How Things Have Changed

All the buildings in this photo are new since 2013

 

Living up on the hill in Sarıyer has sure changed a lot since August 2013. When we arrived, about half of the area was in various stages of construction--from fenced in fields to open pits ready for foundations to skeletons of apartment blocks. There was one small, dingy grocery store. It felt like we lived just outside of the border to civilization. Here are some things that have changed in the area in just the last few months.

1. Five newly completed apartment complexes, only one field left to build on
2. Two decent grocery stores, both selling alcohol (!)
3. A coffee shop whose wifi reaches the bus stop
4. A pub with Guinness on tap (!!)
5. A "Subway" (not that I really want their sandwiches, but there they are)

I mean, really, we're leaving just as this place is turning into a liveable neighborhood... sigh.

Walk in the Hood

 That white smudge on the grass is the neighborhood alpha dog, Pamuk (Cotton). He followed us for about 10 minutes on our walk and then got distracted by rolling around in the new grass.

Suddenly, playground! We haven't walked this way in a while I guess. The playground equipment fits in with the candy colored apartment buildings.

In the center distance, you can probably see the minaret of the mosque that is right across from our building. The blue and orange things are exercise equipment. Of course, these are placed in the direct sun. 

How the park is really used by the Koç University students.

Another gift from the KU students: "Base Station" graffiti.

On the other side of the park, there is a dirt road to a lake. Up ahead are the goats and the goatherd.

There's the lake and the minaret again...

Weekend Visit!

City Random-scape

Picnic at Yıldız Park

Spring-timery at Park Evleri

Flip-Book Venuses

We recently made a trip to the Istanbul Archeology Museum, which is usually one of my favorites but now it's being renovated. There was a new exhibit showing 19th century research of materials from their collection; I suppose it was a consolation exhibit to make up for all of the closed galleries. In any case, the images above are crying out to be made a flip-book, Terry Gilliam style, of course.