KADIKÖY, ON THE ASIAN SHORE OF THE BOSPHORUS

MARKET DISTRICT AND MORE IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Kadiköy, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus south of Uskudar has a vibrant restaurant scene in its colorful market area only a short stroll from the Kadıköy ferry docks.

It's a great place to go for lunch after a browse in the market, or drinks and dinner in the evening. Drinks—specifically alcoholic beverages—are more in evidence here because Kadıköy is more secular and less religious than some other parts of the city.

The market is a particularly appealing one, with bright fruits and vegetables, lots of fish, and a variety of good restaurants with sidewalk tables in fair weather.

Among the most famous restaurants here is Ciya Sofrasi, Güneşlibahçe Sokak No. 43, serving unusual Turkish regional vegetarian cuisine (nearby Çiya Kebap serves lots of grilled meats for the non-vegetarian crowd.)

Not far away, Yanyali Fehmi Lokantasi, Yağlıkçı İsmail Sokak No. 1 (ask anyone), is Kadıköy's oldest restaurant (1919), with a garden-like terrace at the back.

—by Tom Brosnahan

TURKEYTRAVELPLANNER.COM

GRAND BAZAAR

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Footsteps from Hotel Niles.

Touristy.

Amazing.

Historic.

Must see.

Bought my wife's birthday jewelry from  a silversmith there.

CELEBRATING MORE THAN 110,000 READERS

THANKS FOR READING AND SHARING MY CONTENT

During the weekend, this blog passed 110,000 total readers.

This blog grew slowly, launching more than six yeas ago.

It has featured more than 1,300 posts.

A few dozen have been guest posts from my wife, Heidi Johnson-Wright, from her award-winning EarthBound TomBoy blog.

In the past year, they have been more political -- because the bigotry and anger in America has made it impossible to not use the written word to come to the defense of women, people with disabilities, Muslims, Hispanics, the LGBT community and others singled out by the frighteningly large amount of America that still views diversity through KKK tinted glasses.

We have shared 250,000 words and more than 2,500 images -- almost all my originals shot with my beloved Nikon -- in this blog.

Stay tuned, we have more great things to share through the years.

By the way, the image is NOT one of our cats.

It's a Kedi that greeted me every morning on the bench at the Beyazit Tram station near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

BOLD BEAUTY PROJECT

PLEASE JOIN MY WIFE HEIDI AND ME AT THE OPENING RECEPTION

Click to purchase tickets

SULTANAHMET SQUARE AT NIGHT

HISTORIC PENINSULA

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

DOES SHE KNOW SHE'S BEING WATCHED?

GRAFFITI CHARACTER EYES UP WOMAN ON İSTIKLÂL CADDESI

The elegant, mile-long Independence Avenue takes pedestrians through Beyoglu from Taksim Square to Tunel.



The Nostalgic Tram also runs through the district, known as Pera, in the modern side of Istanbul -- across the Golden Horn.

SAFE TRAVEL TO TURKEY

THE CULTURE, PEOPLE AND UNMATCHED HOSPITALITY OF TURKEY AWAIT

Yes, the nation is under a state of emergency.

Yes, you may go through a scanner -- and put the contents of your pockets and book bag in a conveyor belt, like you do for any U.S. federal building.

You certainly don't have to like to politics of Turkey's president.

But trust us, it is safe.

The risks are few, the rewards are many.

You may be headed to the ancient Spice Market.

When you see a colorful vendor.

Selling an array of Turkish flags.

Some featuring Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

He was Turkey's first president.

He treasured democracy.

He championed women's rights.