The uneventful trip from Thessaloniki to Istanbul was short but tiring, mostly due to airport taxi pickups on both ends. I found taxi pickups in Thessaloniki problematic, primarily because the drivers seemed short-tempered and spoke minus-zero English. Since my apartment was on a sidestreet not open to auto traffic, it was difficult communicating the exact pickup spot. At any rate, after a hectic last-minute fire drill, I made it, and that’s all that matters.
My apartment in Istanbul is located among narrow, winding backstreets in Beyoğlu district on the European side – a great location! On foot, it’s minutes from Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, and Taksim Mosque! I’ve been to Istanbul many times and have visited the major tourist spots, so will explore new areas and revisit places enjoyed before. The vastly diverse cross-section of people observed during dinner last night was mind boggling! Istanbul is truly an interesting international city.
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“The site of Taksim Mosque has historical significance. It’s often cited as a symbol of the intersection of traditional Islamic life and the modern Turkish republic.”
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Taksim Mosque is one of the places on my list to explore. Although I’ve visited most of Istanbul’s older and more historic mosques, Taksim Mosque is an imposing figure. I hear larger-than-life daily calls to worship…
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“Istiklal Street extends from Taksim Square to Karaköy neighborhood and is one of Istanbul’s most famous streets. Going back about a hundred years, one of the oldest trams in the city breaks through it.” safaraq.com
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Background
Taksim Mosque is a modern mosque built in neo-art deco style. Inaugurated in May 2021, the project was a “long-term goal of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, designed to remedy the lack of a prominent mosque in central Taksim Beyoğlu district”.
Weather has been glorious! More later…