FENER OR BALAT?

BOTH ARE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES

As old as Istanbul itself, these ancient neighborhoods that huge the Golden Horn are funky, historic, human scaled and in danger of gentrification.

TEA AND TRINKETS FOR SALE

BEŞİKTAŞ ISTANBUL TURKEY

Everything on this cart for 3 TL (about $1 USD). Çay shared with series browsers only

THE JOYS OF WALKING THE BACK STREETS IN ISTANBUL

ABANDONED PUBLIC PHONE IN ANCIENT FENER

Elegant, but broken. Listing to the left, yet perfectly photogenic. This old, beaten Turk Tele Kom station looks like an objet d'art posed against an ancient wall on a winding back street not that far from the shores of the Golden Horn. Think about the joys of life when we get out of our cars and wander the back streets.

KUZGUNCUK WEDDING CRASHER

USKUDAR DISTRICT, ASIAN SIDE OF BOSPHORUS

Istanbul, Turkey: felt safe as in my own bed, but with better random scenery to photograph.

RIP JOSE FERNANDEZ

HE WAS MIAMI -- A hardworking immigrant and full of energy, joy and love of family

The Miami Marlins should donate proceeds of all sales of Jose Fernandez jerseys and memorabilia to a trust fund for his unborn child.

The team owner should match that amount and set up an easy way for fans to donate funds for the exclusive use of that child who will never meet his/her father.

Call it the #16 Foundation.

Perhaps, if his child is well taken care of, the #16 foundation could fund the education, health care and well being of the tens of thousands of other Miami immigrant children.

Help these children who, like Jose did, dream each night of becoming the best they can be at their chosen profession and sharing their skills with the rest of us who proudly call Miami home.

RIP Jose.

HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE BÜYÜKADA

PRINCES ISLANDS (ADALAR)

A great day trip across the Bosphorus, through the Sea of Marmara and off the coast of the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey.

BALIK EKMEK (FISH SANDWICH)

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Brightly-lit boats grill up thousands of fish sandwiches for customers seeking inexpensive (about $3 USD) eats on the Golden Horn in Eminonu next to the Galata Bridge (where the fish restaurants are much more expensive and touristy.)