning effects:

[su_quote]It was impressive for me that I have discovered really many parallels between me and the Erasmus students. It was almost terrifying how similar we Germans are just due to the fact that we have grown up in the same country. This was incredibly fascinating for me and a kind of journey to my inner self.[/su_quote]

…difficulties of the project:

[su_quote]The most difficult thing for me was definitely the technical aspect. It is incredibly difficult to make a documentary film without financial and technical support. There are many things that you need and that cost so much money: from the camera to the memory card and tripod to the computer which you use for the editing of the bulk of files. Likewise the cut, the coordination of different date formats (audio and video) and the smoothing out of small greenhorn mistakes (like shaky pictures) was a real challenge for us laypeople.[/su_quote]

…positive insights:

[su_quote]You learn many incredible things, gain a vision and understanding for other people. It is a great feeling if people you do not know let you in on their lives and feelings, and place their trust in you.[/su_quote]

Istanbul – Changing Perspectives is a fondly made documentary film about the hopes, wishes, expectations, forces and (self-) awareness of three young students in their semester abroad in Istanbul. A city, experienced not by the eyes of tourists but by ones who embark in the rhythm of the metropolis, offers a differently shaped intensive perspective to the life in the metropol between two continents.

The documentation was shown in the Europe Day of Kadir Has University in 2013, which was the opening movie of the International Changing Perspectives Short Film Festival 2013 and was streamed in the framework of Turkey Encounters in Oldenburg in 2015. You can watch it below.

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Text: Jonas Wronna Translation: Serap Güngör

How To Make Tavukgöğsü At Home

When talking about Turkish classic desserts, most of them consist of milk, cream, and nuts, but did you ever imagine a dessert would be made out of chicken? At first when my friend told me about it, I thought he is probably joking. The day he took me to make me try what he always talked about, oh my! This desserts is something unique. As soon as it hits your plate, its smooth creamy filling took me to another world. While eating it, I realised it had this shredded texture which is very different, and in my opinion gives this dessert its own class. When we hear the word “chicken” it does not make sense to us, but to a person who does not know it has chicken, they will never be able to tell what is inside. It feels like the boiled Sheire (small pasta) that have been added inside. However, to give you all your own experience, I would like to give you guys a recipe which I always make when I have locals coming over for a sweet end to a heavy meal.

What you will need:

1 Medium sized chicken breast

1 ¼ cups of heavy cream

3 ½ cups of full milk

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup of sugar

4-5 Tablespoons of rice flour

Cinnamon powder (Optional)

Roasted almond flakes (Optional)

3-4 Tablespoons Butter

Method: Let’s start by cooking the chicken. Take a medium sized pot and fill it with enough water to cover the chicken completely. Keep the flame of the stove on high at first so that the water boils quickly. Once the water has boiled, place your chicken in the pot, then reduce the heat to medium. It will take the chicken approximately 20-25 minutes to cook. Once the chicken is cooked: pat dry and shred into fine shreds with your hands or with the help of a fork. Once shredded, let it cool down. (Optional Step) If you are worried the dessert might have the taste or smell of chicken, you can take the shredded chicken in a bowl, add cold water, and swirl the chicken around. Once the water gets cloudy, change the water, and repeat the process another 2 to 3 times. Once you are satisfied, take the chicken out on a paper towel to dry it completely.

Moving on to the filling! In a small bowl take the rice flour and add about 5-6 tablespoons of milk from the measured quantity. Set the runny paste aside. Now you will need a deep pot. In that pot, add your leftover milk, cream, salt, and sugar. Put the pot on medium heat, then wait for it to boil. After the first boil, reduce the heat. Take a few spoon-fuls of the milk mixture, and add it to the rice- flour mixture we made earlier. This process is known as tempering as it brings the starchy mixture up to the same temperature as the other so when the milk is added it does not create lumps. For this process a whisk will be needed because once you temper the rice mixture, you need to add it to the simmering milk, then start whisking the mixture vigorously. Do not let the milk stand as it will create lumps, and stick to the pan. As you start to whisk, you will soon see the mixture thicken. Continue whisking until very thick. Add the shredded chicken to the mixture. Then, give it the final few stirs and turn off the stove.

At this point, your dessert is ready; we just need to cool it down to be eaten. To give this recipe an added edge, what I do is take another large pan, add 3-4 tablespoons of butter to its base, and let it melt. Once the butter melts, add the mixture and let it cook for about 5-8 minutes until the base gets a good golden caramelisation. Keep giving the pan a little swirl every now and then so that the base caramelizes evenly.

Let the pudding cool down, cut squares (or rectangles, depending on how you like it). Take them out with the help of a spatula or fork so that you do not spoil its shape. Serve with lightly dusted cinnamon powder and toasted almond flakes. Afiyet olsun!

Istanbul Named No.2 City Destination on Tripadvisor

On the list, “Top 10 Destinations”, stated by the globally known website TripAdvisor.com, Istanbul is ranked number two. Average hotel prices are also included on the list and Istanbul came in third-best due to its 93$ a night average, following second place, Hanoi in Vietnam.

Istanbul is starred on the list with the following description:

[su_quote]TripAdvisor is aware of the March 19 terrorism attack in Istanbul, and other attacks in Turkey over the past few months. All Travelers’ Choice destination award winners were selected based on the quantity of positive traveler feedback shared on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period from November 2014 — November 2015. Istanbul’s recognition is a reflection of its consistent status as a favorite tourist destination among millions of travelers worldwide.

We strongly advise that travelers consult government websites for the latest security information, alerts and advisories when planning trips.[/su_quote]

Istanbul has been known as the favourite route for travellers all around the world, thus resulting in Istanbul as the first place in our 2013 top visited cities list and sixth place in the 2011 list.

TripAdvisor.com is a globally known website and one of the most famous online travel guides. The website benefits from user generated contents and the number of members is about 60 Million. The city of Istanbul receives about a few hundred million hits per month.

Here’s the list of Top 2016 Travellers’ Choice Destinations:

1. London – England
2. Istanbul – Turkey
3. Marrakech – Morocco
4. Paris – France
5. Siem Reap – Cambodia
6. Prague – Czech Republic
7. Hanoi – Vietnam
8. New York – USA
9. Ubud – Indonesia
10. Rome – Italy

Traditional Tulip Festival of Istanbul

Tulips are an important part of Istanbul’s cultural life. This symbolic flower can be seen as decorations on rugs, in paintings and in many parks of Istanbul since the 18th century. Sultan Ahmed III had a global reputation about his intention to make Istanbul a city totally covered by tulips. In addition to that, he was the Sultan of the Tulip Era of the Ottoman Empire. In this era, tulips were planted in whole parks and gardens all over Istanbul. From Sultan Ahmed III, planting tulips in parks and gardens have become a Turkish tradition. Nowadays, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is following this tradition by initiating the 11th Tulip Festival on the 11th of April. Throughout the festival, millions of different strains of tulips will be planted all across Istanbul’s parks and groves.

The festival will start in Emirgan Grove then it will head to the White Pavillion (Beyaz Köşk) and finally end in Göztepe 60th Year Park on the 11th of April at 11:00 am. Local artists, such as music bands, marbling artists, painters and glass-blowing artists, will be there to perform during the grand opening of the festival. The first Tulip Museum of Istanbul will also be opening on the 19th of April as part of the festival celebrations.

The 6th District: An Example of Accelerated Westernization

Until the 19th century from Şişhane to Elmadağ today’s Beyoğlu was basically laced with Christian and Muslim graves. Its sparsely populated area was called Pera named after the Greek word “across” simply due to the fact that it was lying across from the city centre on the Golden Horn. The residents were mainly non-Muslims and Levantines[1], European Christians living in the Ottoman Empire. Whereas Pera functioned like a residential backyard for wealthy people, Galata with its tower and city walls had been a high populated harbour since the Byzantine era[2].

The entry into the Tanzimat Period for the approaching of the Ottoman state to the European way of modernization was the step for Pera, Galata and the slowly growing Tophane to develop in today’s Beyoğlu. These following events directly affected the district: The British-Turkish Treaty of Balta Limanı of 1838 which introduced the Ottoman state into the world market and opened the Ottoman doors to Europeans; the Tanzimat Fermanı of 1839 and the Islahat Fermanı of 1856 which introduced legally the equal position of all Ottoman subjects before the state and consequently nullified restriction pertaining to rights of freedom and private property with the result of the contribution to the enlargement of Pera through private investments[3]; the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856 that caused a flush of allied European soldiers quartered in Istanbul and the outbreak of several fires which eased the remodelling of the area into a modern quarter by both the state and private people[4].

Continue reading “The 6th District: An Example of Accelerated Westernization”

Beşiktaş Sanctuary Vodafone Arena is Opening

The longing felt by Beşiktaş fans is going to end very soon. Club Chairman Fikret Orman made a statement to the press and stated the opening date of the Vodafone Arena.

Fikret Orman expressed his sincere thanks to Beşiktaş fans for their trust and support in his statement. He said “We have constructed a palace, not just a stadium. The location of our stadium used to be utilized for Palace buildings. Vodafone Arena has unique features among other stadiums in Turkey by its remarkable architecture. We are pegging away at the construction of our stadium in order to make it ready for the Beşiktaş – Bursaspor match which will be played on 11 April.”. He also stated that blind supporters of Beşiktaş JK are welcome to come and watch the matches.

Gökhan Öğüt, the CEO of Vodafone Turkey Office also made a statement about Vodafone Arena, and said “Vodafone Arena will be the most technological stadium in Turkey. Fifty thousand people can connect to internet by the Wi-Fi of the stadium. Actually, Vodafone Arena should not be considered as an ordinary stadium, it is an urban complex”. He also said “Countdown for the opening of the stadium has started. Vodafone Arena will be put into service within 10 to 12 days by the state protocol, and Beşiktaş will come back to its sanctuary with the Bursaspor match on 11 April. Beşiktaş will play its remaining 3 matches in Vodafone Arena”.

Beşiktaş – Bursaspor (11 April, 20:00), Beşiktaş – Kayserispor (30 April, 19:00) and Beşiktaş – Osmanlıspor (16 May, 20:00) matches are going to be played in Vodafone Arena in 2015-2016 football season.

İstanbul’s Blue Mosque Is Now Completely Blue

The Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is one of most visited tourist attractions in Istanbul, yet its colour immediately astounds every visitor. The Blue Mosque isn’t blue on the outside, but instead is known as “Blue Mosque” because of the blue tiles adorning the walls of interior.

In November 2013, a major restoration project began at the mosque to change the colours of its domes and minarets. However, it was discovered that one of the mosque’s minarets had shifted five centimetres during preparations for a comprehensive restoration, and it was taken under restoration to be reinforced.

After the restoration of the shifted minaret, the project was continued. Two years ago, the mayor of Istanbul’s Fatih district, Mustafa Demir, mentioned its restoration, which has only just been materialized as expected. On Thursday, 31 March 2016, the restoration works were completed and the mosque was completely painted blue. According to the authorities, the cost of this project was around 34 Million dollars.

Yay! This news was our April Fool. 🙂

Atatürk and Modern Turkey

A famous unwritten rule of history states that only the greatest personalities stand the test of time in order to remain in the memory of humankind. One of these notable men who continues to be present in the hearts of the Turkish people is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the ”Father of Turks”, as his surname specifies. Not only in the Middle East, but even in the most developed Western societies, he is remembered as a rare innovative mind who wholeheartedly assumed the laborious mission of modernizing his country.

His life began in 1881 in a small neighbourhood in Salonica, Ottoman Empire (Thessaloniki in present-day Greece). He grew up in a middle class family. Biographers up to our days are unsure about his religious beliefs. Some of them contest his Muslim origins, others claim that he was indeed born in a Muslim-Turkish family. However, he was not perceived as a particularly active religious person throughout his life. Born Mustafa, he received his second name Kemal, from his mathematics teacher ”in admiration of his maturity and capability”. This shows that from an early age, he was seen as an exceptional child in comparison with his peers.

After graduating from the Military Academy in Istanbul in 1905, he became a member of the Young Turks, a revolutionary movement of intellectuals. In a period of almost two decades he participates in the Turk Revolution in 1908, holds a number of relevant posts in the Ottoman army, fights in the first two Balkan Wars and World War I. After the Treaty of Sèvres was signed, stipulating the division of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal demanded complete independence for Turkey. But this demand was not fulfilled until the end of the battles with the Greek and Armenian forces, which led to the signing of the Lausanne Treaty at the end of 1923.

1923 remains a memorable year for the recently formed nation-state. In this year the Republic of Turkey was established with Atatürk as its first president. The country was originally conservative, and the population started being more sceptical to some of the suggested changes from Mustafa Kemal. This initially lead to a number of revolts, and assassination attempts of Atatürk. However, the new-born mentality prevailed and the ideology of Kemalism developed into a powerful force in Turkey.

The ideology was in part based on a transition towards democracy and the building of a nation-state which resembled the Western models. However, these changes were not easily implemented, which was in part due to the rigid attitude of the population. Atatürk’s doctrine focused on the “Six Arrows” which embedded the concepts of realism and pragmatism along with: republicanism, populism, nationalism, secularism, statism and reformism. This meant that the influence of Islam on state affairs (law and schooling) was to be reduced. At the same time, much emphasis was put on the national education in the perspective of ‘civilizing’ the country, according to Western standards.

In the summer of 1924, Mustafa Kemal invited the American educational reformer John Dewey to Ankara, to advise him on how to reform the Turkish education system. One of his objectives was an increase in the public literacy. However, his goals stretched further than this. He argued that: ”In the face of knowledge, science, and of the whole extent of radiant civilization, I cannot accept the presence in Turkey’s civilized community of people primitive enough to seek material and spiritual benefits in the guidance of sheiks. […] The best, the truest order is the order of civilization. To be a man is enough to carry out the requirements of civilization.” Thus, it was evident that his supreme ideal was to separate the new state from the heritage of the former Ottoman Empire in the most important domains of life: social, economic, political and cultural.

His motivation to remodel society was persistent, and Atatürk clearly mentioned numerous future reforms which were to be implemented: civil and political equality for women, state support for arts and free education, the replacement of Arabic alphabet with the Latin one, a multi-party system, religious and ethnic tolerance, human rights, laicism and the imposition of Western dressing codes. This was to be accomplished by direct action, every encountered obstacle being immediately dislodged. Atatürk was of the opinion that the independence of a country could only be achieved by making great sacrifices.

Despite his controversial position in his early years, Atatürk remained popular under a wide range of people, and was seen as a unique leader. He initiated a variety of processes of democratization and positive change in the Republic of Turkey which are still lived by today. He was the founder of a totally different country in the Middle East, the creator of an unequalled spirit in a context dominated by Islam, a personality that emanated innovation through all his endeavours. On the day of his death, on November 10, 1938, at 09.05 the time stopped in Dolmabahçe Palace, so as the whole Muslim world could understand the dreadful suffering produced by the disappearance of its ”modern father”.

[su_quote cite=”Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”]Peace at home. Peace in the world.[/su_quote]

References:
1- www.biography.com/people/mustafa-kemal-ataturk-20968109
2- Wolf-Gazo, Ernest (1996), ”John Dewey in Turkey: An Educational Mission”. Journal of American Studies of Turkey (Ankara, Turkey: American Studies Association of Turkey), p. 15-42.
3- Stone, Norman (2000), ”Talking Turkey”. The National Interest (New York: National Affairs), p. 61-66.
4- Eastham, J.K. (March 1964), ” The Turkish Development Plan: The First Five Years”. The Economic Journal (New York: Macmillan), p. 132-136.

The Sultan’s Italian Architect Raimondo D’Aronco

The sultan’s Italian architect, Raimondo D’Aronco (1857-1932), was invited to Istanbul in 1893 to organize a national exhibition that would celebrate the 20th anniversary of Abdülhamid II’s accession to the throne three years later. This project could not be realized because of a terrible earthquake in the following year. Nevertheless, D’Aronco stayed on to restore a considerable number of buildings in Istanbul, binding his name inextricably with the city.

D’Aronco was given the task of restoring all kinds of structures, including mosques, fountains, government buildings, the Grand Bazaar and parts of Ayasofya. D’Aronco went on to design and construct many new buildings in Istanbul, from commercial premises to private houses and government offices. He worked with various Ottoman ministries and became chief palace architect to Abdülhamid II, helping to realize the Sultan’s concept of a modern Ottoman identity for the city. D’Aronco was the first foreigner to occupy the post of palace architect. In this role he initially worked with Sarkis Balyan, a member of the family of Armenian builders who had built Dolmabahçe Palace and most of the mosques of the 19th century.

Continue reading “The Sultan’s Italian Architect Raimondo D’Aronco”

The 35th İstanbul Film Festival is On The Horizon

Good news for film-lovers! The 35th İstanbul Film Festival is on the horizon.

Initiated by the Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) as a cinema week in 1982, this is the oldest film festival in İstanbul, and now will feature 221 films by 223 directors from 62 countries. The festival will run from April 7 through April 17, and the films will be shown in different theatres of İstanbul.

Tickets are sale starting on the following website: www.biletix.com

We checked out most of the films and made a considerably interesting watch list.

#1 – Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai (Rain the Color of Blue with a Little Blue in It) [ 2015 ] – NIGER

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Storyline: A revolutionary story of guitars, motorcycles, cell phones, and the music of a new generation.
Director: Christopher Kirkley
Screenwriter: Mdou Moctar, Christopher Kirkley, Jerome Fino
Cinematographer: Jerome Fino
Editor: Sara El Rhazoui, Jerome Fino, Christopher Kirkley
Cast: Mdou Moctar, Rhaicha Ibrahim, Fatimata Falo, Ahmoudou Madassane, Abdoulaye Souleymane, Kader Tanoutanoute
Producer: Christopher Kirkley
Showtimes:
April 9th 16:00 Fitaş Theatre 6
April 10th 19:00 Rexx Theatre 5
April 14th 16:00 Aksanat

#2 – Mediterranea [2015] – ITALY

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Storyline: Two men make the dangerous journey from Africa to Italy for a better life, but then face hostility and violence in this shocking look at the life-and-death struggle of refugees.
Director: Jonas Carpignano
Screenwriter: Jonas Carpignano
Cinematographer: Wyatt Garfield
Editor: Nico Leunen, Affonso Gonbalves, Sanabel Chiraqoui / Özgün Müzik: Benh Zeitlin, Dan Romer
Cast: Koudous Seihon, Alassane Sy
Producer: Jon Coplon, Gwyn Sannia, Jason Michael Berman, Chris Columbus, Christoph Daniel, Andrew Kortschak, John Lesher, Ryan Lough, Justin Nappi, Alain Peyrollaz, Marc Schmidheiny, Victor Shapiro, Ryan Zacarias
Showtimes:
April 7th 16:00 Rexx Theatre 1
April 11th 11:00 Fitaş Theatre 4

#3 – High-Rise [ 2015 ] – UK

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Storyline: Life for the residents of a tower block begins to run out of control.
Director: Ben Wheatley
Screenwriter: Amy Jump
Cinematographer: Laurie Rose / Özgün Müzik: Clint Mansell
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy İrons, Sienna Miller, Elizabeth Moss, Luke Evans, Stacy Martin
Producer: Thorsten Schumacher, Jeremy Thomas, Anna Higgs, Alainée Kent, Sam Lavender
Showtimes:
April 13th 21:30 Rexx Theatre 1
April 14th 19:00 Atlas
April 17th 21:30 Ortaköy Feriye

#4 – Boi Neon (Neon Bull) [ 2015 ] – BRAZIL

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Storyline: Iremar works at the “Vaquejadas”, a rodeo in the North East of Brazil where two men on horseback try bring down a bull by grabbing its tail. It’s dusty and back-breaking work, but Iremar is a natural vaqueiro feeding, prepping and taking care of the bulls. Home is the truck used to transport the animals from show to show which he shares with his coworkers; Galega, an exotic dancer, truck driver and mother to her spirited and cheeky daughter Cacá, and Zé, his rotund compadre in the bull pen. Together they form a makeshift but close-knit family. But Brazil and the Northeast are changing and the region’s booming clothing industry has stirred new ambitions in Iremar. Swinging in his hammock in the back of the truck, his head is filled with dreams of pattern cutting, sequins and exquisite fabrics as he mentally assembles his latest sexy fashion designs.
Director: Gabriel Mascaro
Screenwriter: Gabriel Mascaro
Cinematographer: Diego Garcia
Editor: Fernando Epstein, Eduardo Serrano / Özgün Müzik: Otávio Santos, Cláudio N, Carlos Montenegro
Cast: Juliano Cazarré, Maeve Jinkings, Aline Santana, Carlos Pessoa, Vinicíus De Oliveira
Producer: Rachel Ellis
Showtimes:
April 7th 13:30 Fitaş Theatre 4
April 10th 13:30 Ortaköy Feriye

#5 – Brooklyn [ 2015 ] – USA / IRELAND

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Storyline: An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
Director: John Crowley
Screenwriter: Nick Hornby, Colm Tóibín / Özgün Yapıt: Colm Tóibín
Cinematographer: Yves Bélanger
Editor: Jake Roberts / Özgün Müzik: Michael Brook
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Fiona Glascott, Jessica Paré
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey
Showtimes:
April 8th 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 4 / 21:30 Rexx Theatre 1
April 9th 19:00 Atlas
April 16th 19:00 H. Ahmet Yesevi KM
April 17th 16:00 Ortaköy Feriye / 19:00 Türkan Saylan KM

#6 – Belgica [2016] – BELGIUM

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Storyline: The drama follows two brothers who start a bar and get swept up in its success in the midst of Belgium’s nightlife scene.
Director: Felix Van Groeningen
Screenwriter: Felix Van Groeningen, Arne Sierens
Cinematographer: Ruben İmpens
Editor: Nico Leunen / Özgün Müzik: Soulwax
Cast: Stef Aerts, Tom Vermeir, Hélène Devos, Charlotte Vandermeersch
Producer: Dirk Impens
Showtimes:
April 7th 19:00 Atlas
April 8th 13:30 Fitaş Theatre 4
April 9th 13:30 Rexx Theatre 1

#7 – La Tierra y La Sombra (Land and Shade) [ 2015 ] – BRAZIL

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Storyline: After having left a long time ago, a humble country sugar cane worker returns home to meet his grandson and deal with the hardships his family has been put into.
Director: César Augusto Acevedo
Screenwriter: César Augusto Acevedo
Cinematographer: Mateo Guzmán
Editor: Miguel Schverdfinger
Cast: Haimer Leal, Hilda Ruiz, Edison Raigosa, Marleyda Soto, José Felipe Cárdenas
Producer: Jorge Forero
Showtimes:
April 7th 16:00 Fitaş Theatre 6
April 8th 21:30 Rexx Theatre 5
April 12th 11:00 Ortaköy Feriye

#8 – Killer of Sheep [ 1978 ] – USA

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Storyline: Stan works in drudgery at a slaughterhouse. His personal life is drab. Dissatisfaction and ennui keep him unresponsive to the needs of his adoring wife, and he must struggle against influences which would dishonor and endanger him and his family.
Director: Charles Burnett
Screenwriter: Charles Burnett
Cinematographer: Charles Burnett
Editor: Charles Burnett
Cast: Henry G. Sanders, Kaycee Moore, Charles Bracy, Angela Burnett
Producer: Charles Burnett
Showtimes:
April 9th 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 6
April 10th 13:30 Rexx Theatre 5
April 15th 16:00 Beyoğlu

#9 – Zjednoczone Stany Miłości (United States of Love) [ 2016 ] – POLAND

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTmBP-tVEZc” width=”640″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no”]

Storyline: Poland, 1990. The first euphoric year of freedom, but also of uncertainty for the future. Four apparently happy women of different ages decide it’s time to change their lives, and fulfill their desires.
Director: Tomasz Wasilewski
Screenwriter: Tomasz Wasilewski
Cinematographer: Oleg Mutu
Editor: Beata Walentowska
Cast: Julia Kijowska, Magdalena Cielecka, Dorota Kolak, Marta Nieradkiewicz, Lukasz Simlat
Showtimes:
April 10th 21:30 Atlas
April 11th 13:30 Fitaş Theatre 4
April 12th 21:30 Ortaköy Feriye

#10 – The Lady in the Van [ 2015 ] – UK

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Storyline: A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that’s parked in his driveway.
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Screenwriter: Alan Bennett / Özgün Yapıt: “The Lady in the Van”, Alan Bennett
Cinematographer: Andrew Dunn
Editor: Tariq Anwar / Özgün Müzik: George Fenton
Cast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Frances De La Tour, Roger Allam
Producers: Kevin Loader, Nicholas Hytner, Damian Jones
Showtimes:
April 11th 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 4 / 21:30 Rexx Theatre 1
April 12th 19:00 Atlas

#11 – Michael Jackson´S Journey From Motown To Off The Wall [ 2016 ] – USA

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Storyline: A look at the life of the late pop star Michael Jackson from his early days at Motown Records to the release of his hit 1979 album, Off the Wall.
Director: Spike Lee
Cinematographer: Kerwin Devonish
Editor: Ryan Denmark, Barry Alexander Brown
Producer: Spike Lee, John Branca, John Mcclain
Showtimes:
April 8th 13:30 Fitaş Theatre 6
April 16th 19:00 Ortaköy Feriye
April 17th 19:00 Rexx Theatre 1

#12 – Reminiscences Of A Journey To Lithuania [ 1972 ] – USA

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Storyline: It records the return visit of brothers Jonas and Adolfas Mekas to their homeland of Lithuania. They apparently left the country near the end of World War II, and suffered various hardships on their way to America. Until the time of this film (1972), they had never been back to Lithuania.
Director: Jonas Mekas
Cinematographer : Jonas Mekas
Editor: Jonas Mekas
Cast: Peter Kubelka, Annette Michelson, Daniel Rogosin
Showtimes:
April 7th 19:00 İstanbul Modern
April 9th 13:30 İstanbul Modern

#13 – Hail, Caesar! [ 2016 ] – USA, UK

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Storyline: Hail Caesar! Follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood fixer for Capitol Pictures in the 1950s, who cleans up and solves problems for big names and stars in the industry. But when studio star Baird Whitlock disappears, Mannix has to deal with more than just the fix.
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cinematographer: Roger Deakins
Editor: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast: Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum
Showtimes:
April 10th 21:30 Rexx Theatre 1 / 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 4
April 11th 19:00 Atlas
April 17th 19:00 Ortaköy Feriye

#14 – El Clan (The Clan) [ 2015 ] – ARGENTINA, SPAIN

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Storyline: The true story of the Puccio Clan, a family who kidnapped and killed people in the 80s.
Director: Pablo Trapero
Screenwriter: Pablo Trapero
Cinematographer: Julian Apezteguía
Editor: Pablo Trapero, Alejandro Carrillo Penovi
Cast: Guillermo Francella, Peter Lanzani, Lili Popovich
Showtimes:
April 9th 21:30 Rexx Theatre 1 / 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 4
April 10th 19:00 Atlas
April 16th 21:30 Türkan Saylan KM
April 17th 21:30 H. Ahmet Yesevi KM / 21:30 Fitaş Theatre 6

#15 – Kötü Kedi Şerafettin (Bad Cat Şerafettin) [ 2016 ] – TURKEY

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Storyline: The Bad Cat is an animated epic for young adults featuring the unforgettably bad cat, Shero and his foul mouthed gang in action. As animals inhabiting streets Shero and his friends are after what anyone else in their notoriously sleazy İstanbul neighborhood wants: debauchery with girls, food and the occasional drinking binge. This ordinary looking day will prove otherwise as their paths cross with humans, things get a little out of hand in hilarious, harsh and unexpected ways.
Director: Mehmet Kurtuluş, Ayşe Ünal
Screenwriter: Levent Kazak, Bülent Üstün
Cinematographer: Barış Ulus
Editor: Aylin Zoi Tinel Canlandırma/Animator: Ahmet Tabak, Alp Gürsoy, Bora Şahin / Özgün Müzik: Oğuz Kaplangı, Sabri Tuluğ Tırpan, Serkan Çeliköz
Cast: Uğur Yücel, Demet Evgar, Okan Yalabık, Güven Kıraç, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Yekta Kopan, Cezmi Baskın, Ayşen Gruda, Gökçe Özyol
Producer: Mehmet Kurtuluş, Vehbi Berksoy, Can Deniz Şahin
Showtimes:
April 11th 19:00 Fitaş Theatre 6

LOCATIONS OF THEATRES

Ahmet Yesevi KM: Esentepe Mah. Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Cad. 2367.Sk. Sultangazi

Aksanat: İstiklal Cad. No:8 Taksim, Beyoğlu

Atlas: İstiklal Cad. No:131 Atlas Pasajı, Taksim, Beyoğlu

Beyoğlu: İstiklal Cad. No:62 Halep Pasajı D:62 Taksim, Beyoğlu

Fitaş Theatre: İstiklal Cad. Fitaş Pasajı No: 12 Beyoğlu

İstanbul Modern: Liman İşletmeleri Sahası Antrepo Meclisi Mebusan Cad. No:4 Karaköy, Beyoğlu

Ortaköy Feriye: Çırağan Cad. No: 40 Ortaköy, Beşiktaş

Rexx Theatre: Caferağa Mh. Bahariye Cad. Sakızgülü Sok. No:20 Caferağa, Kadıköy

Türkan Saylan KM: Gülsuyu Mh. Nar Sk. E-5 Yanyol (D-100 Karayolu) Gülsuyu, Maltepe

A Day in the Life of Istanbul’s Baker

The freshest loaf of bread is still warm from the oven: Crusty and soft inside. As morning stretches around the world, families everywhere start their day with a visit to the bakery for the ‘freshest loaf of bread.’ and in Istanbul this is not the exception.

There’s a bakery, located deep within the Beykoz District, that works around the clock to keep bread fresh. It’s 10:00 pm and the work shift has just begun. How is the bread still warm at 9:00 am? Employees work intensively for ten hours to make that happen. To unravel method behind mystery, one must consult the artist behind the dough.

Continue reading “A Day in the Life of Istanbul’s Baker”

Suicide Bombing Hits İstiklal Avenue in Central İstanbul

An explosion occurred on the famous İstiklal Avenue close to symbolic Taksim Square on March 19. The blast went off on the Balo street near the Demirören Mall. The attack happened at about 11:00 local time.

Scores of police cars and medical personnel rushed to the scene of the explosion immediately. The pedestrian street was completely sealed off.

İstiklal Avenue is one of the most famous streets in İstanbul, which rimmed by hundreds of boutiques, art galleries, theatres, cafes and foreign consulates, leading to Galatasaray Square.

4 people were killed and 46 people were wounded. One of the killed was the suicide bomber. Meanwhile, the wounded included six Israelis, two Irish citizens and one person each from Iceland, Germany, Dubai and Iran.

Turkey’s Supreme Board of Radio and Television has imposed a temporary ban on broadcast of pictures and video footage from the scene of explosion on the İstiklal Avenue.

On Thursday, Germany had closed its embassy in Ankara, the German schools and the consulate in Istanbul, which is in the same neighbourhood as the blast, due to the existence of severe security intelligence about terror rampage. Foreign Affairs Minister of Germany have made statements on twitter, and said ”People of Germany should not leave their hotels or homes if it’s not necessary.”

Skin, the lead singer of the world-renown British band Skunk Anansie, was among the witnesses of the attack. He wrote on Facebook said the blast went off near her Istanbul hotel and that buildings “shook like paper.” She also expressed solidarity with the “innocent people and their families caught in this evil situation.”

The attack in Istanbul came six days after a suicide car bomb attack in the heart of the capital city of Ankara, which killed 37 people.

Minute by Minute İstiklal Avenue Suicide Attack

Terrorist attack in İstiklal Avenue throws all of of Turkey in shocked. The whole world is deplored because of the attack, as 4 innocent people died and 46 people were wounded. Here are the ins and outs of the terrorist attack minute by minute:

11.00

Suicide bomber exploded himself in the heart of İstiklal Avenue.

11.04

Ambulance and health care providers came on the scene.

11.15

İstiklal Avenue was pedestrianized by police.

11.58

Governor Vasip Sahin made statements about explosion on his speech and stated that 4 people died and 20 people were wounded.

12.09

İstiklal Avenue was evacuated including the shops located on the street by police down to the Tünel.

12.25

Turkey’s Supreme Board of Radio and Television imposed a temporary ban on broadcast of pictures and video footage from the scene of explosion on the İstiklal Avenue.

12.58

Police tightened the security measures in the whole city. In Nişantaşı, a man who tried to take photos of police was arrested.

13.06

According to Reuters’ statements that were obtained from higher-up intelligence units, the suicide bomber is most likely a member of either PKK or ISIS.

13.24

Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu made statements about explosion, and stated that 4 people died and 7 of total 36 wounded people’s situation is critical.

13.28

Public Prosecutor of İstanbul charged 5 attorney generals for the investigations about terrorist attack in İstiklal Avenue.

13.30

Spokesman of Israel Diplomatic Service Emmanuel Nahshon stated that 3 Israel citizens were wounded in İstiklal Avenue attack.

14.09

President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz condemned the terror attack and conveyed his condolences to Turkey.

14.18

Diplomatic Service of Germany warned German citizens with an article on its website in the matter of giving heed to potential dangers.

14.44

Turkish Ministry of Health reported the number of casualties as 4 dead and 46 wounded. According to the ministry report; 6 Israel citizens, 1 Iceland citizen , 1 Germany citizen , 1 Dubai citizen, 1 Iran citizen and 2 Ireland citizens were wounded.

18.23

Turkish Ministry of Health stated the victims of terrorist attack as Simha Siman Demri (Israel), Yonathan Suher (Israel), Avraham Godman (Israel) and Ali Rıza Khalman (Iran).

References:

www.hurriyet.com.tr

www.lexpress.fr

Hardcore: Public Transport in Istanbul

Travelling by public transport in Istanbul has many advantages. It is pretty cheap, you avoid taxi drivers that may charge you too much money as you are a foreigner and if you take the metro, metrobus or the ferry you will not get stuck in (too much) traffic. The metro-system also keeps getting bigger and bigger. If you have the Istanbul-Kart it is only 2 Lira to go from A to B. There is also the “Trafi” app which gives you the best advice on how to get where. Sounds perfect, right? But such rides by public transport are something quite different. A very special experience is a ride on the Metrobus.

The Metrobus is a bus, which has its own street line. It goes from the European side via Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side (and all the way back). It is the fastest connection from the European to the Asian side, but it is sometimes a challenge for tourists.

The last stop of the metrobus has a swanky name: Söğütlüçeşme. If you want to go there: you must first remember this name, write it down, and pronounce it correctly. This is a real challenge!

Here is some help for everybody without Turkish language background. The “ğ” is silent, the “ç” is like a “cz” as in “Czech Republic” and the “ş” is pretty easy as it is said like a “sh”. Then, of course, there are all the “ö” s and “ü” s. “Ö” as in the “e” in “her” and “ü” as in the “u” in “lure”. Easy? So now try it all together: Söğütlüçeşme. Right. And then try to say that fairly fluently while being on a crowed, noisy Metrobus stop in the middle of Istanbul to ask for the way.

If you have done this first step, you are (hopefully) at the right place now. But now you have to get into the stuffed Metrobus. If you are worried that you will not get in contact with locals on your visit to Turkey, you will see that this worry is totally unnecessary if you take the Metrobus. Sometimes you have to hold on to another passenger who is just two centimetres away from you because the bus is so crowded you cannot find anything else to hold on to. There is a wonderful Youtube video that reflects this situation accurately.

Of course, you need to know this video is mocking a promo-video from IETT, the public transport provider in Istanbul. In this video, a well-off man is leaving his house to go to work using the Metrobus. In the Metrobus, he reads his newspaper comfortably while the Metrobus takes him to his job very gently. A voice comments this situation and tells you all the opportunities of the public transport in this modern city. Here is the video.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY35h2lNmn8″ width=”640″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no”]

But here is Hayrettin’s (Turkish Comedian) more realistic version.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdzOMNR_Do” width=”640″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no”]

When you finally arrive in Söğütlüçeşme, basically bathed in sweat, then you have gone through your baptism of fire and are ready for all the other kinds of public transport in Turkey. For instance the Dolmuş.

The legendary Dolmuş is a big taxi. Again, filled with no shortage of physical contact with other people. Dolmuş means “filled up” and this is the principle of this minibus. The driver has a certain way to go and he waits until the car is full. Then the trip starts. You cannot use your Istanbul-Kart here. You have to pay cash between 2-7 Lira. The money is passed through the car to the driver and the change also passes from one hand to another. You also have to know some Turkish here: Bir tane, iki tane – one or two persons to Taksim, Üsküdar, and Yeşilköy. Then the cosy, slightly dangerous, and very quick ride through the city begins. You cannot buckle up in the Dolmuş, and it is very possible to end up on the lap of your seat-mate in the steep curves.

Anyway, after dealing with the payment rituals, sort of being seated, and overcoming the fast drive, the stress starts again when you try to get out of the Dolmuş. It is very helpful when you already know the route. Or if someone can help you to let the driver know where you have to get out. Because if you do not want to get out at the last stop, you have to tell the driver.

The great thing: When there is a lot of traffic – and there is almost always lots of traffic – it is possible to get out anywhere. But that’s of course also a little scary for newcomers and foreigners: how do you know where to get out of the Dolmuş when there are no signs? Or no obvious system? And how do you tell the driver? Now, here again you get your chance to communicate with locals.

There is a computer game which reflects the atmosphere of rides in a Dolmuş perfectly. In this game you are the Dolmuş driver and you have to collect the passengers and let them out and you have to be as fast as possible. You will get dizzy just by looking at it. A real Dolmuş ride is basically the same.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRa4R7UU7tY” width=”640″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no”]

When you survive a Dolmuş ride, physically and mentally then you deserve a very special award from the public transport in Istanbul.

A ride by ferry on the Bosphorus is also a unique tourist experience. At the same time, it is actually a way for people to get to work every day. That’s why this is as cheap as any other route. But on the ferry, you will think this ride is only created for relaxing and enjoyment. There is the smell of the ships and the sea. All of a sudden it becomes silent around you and peaceful. You enjoy your seat in the sun, with seagulls flying around the boat, water beside you and sometimes even dolphins come join. And you also can look at Istanbul from afar. You see the other side of the Bosphorus Bridge, the old town, Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. And the ride becomes even cosier when you order tea, orange juice, and a sandwich.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nffEv__rANk” width=”640″ showinfo=”no” rel=”no”]

This ride alone compensates for all the jostle, sweating in the Metrobus, in the Dolmuş, and the bustle in all the other transports. But all these different transportations are special, and you will certainly have stories to tell afterwards.

İstanbul Gets New Bicycle Routes

İSPARK (İstanbul Parking Operation) has made actual the new bicycle roads in the route of Kadıköy-Kartal coast road, and the Florya-Yeşilköy bicycle road will be put into service in April. The Florya-Yeşilköy route will be about 6 km in length and provide 60 bicycles for citizens. Moreover, feasibility-studies have been going on for the Avcılar-Sahil and Kartal-Pendik bicycle routes. By the completion of all these routes, İSPARK’s aim is to put 350 bicycles into service.

In the Asian side of Istanbul, İSPARK will put 3 new stations into service in the Maltepe distinct in the Bostancı-Kartal route. Thus, the number of stations in Kadıköy-Kartal route will be increased to 13, and 30 more bicycle will be available for this route. Totally, 130 bicycles and 13 stations will be put into service after the commissioning of 3 new stations in Maltepe.

Continue reading “İstanbul Gets New Bicycle Routes”

From Nazi Germany to Istanbul University

“Although the situation seemed to be hopelessly in spring 1933, due to the existence and the congregation of the Emergency Assistance Association for German Scientists, the working opportunities in Turkey, the success of the scientists and the established connections, there was a positive feeling of revolution. […] I and my friends knew that we adopted an important mission at the same time: to represent the real German spirit and culture. The burdens of this mission gave us not only the feeling of pride but also security.”[1]

The Jewish Professor Philipp Schwartz started with these words his book about his memoirs in Istanbul after his escape from the Nazi Germany depicting the feelings of the persecuted German academics. The need of academic support of the newly established Turkish Republic of that time rescued numerous Jewish and opposing professors from the Nazi persecution.

As 1923 the Turkish Republic was proclaimed, the country stepped in a time period of state organized reforms with the purpose to diminish the Ottoman traces and modify the state according to the European modernity. This approach was also applied to the higher education. Financially dependent on the state, at the outset, darülfünun known today as the Istanbul University could keep its autonomy. However, both the absence of appropriate scientific work and the unwillingness of the university to support the state reforms led to the official closing of darülfünun and to the foundation of the Istanbul University in 1933.[2] The idea to appoint not only young Turkish intellectuals disposed for reforming but also European scholars caused the engagement of the Swiss professor of education Albert Malche by the government who should later adopt the intermediary role between German professors and the Turkish state.[3]

Einstein's Letter to Atatürk — Einstein’s Letter to Atatürk

Meanwhile, Germany started the year 1933 with the coming into power of the Nazi regime. In February the Reichstag Fire Decree was passed as the first attack against human rights followed by the Enabling Act which suppressed the fundamentals of the democracy. Moreover, in April non-Aryans were outlawed from the civil service.[4] After all, with the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 the omnipresent policy of racism became legally fixed by the Nazi dictatorship.[5]

Racial discrimination and politically persecution strained the life of numerous Jewish and politically opposing scholars in German universities why the Jewish Dr. Philipp Schwartz escaped from Germany and founded the Emergency Assistance Association for German Scientists in Zurich short after the Nazi takeover. Together with Albert Malche, Schwartz convinced the Turkish government to appoint the persecuted German professors for the free positions in the higher education.[6] Finally, contracts up until five years were signed.[7] Over time around 150 academics immigrated to Turkey while most of them were from the economic, finance, law or medical fields. Social sciences played a less important role.[8]

Freundlich, Gleissberg and Aslan Tufan (Reporter of the Turkish Magazine Yedigün)

The re-establishment of the university in the old Ottoman war ministry and its surrounding area in Beyazıt went along with the attempts to enlarge the teaching and learning content.[9] The initial phase of the lessons was affected by several obstacles like the resistance of the old academics to the reforms. Another obstacle was the lack of space and material for teaching especially in the medicine department. For example, Professor Schwartz talks about a limited number of microscopes which had to be used rotatory in different institutes.[10] However, the major barrier seemed to be the language. Included in the contracts, the Turkish government expected from the emigrants to teach and publish first with the help of translators but within five years also in the Turkish.[11] Besides lack of appropriate translators and mistranslations, the professors had troubles to learn the Turkish language due to its unfamiliar structure in comparison to European languages. The economist Fritz Neumark tells about his first attempts to speak Turkish with these words: “Because during the four-day journey I could not learn to say ‘teşekkür ederim’, in other words I was not able to memorize these words; I felt a deep despair that I still can remember”.[12]

Nevertheless, the cooperation yielded fruit at both sides. On the one hand despite troubles, after a few years numerous professors could continue their academic output in Turkish. On the other hand they were also able to start scientific work which later would contribute to their career like the economist Wilhelm Röpke and his works “Civitas Humana” or “International Order”.[13]

Some emigrants stayed just view years in Istanbul, some turned back after the Second World War and other lived until the death in Turkey but their imprint in the Turkish cultural and scientific life is undeniable. Just to mention a few names, the sociologist and economists Gerard Kessler taught numerous students, who established influential labour unions in Turkey. Walter Gottschalk an expert of librarianship shaped the Istanbul University library and taught later Library Sciences. Andreas Schwartz and Richard Hönig trained the first members of the Turkish jurisprudence in the republic.[14] Furthermore the university provided public lectures Istanbul and so called “university weeks” in Anatolian towns and villages for the propagation of scientific knowledge and the reforms.[15] The success of these offers was visible by the popularity of surgeon Rudolf Nissen. Some families in Anatolia named their children after him.[16] Finally they also occupied important academic positions in Ankara, introduced there Turkey´s next academic centre and influenced the government. The most famous example is the architect Clemens Holzmeister who led the construction of significant state buildings like the Grand National Assembly.[17]

Social Solidarity in Exile; İzmir Trip of German Settlers in İstanbul

Overall it was a fruitful cooperation. The state found an initial medium to build up the Istanbul University and spread their ideology and teaching according to the European modernity. The emigrated professors could not only escape the Nazi pressure but also continued their scientific work. Fritz Neumark ends his book about his memoirs in the Turkish exile with these words:

[su_quote]First of all while I am finishing the telling of my experiences in a country that was at first alien but later become more and more our second homeland I thank deeply and sincerely the Turkish Republic, that not only housed us but also offered us appropriate working conditions as the country that we were born threatened the lives of our children.[18][/su_quote]

[1] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği: 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları (Istanbul: Belge Yayınları,2003), p: 33
[2] Ilhan Basgöz & Howard E. Wilson, Educational Problems in Turkey 1920-1940; Indiana University, Bloomington: 1968, p: 161-166
[3] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 15-19
[4] Richar J. Evans, The Coming of the Third Reich; Penguin Books, London:2004, p: 331-437
[5] Michael Burleigh and Wolfgang Wippermann, The Racial State, Germany 1933-1945; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1991, p: 45-50
[6] Stanford J. Shaw, Turkey and the Holocaust; The Macmillan Press LTD: 1993, p: 4-5
[7] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği, 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları, Belge Yayınları Istanbul 2003, p: 20
[8] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği, 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları, Belge Yayınları Istanbul 2003, p: 15-16
[9] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği, 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları, Belge Yayınları Istanbul 2003, p: 49-50
[10] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği, 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları, Belge Yayınları Istanbul 2003, p: 83-84
[11] Philipp Schwartz, Kader Birliği, 1933 Sonrası Türkiye´ye Göç Eden Alman Bilim Adamları, Belge Yayınları Istanbul 2003, p: 20
[12] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 130-136
[13] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 75-76
[14] Stanford J. Shaw, Turkey and the Holocaust; The Macmillan Press LTD: 1993, p: 6
[15] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 232-233
[16] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 99
[17] Stanford J. Shaw, Turkey and the Holocaust; The Macmillan Press LTD: 1993, p: 7
[18] Fritz Neumark, Boğaziçi´ne Sığınanlar, Türkiye´ye Iltica Eden Alman Bilim, Siyaset ve Sanat Adamları 1933-1953; Neden Kitap Yayıncılık, Istanbul: 2008, p: 257