Istanbul:history along to Besiktas

Ortakoy is another place myself and Figen often go when she is not working and has not planned anything, she has a bad habit of planning things and forgetting . We often say to ourselves “probably the most disorganised couple in the world” we both have have a bad habit of leaving things to the last minute but what the heck we always make it. Ortakoy a place I like to go and mingle in the crowds of the small Bazaar ,sometimes taking a boat trip along the Bosphorus and look back at just how the skyline of Istanbul is unique. A blend of history and modern architecture works exceptionally well here unlike back in London where the modern towers and skyscrapers just do not work with the historical architecture unfortunately. Yet there are still places of history of great interest in London but its just not viewable at many street levels probably why they built the London Eye.

At Ortakoy after having one those delicious (Kumpir) Jacket Potatoes filled with delights and sauces and Figen always makes sure we get it from the Besiktas lads ,why because she supports Besiktas unlike me I have began to follow Fernabache . So after leaving this small port of the Bosphorus  we always head along to Besiktas and it is here I became curious of the stunning black and white portraits lined all along the road leading to Besiktas.

[SinglePic not found]The portraits are of  Mustafa Kemal Ataturk  a former president of Turkey who died in 1938 but yet still today he is idolised by millions of Turkish people ,even the younger generation acknowledge his importance of modern day Turkey. Back in England I struggle to think of someone we idolised and is symbolic to us and can be found in our everyday thoughts and life. I look back at modern UK history and idols of importance are war related, the name Winston Churchill  is a frequent thought of someone symbolic to the United Kingdom but I do not see the patriotic displays of his image throughout the UK aligned like I do here with Ataturk  . Modern idols in England to me the last was Lady Diana  who presented an image of beauty yet destroyed by modern day demands on life.

The image of Ataturk found along this road to Besiktas is a reminder and appreciation for what he stood for and what he achieved , it is not for me to write and voice an opinion or try to educate  because I have no real understanding of what he did for individuals , but I know from talking with Figen perhaps today life may not be has free . I think the quote “Turkish Youth! Your first duty is to preserve and to defend Turkish Independence and the Turkish Republic forever” sums up why there is a very strong patriotic feeling of Turkish people.


SO MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT “CAY BREAK”…

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