Istanbul’s Seven Hills

Number seven has always been a mystical number, whatever one’s faith or culture. Consider for a second, stories about the creation of the world. Also, consider its appearance in the three major religions. Seven sins and seven virtues, seven heavens, seven days of creation, seven gates and layers of Hell, and so on…

Interestingly enough, the number seven is also a favourite digit of many people around the world. However, Musa ibn Nahman, known as Nahmanides, a Jewish scholar from Andalucía, attributes this to a cabalistic explanation – number seven is the number of the natural world. The number appears in many forms, including seven days of week, seven colours of the rainbow, seven notes of the musical scale, seven mouths of the Nile, Seven Wonders of the World, and so on…

Continue reading “Istanbul’s Seven Hills”

The 3rd Bosphorus Bridge Assembled Asia and Europe

The construction of the Istanbul’s Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is almost done. The last apron of the construction was placed by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Sunday. By the placement of the last apron, the construction has come to end and Asia and Europe was united once again. The bridge will be put into service in August.

The city’s 3rd bridge was named after 16th century Ottoman Sultan Selim I, who ruled the empire for 8 years and succeeded remarkable achievements. He is the Sultan who assumed the title of “Caliphate” to the Turks by defeating Umayyads.

Almost 1000 workers and engineers have pegged away at the construction of the 3rd Bridge. Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is, with its 59 meters, the widest drawbridge of the world, the highest drawbridge of the world (the tower is 320 meters high) and the longest drawbridge of the world that houses a rail system of  1408 meters  as the main span. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “This Bridge will be our message to rest of the world” in his speech.

The rail system of Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is going to transport passengers between Edirne and İzmit. Marmaray and the Istanbul Metro will be integrated in the rail system of the bridge and Atatürk Airport, Sabiha Gökçen Airport and the 3rd Airport -under construction- is going to be interconnected.

How To Make Dolma At Home

A very popular dish to eat is the dolma. Many try to make this recipe at home, but cannot get it right. However, this recipe is perfect for first time dolma makers. Enjoy the recipe!

Today we will make plain rice stuffed dolma, in your choice of vegetable.

You can choose from: tomato, eggplant, zucchini, or bell peppers.

For the dolma filling you will need:

  • 150g of short grain rice
  • 1 white onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 small tomatoes diced (don’t add if you are using tomatoes for the filling)
  • 2-3 tablespoon of oil
  • 2 tablespoon of tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili pepper
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon powdered black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon mint
  • 1 bunch of parsley
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon pomegranate juice
  • 8 good sized vegetable of your choice for the filling
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

For the tomato sauce:

  • 2 table spoon domates Salca
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • 2 cups of water
  • Salt
  • Pepper

 

Pepper

 

Let’s start with the vegetables which will be filled first. Slice the top of the vegetable and save the head.  Start by scooping out the inner core of the vegetable, but make sure not to pierce the skin because then there would be a point for the amazing juices to exit.  When making dolma with eggplants, try to find eggplants which are not that long; they should be small and round as this will make it easier for you to scoop the core out.

Once that is done, keep the vegetables aside (along with their head) and move on to the filling!

 

Mixed Dolmas

 

Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients together, except the rice and parsley that have been mentioned. If you are using tomatoes as your core vegetable then there is no need of adding tomatoes to your filling, but at the same time do not throw away the pulp which comes from the centre of the tomatoes either. Keep it aside as it can be used for the tomato sauce later on.  For the filling, we need to press and mix all the ingredients together for a good 2-3 mins so that they are all well combined. Next, add the rice to it and mix it for a few more minutes until each grain of rice is coated properly. Make sure to taste the filling before adding the rice! If you feel some tartness is necessary, then you can either add lemon juice or nar (pomegranate) juice. Make sure the seasoning is not to salty, as there will be salt and pepper in the tomato sauce as well. Once the rice is mixed together, chop half a bunch of parsley and add it to the mixture, then give it its final mix. Cover it with cling film and put it aside. The reason we are adding cling film on top it to keep it away from bacteria as well as various smell that could be absorbed by the filling and give it a bad flavour in the end.

While the filling is resting on the side, we can get on to the tomato sauce. For that we should keep it simple. In a pot, add a teaspoon of oil and let it heat up. Add the tomato sauce and let it cook for about 2-3 mins. Make sure to stir frequently otherwise the paste will stick to the bottom of the pan. Once that is done, take your water and add it slowly to the pan. You will see the sauce begin to thicken. Add both the cups of water and let it cook for 3 mins. Add the seasoning at the end to taste. If you have kept the tomato pulp on the side, you can add it to the tomato sauce and let it cook for a little bit longer.

Once the sauce is complete, take the filling and stuff your selected vegetables. Make sure to add the top of the vegetable back onto the top of your (now filled) vegetable. Next, in a deep rectangular shape ceramic dish evenly stack your dolmas. Once they are nicely tucked together, add the tomato sauce in the centre of the dish or wherever you see an open space. Cook the dolmas for about an hour, depending on the size and thickness of your vegetables. Check after 50 minutes and you can feel if they are done or not. The way you will come to know if they are done is by feeling them. They will be succulent and if you taste the rice in the centre, the rice should be cooked. If the tomato sauce gets too thick while cooking, while it’s in the oven you can add a bit of water to maintain the consistency of the sauce.

 

Stuffed Pepper

 

Once it is cooked, take the dish out of the oven and you are ready to serve! You can place the entire dish on the dining table, and your guests can serve themselves; or you could place each dolma on a plate and serve it with bulgur to enjoy this meal with your loved ones. Afiyet olsun!

Istanbul’s Lost Island Vordonisi Road to UNESCO

Maltepe Municipality and three universities (Uludağ University, Istanbul University and Düzce University) have set up a joint study group including archaeologists and aquanauts for the Istanbul’s lost island Vordonisi to be added to the list of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Studies have been performed since October 2015 to find out the unknown history of Vordonisi in hopes to open it to tourism after being accepted by UNESCO.

Vordonisi is located between Dragos and Kücükyalı at a 700m distance to the Maltepe Coast. Vordonisi was submerged due to the great Istanbul Earthquake that happened in 1010 A.C. Vordonisi consists of 2 separate islands known as the 10th and 11th islands of Istanbul. The island hosts several historical artefacts such as monastery remaining. The mysterious islands were first registered in 1936 by Semavi Eyice who is a Byzantine historian.

 

Vordonisi Island Map

 

To Constantinople on a Bicycle: The Journey of Two American Adventurers in 1891

Have you ever heard the names William Sachtleben and Thomas Allen Jr.? They were two young American graduates who, in June 1890, embarked on a journey to bike around the world. After finishing their studies at Washington University they travelled to New York City, where they started their adventure. They returned 3 years later, after pedaling some 29,000 km on three continents including Europe, Asia and North America,  this was the longest bicycle journey ever made, which made them famous world-wide. They also chronicled their matchless journey with two novel compact Kodak film cameras which they referred to as the “mysterious” black box in the book they wrote.

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Marijuana is Legalized in Turkey

Turkish Government took a big step for the utilization of marijuana for medical purposes.

According to the Cumhuriyet’s news, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agencies, which belong to the Ministery of Health, put a new drug to the list of medications which can be imported. The name of this drug is tacit, but once the code of the drug is investigated the name “Sativex” emerges. Active ingredients of the drug are Tetrahydrocannabiol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) – THC and CBD are the major substances found in marijuana -. Sativex is an oromucosal sypray which contains THC and CBD as active ingredients. Although smoking marijuana for pleasure is strictly forbidden in Turkey, patients who had a red prescription for Sativex whereupon have a chance to import the medication from abroad as the drug is not produced in Turkey.

The two major ingredients of marijuana – Tetrahydrocannabiol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) – have been used to reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy such as loss of appetite, nausea and depression. Especially cancer patients have been facilitating from the cannabinoids (drugs contain chemicals taken from marijuana).

 

References:
www.cumhuriyet.com.tr

10 Favourite Poems for Istanbul

İstanbul is a bad romance for those who has been there once. We can not give up loving it even if there are so many times when it disappoints you, or put you out of temper. Still, the city of İstanbul is a crusty and lovely lover that we’ve yearned and poeticised for centuries.

Several poets have poetized this beautiful and crusty lover since time immemorial. Let’s see how the masters poeticised it.

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Necip Fazıl Kısakürek – Dear İstanbul 

Old İstanbul-1

 

Like they melted my soul and frost it in a cast
And placed it on land as İstanbul
Is something fumes in me, air, color, affection, climate
Is my darling that went beyond time and space
Its flowers are golden stars, Its water is shiny
Moon and Sun are two İstanbulian from immemorial times
Sea and soil, achieves a meet only in it
And dreams achieves an example in it, in it

İstanbul, my precious one
My country, ah my country
İstanbul,
İstanbul….

History’s eyes there, holes on bulwarks
Redwood, shapely redwood, curtain to afterlife
Curveted on cloud, the greyish horse dating from Fatih (Sultan Mehmed II)
Domes made of diamonds, maybe 1 billion carat
Minaret through skies is index finger
Same meaning in every decoration; We will die, no way?
Death is more alive than life, mercy more dominant than sin
While Beyoğlu stomps, cries Karaca Ahmet

Find that meaning, ah find !
Only find in İstanbul!
İstanbul,
İstanbul…

Bosphorus is a silver brazier, boils the coolness
In Çamlıca, lies on floor, the deepness of skies
Playful waters are guests of the ground floor of waterfront
Chrestfallen about new world, old ambassador in Picture
Everynight fire breaks out from windows in Üsküdar
Haunted hardwood mansion, big as a city…
Some sound, i don’t know if its like tambour or its like lute
Causes my clerk groan in rooms that have a bay window

Its woman is like sharp knife
Warm as fresh blood
İstanbul,
İstanbul…

Time makes a gergef* on seven hills
Seven colours, countless appearances from seven sound
Eyüp* is orphan, Kadıköy* is decorated, Moda* snippy
Wind in island, is cause of flying skirts
Everytime in break of day, arrows darts from bows
Screams still come from Topkapı palace
No lover exists as mother, no land as İstanbul
Not only laughing one even the crying one is fortunate..

Its night smells lillian
Its Turkish senses nightingale
İstanbul,
İstanbul…

*gergef > A tool that girls use while decorating clothes, fabrics with colourful fibers, with needle

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Orhan Veli Kanık – I’m Listening to İstanbul 

 

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed:
At first there is a gentle breeze
And the leaves on the trees
Softly sway;
Out there, far away,
The bells of water-carriers unceasingly ring;
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
Then suddenly birds fly by,
Flocks of birds, high up, with a hue and cry,
While the nets are drawn in the fishing grounds
And a woman’s feet begin to dabble in the water.
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
The Grand Bazaar’s serene and cool,
An uproar at the hub of the Market,
Mosque yards are full of pigeons.
While hammers bang and clang at the docks
Spirng winds bear the smell of sweat;
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed;
Still giddy from the revelries of the past,
A seaside mansion with dingy boathouses is fast asleep.
Amid the din and drone of southern winds, reposed,
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
A pretty girl walks by on the sidewalk:
Four-letter words, whistles and songs, rude remarks;
Something falls out of her hand –
It is a rose, I guess.
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.
A bird flutters round your skirt;
On your brow, is there sweet? Or not ? I know.
Are your lips wet? Or not? I know.
A silver moon rises beyond the pine trees:
I can sense it all in your heart’s throbbing.
I am listening to İstanbul, intent, my eyes closed.

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Nazım Hikmet – Tell Me About İstanbul

 

Stop! Let the water of the coffee boil,
Tell me about İstanbul, how was it?
Tell me about Bosphorus, how was it?
June is washed by the runaway rains with vibrations,
Would that seven hills get dried by
Such a hot sun like a mothers care…

Tell me people laughed there,
In trains, ferries, buses.
I like it even if its a lie, say it.
Always agony, always agony, always agony
Had enough…

Stop! Let it stay, don’t turn the TV on
Tell me about İstanbul, how was it?
Tell me about the city of cities, how was it?
While looking in my forbidden eyes from the hills of Beyoglu,
Make compliment about bridges, Sarayburnu, minarets and halic.
Could you say a hello, secretly…

Tell me people laughed there,
In trains, ferries, buses.
I like it even if its a lie, say it.
Always agony, always agony, always agony
Had enough…

Stop! Leave it, don’t move stay like that, please
Your scent is like İstanbul, and your eyes like İstanbul nights.
Now come and hug, hug me the one with henna.
Under the sky, just there together
The dream of starting over by saying thanks god
Is like a river in the desert of your longing.

Tell me people laughed there,
In trains, ferries, buses.
I like it even if its a lie, say it.
Always agony, always agony, always agony
Had enough…

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Mehmet Akif Ersoy – Dream of İstanbul

 

The boat was rolling over in an ocean…
The dream threw me on the shores of Marmara!
I saw from only a couple of miles away
your blackened İstanbul clear as crystal,
Its forehead shining like a crescent:
She’s laughing; coquettish, charming and attractive.

What base destitution now, alas!
What arrogance, what ostentation!
Many schools are opened, men and women study;
factories are in full steam, textile industries progress.
Printing houses work day and night.
New companies emerge for the benefit of the people,
New parties arise to enlighten the people,
Economy prospers
And ships unload wealth from length to length of her shores.

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Yahya Kemal Beyatlı – From Another Hill

Old İstanbul-5

 

I looked at you from another hill, dear İstanbul!
I know you like back of my hand, and love you dearly.
Come, come and sit on my heart´s throne as long as I live
Just to love a district of yours is worth a whole life.

There are many flourishing cities in the world.
But you´re the only one who creates enchanting beauty.
I say, he who has lived happily, in the longest dream,
Is he who spent his life in you, died in you, and was buried in you.

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Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan – İstanbul

Old İstanbul-14

 

A room in the house, İstanbul in the room
A mirror in the room, İstanbul in the mirror
The man lit his cigarette, an İstanbul smoke
The woman opened her purse, İstanbul in the purse
The child cast a fishing line, I saw,
And he started to draw it, İstanbul on the line
What kind of water is this, what kind of İstanbul
İstanbul in the bottle, İstanbul on the table
It walks with us, stops with us, we are puzzled
She is on one side, I am on the other, İstanbul in the middle
Once you fall in love, I understand
Wherever you go, there you see İstanbul.

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Ahmet Selçuk İlkan – An Another İstanbul

I sat down, another istanbul, i thought
more you inside, more with you
Its green is more green, its blue is more blue
that, with your hands makes everything more beautiful

Erased all the stars from sky
instead your eyes, i put, your eyes
spread your hair over İstanbul
Painted everywhere to the color of your lips

Now istanbul is bright, that shining
your smell, i made blow from seas
with your beauty i decorated gardens

I made you istanbul, istanbul you
in every street i wrote your poem line by line
now, all the parts of this city tells about you

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Bedri Rahmi Eyüpoğlu – İstanbul Epic

Old İstanbul-12

 

Just say “İstanbul” and I think of
A basket full of reddish-colored grapes
On a fine evening at Sehzadebasi
A girl walks by, ruthlessly female
Three candles on top of the basket
I would kill myself for her attitute
Taste of grape honey on her full lips
Desire filling her from top to toe
Willow tree, summer breeze, harvest dance
Surely she was born in a wine cellar
On a fine evening at Sehzadebasi
Once more the keel of my heart
Runs aground on the rocks
Just say “İstanbul” and the Grand Bazaar
Comes to mind the Algiers March
Arm in arm with the Ninth Symphony
A perfect bridal suite a splendid dowry
Only the bride and groom missing
For sale cheap cries the auctioneer
And in the corner a pot-bellied oud
Bedecked with mother-of-pearl
Tamburi Cemil Bey on old 78s…

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Attila İlhan – İstanbul Gate of Felicity

Old İstanbul-13

 

World war years with the beauty of a frightened woman

When the good cheer kept vigil at the Kuzguncuk landing
Turned like the pessimistic cadets of kuleli toward sultan reshad
And no one was there for the last autumnal ferry
No helva vendors from beykoz or phonographs with odeon horns
Pouring out songs in an ancient mode only the captain’s cymbals
Alla turca made in yildiz and lifted from the bazaars

İstanbul straits with the sulkiness of a wounded vulture

When monocled german officers argued at kramer’s beerhouse
Moltke versus bismarck in their fissured tongue
Downing three bitter dark green doubles of pilsen beer
Torpedo net heroes rich in numbers as the imperial band
Return to the galician front under the cold russian rain
Swept night and day by long range battery fire
Red crescent tents blossoming like wet flowers
Enormous flowers of extremely bloodstained white
Back to the galician front the operetta remedy

In ikdam false news of victory on the syrian front

At the ministry of war the commander in chief enver pasha
With colonel suleyman of military secret intelligence
Knows nothing of how time passes until morning worship
In the unfiltered glass-shattering darkness of a cellar
Before an execution the nervous motions of prayer
Of cowardly shadows in bekiraga prison
The sticky sweat crawling on yakub jemil’s temples
The torn union and progress membership card on the floor
The rattle of a mauser being loaded the order to shoot
The lilacs fade life lightning in the water jug there is no cure

Those world war years with the beauty of a frightened woman

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Ivan Bunin – İstanbul

Old İstanbul-14

 

Starved, mangy dogs with mournful, pleading eyes,
Descendants of the ones that in a bygone
Age from the steppeland came, and, stung by flies,
Dragged in the wake of dusty, creaking wagons.

The conqueror was rich and powerful,
And with his hordes, proud city, he invaded
Your palaces, and named you İstanbul,
And then sought rest, a lion gorged and sated.

But faster move the days than birds in flight!
Black loom the trees in Scutari; unnumbered
The tombs they shade, their marble shapes as white
As bones bleached by the rays of many summers.

Upon the dust of shrines and temples falls
The dust of ages, and the plaintive howling
Of dogs the gloom of desert sands recalls
Beneath Byzantium’s walls and arches crumbling.

Bare the Serail, its glory spent and past,
Its trees, now dry, bent low in desolation…
O İstanbul! Dead nomad camp, the last
Great relic of a last and great migration!

Survival Guide for the Exchange Students in Istanbul

Twice a year, many students embark on a journey, and have, what should be, the best year of their lives. This journey starts in a city where things work differently; Istanbul, a large, vibrant, exciting but sometimes overwhelming city. If you are one of those lucky enough to be part of this experience, you probably know where we are getting at; the exchange program in Istanbul. Many do have the best time of their lives during the 6 months or year they spend in the city. But some are unable to find that same spark. Although most Turks are unbelievably honest and would go the extra mile to help you rather than rip you off, in a city with well over 18 million inhabitants, you’ll always find a few people with different intentions. This article, written by and for exchange students, helps you navigate the city and hopes to ensure you have the best time of your life.

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A Detailed Guide to Healtcare in Istanbul

Health has always been one of the basic necessities of human life. As the time passes, healthcare delivery systems have developed as an inevitable extension of this necessity. I will try to briefly describe the health and healthcare system in Turkey. In addition, I am going to speak about what to do if you get sick, or face any kind of health problem. In order to understand the Turkish Healthcare System, you first need general information about the following: general health insurance, private health insurance, hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, mouth&dental health centers, and how they work.

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The Grand Bazaar of İstanbul Will Undergo Restoration Work

The Mayor of Istanbul’s Fatih District, Mustafa Demir, has indicated that the historic Grand Bazar will be restored. According to the authorities the project could last about 5 years due to the level of complexity and the cost of the restorations would be around the $55 million.

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Rose of Cité de Péra

In this article I will be discussing the life of  Madame Anahit who was born in 1926 and spent most of her life playing her reddish accordion in Cité de Péra aka Flower Passage in İstiklal Street. When she passed away in 2003, after playing her accordion for over 40 years, she had become an icon in the streets of Beyoğlu.

Her journey with her accordion started when she moved to Büyükada where she would spend her youth on the beautiful island after she graduated from Armenian Eseyan High School. She saw her young Greek neighbour playing an accordion. His name was Yorgo and she fell in love with him. The young girl decided to learn how to play an accordion and impress Yorgo with touching and moving melodies which would flow through her instrument. With her girlish pride, she went to her mother and said “I want to have an accordion.” Her mother could not resist Anahit’s insistence and bought her an accordion from Papa Jojr for 170 Liras. Papa Jojr was an important Istanbulite with a strong network at that time, and he helped her to get in touch with Arto Benon who would proceed to teach her how to play. After spending 2 years with him she decided to work with another accordionist; Norayr Dırızyan, who later became her first husband.  At the age of twenty, she started to play in marriage ceremonies but then she decided to play in Flower Passage in Istiklal Street. You make ask, what had happened to her marriage? After spending 17 years together they decided to get a divorce; however, they remarried 10 years later. The explanation for their remarriage was the fact that they loved each other.

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Ottoman Era Public Kitchen Offers Free Meals to Refugees

Several foundations and organizations are increasing the number of donations to help the people in need during this winter season in Istanbul; but there’s still an historical place which is offering its help to those who are looking for a hot meal, the Mihrişah Valide Sultan İmaret.

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Two Turkish Schools Among World’s Best Smallest Universities

According to the English Times Higher Education magazine’s ranking on best smallest universities in the world, Koç University and Sabancı University ranked in the 8th and 10th positions respectively.

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The Son of A Turkish Famous Director Had An Accident: A Police Died

Famous director Sinan Çetin’s son, Rüzgar Çetin had an accident at midnight in Beşiktaş, he crushed a police car. A police passed away and a police got injured in the accident.

The court arrested Rüzgar Çetin on the grounds of causing the death of someone and causing injury with deliberate negligence.

Rüzgar Çetin went through medical examination after the arrestment. He was taken to Metris Penitentiary afterwards.

The police could breathalyze Rüzgar Çetin 1h 20 min after the accident. Çetin had 0.90 promile alcohol. According to his lawyer’s defense, the police who had died in the accident was not wearing a seat belt. Çetin’s lawyer argued if the police had been wearing a seat belt, he would not have passed away.

 

Sinan Çetin And His Son
Sinan Çetin And His Son

 

Sinan Çetin
Çetin manages and owns the film production company Plato Film Productions. He opened the company in 1986. It is one of the most commercially successful Production Companies of Turkey.

Turkish Covered Meatball: İçli Köfte

If you look carefully, you will find many hidden places on İstiklal street. Some of them are, for good reasons, better to be avoided. But there is also that other kind: places, that should be visited by everyone truly excited about food. So if you walk up to the last floor of an ordinary building in the middle of İstiklal street, you will end up in a cosy restaurant filled with enormous number of flowers. Your effort to climb up the stairs will be rewarded not only with the breathtaking view of the whole street – you will also get an opportunity to taste one of the delicacies of the Ottoman Cuisine, içli köfte.

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Grey Wolves Read Books Campaign

The Grey Wolves, officially known as Ülkü Ocakları, announced they started a “Grey Wolves Read Books” campaign on January, 21. The provincial chairman of Grey Wolves İstanbul, Ahmet Yiğit announced the campaign on his Twitter account. He shared the photos of the members reading a book.

The campaign drew the attention of social media. Many Twitter users gave humorous reactions to the campaign.

The Grey Wolvesofficially known as Ülkü Ocakları (“Idealist Clubs” or “Idealist Hearths”), is a Turkish Nationalist organization. It is variously described as ultra-nationalist. Formally a youth organization with close links to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), it has been described as MHP’s “militant youth arm.”

Grey Wolves Book Campaign

 

Rape Terror in the Middle of Istanbul

A knife-wielding assailant raped a university student in an apartment’s backyard on Kadıköy Bağdat Avenue which is one of the most populated districts of Istanbul. The assailant was arrested after an operation in Pendik. It was reported the assailant was a service driver. He stated what he did was a temptation.

According to the news of Sedef Şenkal and Eray Erollu from Habertürk newspaper, the event occurred after midnight, the night before.

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Restoration of Rumelifeneri Castle

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey will rent Rumelifeneri Castle dating back to the 17th century A.D. on the Black sea side of Sarıyer. Being in a first degree natural protected area, the castle will be restored before being put out to tender.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will rent Rumelifeneri Genoese Castle in Sarıyer for 20 years. According to the Restoration Department’s decision, the castle will be restored. The holder who gets the tender will be able to construct restaurants, cafeterias, museums, libraries, art galleries and exhibition halls in the castle. The restoration process is going to start quickly in this year after the project work started by the Restoration Department is completed.

According to the contract, the leasing term of the historical castle on Kale Street in Rumelifeneri quarter has been projected as 20 years.

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