I’ve played stringed musical instruments since I was old enough to hold a guitar. Almost everyone in my family studied music theory, piano, and at least one other stringed instrument. When we moved to the Middle East in 1998, I took a few of my favourite instruments with me. (Note from Editor (Lara): six freaking … Read more
We’ve spent a lot of time during our two weeks in Istanbul simply ambling around the backstreets of Beyoğlu, exploring our neighbourhood. We get a kick out of taking in the atmosphere and seeing how people live their lives, and if we stumble across a venue playing music we like, that’s a bonus. And there … Read more
Eating out in Istanbul is a real delight, with some of the most delicious food you’ll find at this fascinating crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. Expect everything from inventive and elegant Modern Turkish fine dining restaurants, such as Mikla, to buzzy breakfast cafes, neon-lit pide salons, and lively local meyhanes. Istanbul may not have … Read more
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, or Kapalı Çarşı in Turkish, at Beyazit, near Sultanahmet, is undoubtedly touristy, so it’s going to have to be my guilty pleasure on this ‘living like locals’ grand tour of ours. Because as much as I love the brilliant shops at Beyoğlu, nothing beats shopping the Grand Bazaar. Why Go to the … Read more
In every place we’ve stayed so far this year, we’ve interviewed someone for our Local Knowledge series who we thought would offer great local insight and a special perspective on the place. In Istanbul, we sought insider tips from designer Ayse Bali. Often our Local Knowledge series candidates have been people we’ve met in the place who have … Read more