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Showing posts with label Facilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facilities. Show all posts

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Best City Hotels For Relaxing Massages



Istanbul can be a stressful city. If you are living in Istanbul for a long time, you feel urgent need to massages. Of course, everyone who comes to visit Istanbul for whatever time can benefit from relaxing massages.

I've been a couple of massage parlours, all of which were downstairs of a city hotel. I haven't been to independent massage parlours, because I have a feeling that the quality will be better not to defame the hotel itself.

Talimhane hotels


There are many hotels at Talimhane, most of which looks luxurious. So, I had kept away from them, until my family bought me a massage from a discount web site. I made a reservation at an incorrect hotel. Then I met "Avantgarde Hotel". The massage was fine, the parlous was a little bit complex and crowded. Then I found the correct hotel: Ramada Hotel (Talimhane, not Pangalti). This time parlour was better and the massage was very good.

Both of the hotels above hire at least one East Asian masseuse. The prices were rather economic, compared to the services (massage, sauna, pool, herbal tea). I haven't tried other hotels yet, but I think the prices and the services won't change dramatically.

Almost all the city hotel like Talimhane hotels, Taksim hotels, Pera Hotels and Sultanahmet hotels have SPA centres inside them. If you are staying farther than the city centre, such as at Avcilar hotels or airport hotels, you should look for more elaborated SPA centres and fitness centres to make the most of your time.

Saturday, 27 June 2015

Kabatas: Gate to the Anatolian Coast


Kabatas means "rough stone" in Turkish. The neighbourhood supposedly took its name from a big rock, but today it isn't certain where the rock is or what it looks like.

Kabatas is between Findikli and Dolmabahce. It is a rather small neighbourhood, but its importance lies in the transportation. Kabatas is like a connection point.

It is on the opposite of Uskudar. So, many people who live at the Anatolian coast prefer to go to Kabatas and then get on other transportation means.


How to get in and out


Kabatas has a port. This means you can come from and go to the Anatolian coast. There are ferries and sea buses to Uskudar, Kadikoy, Bostanci and Prince Islands.

There is also a small bus terminal here. You can find buses to Sariyer, Bahcekoy, and many more.
Kabatas is the first and the terminal stop of Kabatas-Bagcilar tram that also passes from Sultanahmet.

It is very easy to come to Kabatas. You can even walk from Taksim or Besiktas.



What to do in Kabatas


Kabatas is very close to Dolmabahce, so if you come to Kabatas, you can walk for a couple of minutes and visit Dolmabahce Palace.

It is also close to Kucukciftlik Park, where many open air concerts take place.

Sunday, 14 June 2015

Galata Mevlevihanesi: Come, come whoever you are


"Come, come whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again, come, come." Rumi

Galata Mevlevihanesi, or Kulekapi Mevlevihanesi, is an old Mawlawi house at Beyoglu. Today it is a nice museum, except on Mondays. You can watch whirling dervishes on weekends, but you'll have to buy additional tickets for the shows.

How to go there?


I wanted to visit the place for a long time, but it had a long restoration period. It is very easy to get there. You can either walk down from the Tunnel or walk up from Karakoy. It is very close to Galata Tower and your visit won't take more than an hour (if you don't fall in love with the beautiful yard with cats), so you can easily make a plan covering both places.



What is Mawlawiyah?


Mawlawiyah is religious order in Islam and it is closely related to Sufism. The order takes its name from Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. (West knows him as Rumi, East usually calls him Mevlana. Actually Rumi is correct, because it is his name. Mevlana is his religious title.) Mawlawiyah was institutionalised by his son, Sultan Veled.

History


The building has a long story. Let's make a summary of it. It was built in 1491 by Iskender Pasha. It was then the first Mawlawi house in the city. Between the middle of 1500's and the beginning of 1600, it was used as a traditional social complex. With the law that forbids religious orders and their buildings, the complex was shut down on 25 October 1925. Later it was turned into a museum. On 27 December 1975, it was opened as Divan Literature Museum. In 2007, a new restoration period started and the museum reopened in 2011.


The Main Building

The Building Complex


You'll enter the complex from a beautiful arched door. The library is just on the right, but you are not allowed to enter it. After a couple steps, you'll see Hasan Aga Fountain. On the left is the tomb of famous Divan poet Sheikh Galib. There is a cistern adjascent to it. There are also other little tombs, of which gravestones will give you an idea of traditional Islamic-Ottoman style.

The spacious yard is lovely with trees, benches and cats. On the far end of the yard is situated the big Adile Sultan fountain. (Adile Sultan is the daughter of Sultan Mahmud II, the sister of Sultan Abdulmecid, and is a Divan poet.)

Adile Sultan Fountain

The main building is wooden and plain, as it is advised in Mawlawiyah. (Of course, it isn't the original one anymore.) The museum is on the first floor of the main building. Every information has luckily an English translation. The semah saloon is on the second floor. If it is empty, you can climb the stairs and take a look at it. Its floor is plain, but its ceiling is impressing.

Some details about the first floor: The museum is organised so that you can learn about the lives and the belief of Mawlawis. Among the displayed things are kitchen utensils, musical instruments, artworks, and old Masnavi's, the masterpiece of Rumi.

The museum is open for everyone (as Rumi said), the wanderers, the tourists, the backpackers, the corious, the spiritualist and all the rest. Make it a part of your plan!

Mawlawi - Sufi Music

Sunday, 3 May 2015

State Hospitals in Istanbul

Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals of Istanbul. The clock tower at the right side is the oldest building
  1. Arnavutköy Devlet Hastanesi: Merkez Mahallesi  Fatih Caddesi No: 3 Arnavutköy / İstanbul
  2. Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Zuhuratbaba Mh., Tevfik Sağlam Cad. No:11, Bakırköy / İstanbul
  3. Bakırköy Ruh ve Sinir Hastalıkları Hastanesi: Zuhuratbaba Mah. Dr. Tevfik Sağlam Cad. No:25/2 Posta Kodu 34147 Bakırköy / İstanbul
  4. Baltalimanı Kemik Hastalıkları Hastanesi: Rumeli Hisarı Caddesi No: 62 34470 Baltalimanı İstanbul (This one has a wonderful Bosphorus view)
  5. Beykoz Devlet Hastanesi: Saip Molla Cad. Kısayol Sok. No:1 Beykoz / İstanbul (main building), Çiğdem Mah. Barbaros Cad. Hastane Sok. No: 1/3 34800 Beykoz / İstanbul (additional building)
  6. Büyükada Devlet Hastanesi: Lale Hatun Cad. No: 45 Büyükada / İstanbul
  7. Çatalca İlyas Çokay Devlet Hastanesi: Ferhatpaşa Mah. İstanbul Cad. 34540 Çatalca / İstanbul
  8. Okmeydanı Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Kaptanpasa Mah. Darülaceze Cad. No: 27 34384 Okmeydanı - Şişli / İstanbul
  9. Denizcilik Bankası Hastanesi: Rıhtım Cad. No: 58 Karaköy / İstanbul
  10. Esenyurt Devlet Hastanesi: Fatih Mah. 19 Mayıs Bulvarı No: 8 Esenyurt / İstanbul
  11. Haseki Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Vatan Caddesi 29 Mayıs Sokak 34250 Fatih -İstanbul
  12. Haydarpaşa Numune Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Tıbbiye Cad. No: 40 34668 Üsküdar / İstanbul (This one is also old and has a nice building)
  13. İstanbul Deri ve Tenasül Hastalıkları Hastanesi: Zuhuratbaba Mah. Dr. Tevfik Sağlam Caddesi No:26 Bakırköy / İstanbul
  14. İstanbul Esnaf Hastanesi: Süleymaniye Mah. Süleymaniye Takvimhane Cad. No: 19 Tahtakale / İstanbul
  15. Polis Hastanesi: Vatan Cad. Kocamustafapaşa / İstanbul
  16. Üsküdar Devlet Hastanesi: Barbaros Mah. Veysi Paşa Sok. No: 14 Üsküdar / İstanbul (main building), Kalfaçeşme Sokak No: 1 Koşuyolu / İstanbul (Validebag additional building)
  17. İstanbul (70. Yıl) Fizik Tedavi, Rehabilitasyon Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Kocasinan Merkez Mah. Karadeniz Cad. No: 48 Bahçelievler / İstanbul
  18. İstinye Devlet Hastanesi: İstinye Caddesi No: 98 34465 İstinye / İstanbul
  19. Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Şemsi Denizer Cad. E-5 Karayolu Cevizli Mevkii 34890 Kartal / İstanbul
  20. Dr. Siyami Ersek Göğüs Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Tıbbıye Cad. No: 13 Kadıköy / İstanbul
  21. Lepra Hastanesi:  Zuhuratbaba Mah. Dr. Tevfik Sağlam Caddesi No: 26 Bakırköy/İstanbul
  22. Lütfiye Nuri Burat Devlet Hastanesi: A BLOK Adresi :50. Yıl Mahallesi 2107 Sokak No:4, B BLOK Adresi :50. Yıl Mahallesi 2106 Sokak No: 8, Sultangazi / İstanbul
  23. Maltepe Devlet Hastanesi: Altayçeşme Mah. Çam Sok. No: 26-28 34843 Maltepe / İstanbul
  24. Pendik Devlet Hastanesi: Dr. Orhan Maltepe Cad. No: 17, Pendik / İstanbul
  25. Bayrampaşa Devlet Hastanesi: İsmetpaşa Mah. Kenar Sok. No: 22, Bayrampaşa / İstanbul, 
  26. Sait Çiftçi Devlet Hastanesi: Barbaros Bulv. No: 109 Beşiktaş / İstanbul
  27. Sarıyer İsmail Akgün Devlet Hastanesi: Dursun Fakih Sok. No: 1 Sarıyer / İstanbul
  28. Silivri Devlet Hastanesi: Yeni Mah. Efrahim Öztürk Sokak No: 1 Silivri / İstanbul  
  29. Sultanbeyli Devlet Hastanesi: Mehmet Akif Ersoy Mah. Cami Cad. No: 3 Sultanbeyli /İstanbul
  30. Şile Devlet Hastanesi: Balibey Mahallesi  Atatürk Caddesi  No: 1 Şile / İstanbul
  31. Şişli Etfal Hastanesi: Halaskargazi Cad. Etfal Sk. 34371 Şişli / İstanbul
  32. Taksim Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Karayolları Mahallesi, Osmanbey Caddesi, No: 120 Gaziosmanpaşa / İstanbul (The funny thing about this hospital is that it was in Taksim and was transferred to Gaziosmanpaşa. You'll never make it to it in case of emergency. Now Taksim residents also use Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital.)
  33. Yakacık Doğum ve Çocuk Hastalıkları Hastanesi: Çarşı Mh. Yakakent Cd. No: 19 Kartal / İstanbul
  34. Yedikule Göğüs Hastalıkları ve Göğüs Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi: Kazlıçeşme Mah., Belgrat Kapı yolu Cad. No: 1, 34020 Zeytinburnu/İstanbul

Friday, 1 May 2015

Istanbul Military Museum: Big, Detailed Museum with a Lovely Yard



Istanbul Military Museum is a big museum at Harbiye. It has a lovely yard with cats and flowers. We even saw two green wild parrot on a tree. We hadn't been inside the museum before. We decided just to take a look at it and after 3-4 hours we had walked our feed off. So, we advise you to take your time and to leave your baggage somewhere if you can.

The museum covers an area of 54.000 m2 and the museum building is 18.600 m2. It was build in 1862 for the purpose of education officers for the army. Abdulhamit II had it built. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a student of this school for some time, you can visit his figurative class inside. The building was used as a school until 1936, and as corps headquarters until 1964.

In 1964, the decision was made to turn it into a museum. Its restoration was started in 1966 and was finished in 1991. Many spatial and functional changes were made. These changes made the building somehow different both inside and outside than the older building that was used as a military school. I don't know what it looked like before, but it looks fine now.

The building was originally Aya Irini Church, and  when Fatih conquered "Constantinople", he turned it into armoury. The remains, some of which were ancient, were protected. So it can be said that first museum activities started then. The artifacts were carried to Nigde on the account of World War II. Then it was brought back to Macka Armoury, which now belongs to Istanbul Technical University. Today they are in Cinili Kosk, inside Istanbul Archaelogical Museum complex.

Inside the Museum




First of all (and normally) it is a very patriotic museum. The first floor begins with ancient Turkish history: Huns (who I equate with Vikings in terms of the active pnosition of women in migrant settler society), Gokturks (with an interesting alphabet) and Uyghurs (whose grand-grandchildren are still living in China). You can observe the migratory roots. There is a statue of Attila the Hun.

Then comes the Seljuks. I like their art. They are in between Turkish Shamanism and Islam. Normally, Islam forbids paintings and statues. But the Seljuks were in a transition period. Their art includes lion statues, story depictions etc. There are many traces of Seljuks around Turkey. You can watch the slide on the screen and see their pictures. Unfortunately you won't see Istanbul among those, because they couldn't make it to Istanbul at that time.



There are many things about the Ottomans, and there should be considering the period of time they reigned (1299-1922). You'll see things about the conquest of Istanbul. The steps and the wars that lead to Turkish republic are also exhibited in various rooms. You can visit the figurative class of Ataturk. You can see him discuss with his friends during The War of Independence.

The museum is also rich of statues and artifacts, such as men on horses, study tables, an old car (that witnessed and assassination of one of its passengers), and on the second floor guns and arms of every kind. For your information: Everyday at 15.00-16.00, you can watch the jannissary band perform.

Outside the Museum




The yard of the Istanbul Military Museum is very pleasant. There are trees and flowers. There are artifacts such as a real military helicopter and a real big cannon. Cats wander around and most of them are very friendly. One of them was so friendly that it accomponied us until we went into the museum building.

The museum today is a building complex with some newer additional buildings, but the yellow building you'll see is only newer than the museum building. It has actually Ottoman tughra and inscriptions on it. After you exit the complex, walk towards Nisantasi and visit Sanatcilar Park, which is a minute walk away. There you'll find the most comfortable cats, kittens and dogs of Istanbul.

Sunday, 26 April 2015

Boğazici University: A Qualified University with a Spectacular View


Bogazici University is one of the best universities in Turkey. The views from the South Campus are very famous. Unfortunately, since a couple of years only students and graduates are allowed. I'll tell you about it in case you can make your way in or come as an Erasmus student.

History


The history of the university begins with Robert Collage. The boys' section of the university gave service at Bebek campus until 1971. Then, there was a change of law. Robert Collage could no longer be a collage, but a high school. It united with Arnavutkoy American Girls' Collage. The Bebek campus was granted to the government, under the condition that a university would be founded there. So began the history of Bogazici university.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences, where I studied philosophy :)

Campuses


There are six campuses of the university. Four of them are close to each other and the other two are a little bit far away.

South Campus: This is the most famous campus, because it keeps almost all the view to itself. Especially at spring and summer time, you can walk on the paths surrounded with trees and watch Bosphorus from different angles. It is also the original campus, so all the historical buildings dating from 19th century are here.

I was one of the lucky students whose faculty was at this campus (but we had lectures at three campuses). Aside from  the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rectorate Building, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, the School of Foreign Languages, Natuk Birkan Building, Fine Arts Building (where you can take ceramics and sculpture courses), Conference and Concert Center, Student Activities' Building, Zeynep-Ayse Birkan Girls' Dormitory, 1. Boys' Dormitory (with a nice study hall where most students prepare for exams and write their papers), Kennedy Lodge (a restaurant with a Bosphorus view for only academics), Bogazici Alumni Association (with a fine restaurant and a pool), Dining Hall, Outdoor Swimming Pool, and the majestic Albert Long Hall, or the "Building with Clock (where important events and classical music concerts take place) are also in the confines of the South Campus.

There is a division of universities at Turkey: Some belong to the state and are free, some belong to foundations or rich people, they are expensive. Bogazici University is a state university, but the view at the resturants are not for free. BUMED restaurant serves very delicious food (and cheesecakes!) but it may not be suitable for students or backpackers. The canteens are also a little bit more expensive than they should be and you have to pay more the dining hall, compared to other universities.

You can take your food into the campus, or just sit and watch the view for free, of course. There are two famous spots of the university. The one at the top is called Petek (the comb, because of the shapes of the tiles) and the other one is called Manzara (the view, where you can view the Rumeli Fortress and the Anatolian coast, especially Goksu. Cats will always accompany you.)



North Campus: This is for me the most dull campus of all. All the buildings are new and grey. However, Aptullah Kuran Library is here. There is also a big, smooth space where you can see skaters. There are also Education Faculty, Educational Technologies faculty. Computer Engineering Building, the labs of Science and Engineering Sciences, 1. North Dormitory, 2. North Dormitory, 3. North Dormitory, 4. North Dormitory, 5. North Dormitory, the School of Foreign Languages, the New Building (which is obviously not new anymore), and the Dining Hall.

Hisar Campus: This is the other campus where you can see a bit of Bosphorus' view. The Natural Sciences' Institute, the School of Applied Sciences, Indoor Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, and the Agac Ev (a garden restaurant) are here. It is five minute walk away from the South Campus.

Ucaksavar Campus: This campus is ten minute walk away from the South Campus. It is not technically at Rumelihisarustu neigbourhood, but at Ucaksavar neighbourhood. The luxurious Superdorm is here. (Some friends were staying at lovely buldings with gardens around, but they are much more expensive than they should be, because cunning householders know that many students will have to rent an apartment. This is also valid for Rumelihisarustu.) There are also athletics track, sport halls, lodgings and Garanti Cultural Center.

Saritepe Campus: This campus is at Kilyos (yes, beaches!). The sea-sun-sand triangle may seem attractive, but the students didn't like it at the first years, because there was nothing else and the campus was very far away to the city center. I don't know how the situation is now, but I guess it is somehow better, after new buildings and new metro lines. The School of Foreign Languages, 2 student dormitories, community facilities complex and BURCBeach are here. You can pay the entrance fee and use BURCBeach whenever you want at summer.


How to get to Bogazici University 


It is easy to get to Bogazici University, if there is not any traffic. When I was a student, a crossover road was being built and I spent hours at traffic to get to my home at Anatolian coast. The road was finished and a Kadikoy bus (125) was put into servise (which actually enters directly into the Bosphorus traffic.)

Today, there are more options, if you like to avoid traffic. Marmaray has a Yenikapi stop. You can interchange the train (M2) there and go to Levent stop, there you can interchange again (M6) and get to Hisarustu stop. There are also buses to Taksim (559C) and Kabatas (43R). It is possible to walk some distances.

Thursday, 11 December 2014

Talimhane Hotels: The Address to Superfine Holidays

Talimhane is actually a neighbourhood of Beyoglu. It is very close to Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Talimhane was once an exercise place for the army. Today it serves an entirely different purpose. It hosts many superfine hotels. You can also find fine restaurants around.

The list of hotels at the entrance near Gezi Park.

There are many hotels at Talimhane. Not all of them may be suitable for backpackers and students, but you can check them out for they are so central. There are boutique hotels, 4 star hotels, 5 star hotels and luxurious hotels. When you walk straight from this entrance to the end of the road, you'll reach Tarlabasi. Some Tarlabasi hotels are also counted as Talimhane hotels, because Talimhane doesn't have strict borders and it is okay that way.

Only pedestrians!

Talimhane is closed to traffic. So it is fun to walk around. You can go there by any means that takes you to Taksim Square. It is only one or two minutes walk from the square. By the way, you see the "P" of the Point Hotel at the right of the picture. And the right of it, there are Havatas buses that takes you to either Ataturk International Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (with a fair price).
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