BFG Rave Runs: Istanbul part 2

July 6, 2008 (Sunday): Galata Bridge crossing


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Easy 8k. Went south today, through Taksim Square and the statues commemorating war heros and into Istiklai Cad, the pedestrian street where the old tram still runs.

Taksim means “division” or “distribution” in Ottoman Turkish. This is the original point where Istanbul’s main water lines are collected and branched off to other parts of the city. Today, Taksim Square is a main transportation hub.

Istiklal (Independence) Avenue is a long pedestrian shopping street. A nostalgic tram still runs along this street. At the end of this street is the Tunel (1875), the world’s second oldest subway line after London’s Underground (1863).

At the end of this street lies Beyoglu and the Galata Tower, built in 1455. There’s a very good kebab/doner restaurant here that we had dinner on Friday (for just 30 lira for 3).

Galata Tower
In the 17th century, an Ottoman citizen Hazerfen Ahmet Celebi attempted to fly from Galata Tower to the Asian shore of Uskudar and he worked on this project for 4 years. With the wings he invented, he succeeded in flying to his target and this was a great success at the time.

Down a steep descent towards Galata Bridge that separates the Bosphurus from the Golden Horn. Many locals trying their luck fishing along the bridge. The bridge leads into the Sultanahmet peninsula, home to the Old City. Further on are the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, but these are closed on Sundays.

Grand Bazaar: The oldest covered bazaar in the world, with more than 4,000 shops.

The Golden Horn is a freshwater estuary that divides the European bank and gets its name from the color of the waters as the setting sun melts into it. An excellent natural harbor, it was home to the Byzantine and Ottoman navies.

Headed along the shore and Halic Quay where many boats were berthed and crossed back via the Ataturk Bridge. Ran back towards Galata Bridge and Karokoy before walking back up the incline to Galata Tower. Then it was retracing my steps back to the hotel.






Ave pace: 7:15
Cloudy then cleared.