First of all, I have to explain how this meeting happened, because nothing was really planed…..
At the beginning a mail from Cristina, asking me if I had some addresses of hotels in Istanbul. She wished to spend the Christmas time overthere with her family, PBX, Joana their daughter and Paulo Vasco their son who lives in China. She had contacted Caner who advised her to call me, so that I indicate in which hotels we use to go in Istanbul.
Daniel and I met Caner and Behiye 2 years ago in Istanbul. He is a formidable guide, which knows the historical places as well as the small “bars, cafés etc…(even if, one time in the street, people thaught HE was the tourist and WE were Turkish, but….. this is because his camera is bigger than mine)
Christina had also contacted Engin, via Woophy, in order to meet in Istanbul.
In last May, we have also, met Engin at a sunny terrace of a bar beside the New Mosque. We had discussed together, exchanged our addresses and indicated Woophy site to him.
The story could have stopped there, and in this case Cristina and Paulo would have to do this blog!
but Daniel and I decided on December 23 to spend the 1st of Year in Istanbul (our 15th travel) by finding a “last minute” on Internet. I thus sent an email to everyone, telling them “may be we will join you next week!!!!” In fact the world is small, very small….
And I promised the others to write the blog…..
The following with some pictures (most inside, due to the cold weather. Sorry if you want to discover outsides of Istanbul, refers to Caner or Engin pictures. When it’s cold, bars are better than cultural to get warm)
Meeting point was Obelisk on the Hippodrom. Normal! Prestigious place for prestigious people! First, a “çay” together,
and then we drive our friends Cristina, Paulo, Joanna and Paulo Vasco in Grand Bazaar
Our (very) patient husbands
Friendly “camera duel” : “You shoot at me, I shoot at you…”
Then in the cistern :
President Paulo and his first Lady
"Medusa" has her head reversed to admire them. May be a bit jealous not to be the focus........
First "international Woophy meeting" in Pasha Bar : the staff of the bar seemed a bit surprised by these strange assembly of tourists and real stambouliots people!
From left to right : Engin, Cristina, Joanna, Paulo vasco, PBX, Caner, Melih, Bernadette, Daniel
After dinner, conversation and photos in a bar (yes, an other one!) near Küçük Agia Sophia.
Paulo decided to taste some specialities and to convert Cristina.Tobacco?
Cakes with honey? mmmmmm, yes cake!
1st of January : Uskudar, On the Asiatic side of Istanbul,
We retrieve Paulo, Cristina and Joana, in Fetih Pasha, an beautiful area in Uskudar.
A nice restaurant, with delicious traditional Turkish food, in an old wooden house,
(I told you : bars, restaurants!!!! It was cold!!!!! And the first lunch of the year is VERY important!)
And a little walk on the hill, and on Bosphorus side with a marvellous view .
A paradise for photographers.
Cristina shooting at the landscape I will shot 5 mn later. Sure that we have a lot of common pictures!!!!!
Paulo and Daniel are preparing their next fishing party. (when a fisherman meets an other fisherman, ……..)Humm, I think that Daniel will have a lot of lessons to take from Paulo!!!!!
Return to the hotel by boat : still cold, very cold, but so beautiful!!!!!
We have to prepare for the evening. Engin and his friends will play music for us, in a fish restaurant in Kumkapi!
What an unforgettable evening!!!!!!!
And the last word is for Caner & Behiye : Happy Yeni Raki*, !! sorry, Mutlu Yillar! Happy new year.
Nota : for non initiate people, Raki is one of the fundamentals in a turkish meal, but take care, if you are not used to drink it (my case) after just one glass you love everybody!!!!!
