Simply the best local istanbul advice around.
The Turkish water pipe or nargile (sometimes also called a hookah or hubble-bubble) has been around for centuries. Contrary to popular belief, it is not an instrument to smoke hashish or any other drug. The only products used are different flavors of (Turkish) tobacco. There is nothing shady about this 500 year smoking tradition. It’s [...]
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The Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı or Eid ul-Fitr) is the three day festival following Ramadan. Eid ul-Fitr is the Arabic name of this religious holiday. Eid meaning “festivity” and Fitr meaning “original nature.” It refers to the restoration of one’s best human composition and the celebration of the end of the thirty days of fasting [...]
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Today is the start of Ramadan. Ramadan (Ramazan) is the holy month of Islam. In this period the holy book Kuran was sent to Muhammed. And in Kuran, those who are not sick or travelling are ordered to honor and fast during these 30 days. “Why do I need to know these details about Ramadan?” [...]
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Winter apart, Istanbul is awash with arts festivals and music events, giving visitors a vast amount of choice when it comes to entertainment. The purpose of this article is not to list every single Istanbul festival or event. Instead, I’ll highlight the most important or best-known activities which you shouldn’t miss, organized by season.
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Knowing a few basic Turkish words and expressions will not only please locals, it will also come in handy during your stay. Turks will try their best to help you, but not all Turks speak English — and that’s an understatement. Most restaurants have menus in both Turkish and English, but especially in snack bars [...]
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