Istanbul, Turkey

Roasted chestnuts and roastin' ears: Both are for sale on the busy streets of Istanbul. Chestnuts have been a part of Mediterranean culture for hundreds of years, but roastin' ears ("corn on the cob" to most) are a contribution of the Americas, the birthplace of maize. The lesson: Indigenous culture and immigrant culture can complement each other. [2014]

Istanbul, Turkey

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Flags: Viva vexillology. That's the study of flags. Of all the things that Geographically Yours photographs, flags are the hardest: There is either too much wind or not enough! Better to string them up overhead like this national standard in Istanbul. Flags turn the landscape into a game board: "What flag is that?" [2020]

Istanbul, Turkey

Maps on the Landscape ~ Continental Scale: Let your caravan remind you (and everyone else) where you're going and where you've been. It looks like the red line (see it?) maps the route, which either begins or ends in Istanbul. It's so very "ecostream" to see these folks use a map showing physical geography! [2010]

Istanbul, Turkey

Even clocks in public places are often sponsored by private companies to communicate their most important message: It's time to buy. In this case, it's time for women to buy clothes, specifically, from Gizia. Many towers carry clocks at their tops, including church spires in the Christian world but never minarets in the Muslim world. Why and why not? [2007]

Antalya, Turkey

Christian churches have their bell towers. Islamic masjids have their prayer towers. Both are used to call the faithful to worship, and the both mark the landscape with a symbol of dominance by one religion or the other. The prayer towers attached to mosques are called minarets. When they look like pencils, you can be sure their origins are Ottoman. [2014]

Kayseri, Turkey

Keyseri, smack on the middle of Turkey, is one of the Anatolian Tigers. Its economy is booming not because of state subsidies but because of entrepreneurs like these men behind the counter. Their shop thrives on the profits of the larger economy, with hundreds of firms producing everything from furniture to banking, all of which bring money into Central Anatolia. [2007]

Ephesus, Turkey

The Ephesus amphitheater is built into the hillside (the way the ancient Greeks did it!) along the road from the port to the town. The apostle Paul visited and wrote letters to the early Christians here. Those letters have become the Biblical book of Ephesians. And, we know Paul walked past this amphitheater at least once in his life. [2007]

Bursa, Turkey

There is a mystery here, or at least a case of cognitive dissonance. Atatürk (candidate for the 'best-dressed' award) despised the Ottomans and worked to build a modern, secular, West-leaning Turkey. Yet, the flag of the Republic of Turkey is a virtual replica of the last flag used by the Ottoman Empire. Why? [2007]

Ürgüp, Cappadocia, Turkey

Carpets are one of the foundation stones of Turkish folk culture. The tradition came to Anatolia from Central Asia, where weaving was essential to life on the steppes. Originally, all materials and colors were natural, and the designs were handed down across the generations. [2000]

Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey: Total Modernity. Two Turks: The embodiment of Ataturk's secular vision of Turkey's future. But, now, Turkey has turned its back on much of what Ataturk envisioned. It has eliminated a free press, jailed opposition leaders, blamed its ills on outside forces, reduced governmental checks and balances, and given more power to its President. [2014]

Bursa, Turkey

Just as the Ottoman Empire reached its peak of power, a great "caravan palace" was built to accommodate all the trade, especially in silk, that wound its way to and through Bursa. Today, Koza Han is still devoted to trade, but it's the retail trade that matters. The structure here, in the middle of an outer courtyard, was once a mosque. [2007]

Istanbul, Turkey

Form: cylindrical tower with a conical roof built in Romanesque style. Function: to keep watch over the comings and goings of Genoese ships in the Golden Horn. Location: Galata, a section of Istanbul now called Karakoy. The Galata Tower is one of the most recognizable sites in the city. [2014]

Istanbul, Turkey

The Burnt Column is one of the most important architectural remnants of Istanbul's Byzantine past. It was dedicated by Constantine the Great in 330 AD to mark the site of the Roman Empire's new capital, the New Rome, on the site of Byzantium. Today, it gives its name to a stop on the city's metro: Çemberlitaş. [2010]

Istanbul, Turkey

Even though it's Istanbul, it could be New York, London, or Paris. And, he could be Muslim, Christian, or Jew; liberal, conservative, or moderate; thinker, doer, or feeler; straight, gay, or bi. What preconceived notions do you bring to this scene? Could be that none of the above really matters. But, you'll never know until you say 'hello.' [2010]

Istanbul, Turkey

It may be that our modern shopping malls had their origins in the covered bazaars of the Middle East. Istanbul's Spice Bazaar (a.k.a., Egyptian Bazaar) dates back to the 1660s. Many like to think of it, along with the city's Grand Bazaar, as the western terminus of the Silk Road. [2007]

Istanbul, Turkey

It's the dome of the Sultan Ahmet Camii, or Blue Mosque. Actually, it is the interior of the central dome, which is flanked by four other main domes, and then eight secondary domes. It is as orderly as the heavens above: no chaos here, perfect order, and visual splendor. [2010]

Istanbul, Turkey

What country has the highest per capita tea consumption in the world? Turkey. Hot tea is served sweet in small glass tumblers, and never with milk. Where does the tea come from? The country's own Black Sea coast. As for the saucer design: It is oh so Turkish! [2010]

Izmir, Turkey

Somewhere in the world, today is wedding day. The concept of marriage is common to all cultures. (Are there any exceptions?) But, the performance of marriage has been 'Westernized' worldwide. Izmir, though, is probably the most Westernized city in Turkey. [2014]

Istanbul, Turkey

There is nothing as ordinary as this in Istanbul today. The unsuccessful military coup of the last 24 hours shows the weakness of the military and means that the President will now try to take on even more powers. [2010]

Istanbul, Turkey

A travelling salesman, clearly with a specialty! Need something to keep the house clean? Here's your chance to buy it. His ilk has been walking the world's waysides for countless centuries, but only in the age of plastics has the valuta been so colorful. [2010]