Sultanahmet - My Neighborhood Atop this hill is a large park/mall surrounding Aya Sophia
and the Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque. We will get up there, but not in
this post. To the north lies the Golden
Horn, a long estuary that projects north from the Strait of Istanbul
(aka Bosphorus).
On the south slope of our hill is the old, downscale
but sort of gentrified and tourist-oriented neighborhood of Sultanahmet.
Further down and to the west is old neighborhood
that has not been refurbished. West especially has abandoned buildings.
But here we are safe and comfy, In general rents decline as you move
downward from The Mosques toward the train tracks and the Sea of
Marmara.
Just over the lip of the hill, an old jail has been re-built as a Four
Seasons Hotel.
The minaret behind it belongs to Aya Sophia (a Greek name, meaning holy
wisdom or Saint Sophie, take your pick).
Five-star jails aside, the neighborhood is budget to midrange.
The first street down from the top is dominated by hostels of varying
quality. One is the first recommendation in Lonely Planet's budget
listings. Next door to it is the unfortunate dungeon of my first night here.
Next street down is littered with restaurants, plus a few boutique
hotels, a couple of little grocery stores, and at least one laundry.
The rest of these pictures are all from the restaurant street.
The street below has fewer eateries and more accomodations. My Bahaus is the most
modest of a rather boutique-y lot.
There are several places across the street that I would splurge on for
a few days of luxury now and then if I had the $$.
Even then though, I'd make something like where I am my regular
hangout. I am by
far the oldest guest here, but the youthful enthusiasm of the place is good
for the soul.
What is
this picture? A cafe table in front of a window. Behind the window are
lights in the cafe. Reflected in the window is the (other side of the)
street.
