Imagine Istanbul

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia

Imagine — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:28:44 +0000

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011) another splendid film by Turkish great director and photographer Nuri Bilge Ceylan is the story of the search of a murder victim’s body. However, leaving this story in the hands of Nuri Bilge Ceylan, we can expect much more in a film than a simple police story. Once [...]

Ara Güler – Black & White Photos

Imagine — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:33:06 +0000

This is a beautiful video – a collage of Ara Guler’s black and white photographs of Istanbul. It is an homage to the Istanbul of days gone by. A world that has vanished now. Sad thing is, all of these people in the photographs have passed from their difficult lives. The poverty is evident in [...]

Where is the Museum of Innocence?

Imagine — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:31:45 +0000

Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence?

The Turks and Kurds demonstrate together in Istanbul

Imagine — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:01:14 +0000

I thought this was a very good idea – that maybe the Turks and Kurds would reconcile their differences and finally demand peace and an end to the violence. Because I thought it is a very good idea, I have decided to post this news story about Istanbul from CNN. One can say, “it’s about [...]

A long time away from Istanbul

Imagine — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 15:43:23 +0000

It’s been a long time away from Istanbul, but my heart is still there with my friends in the city. One of my family may be going to Istanbul and the rest of Turkey very soon. Me, I have to wait until next year. Anyways, happy new year to the people who come to Istanbul [...]

Turkish Cinema Featured at the Toronto Film Festival

Imagine — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:52:39 +0000

What a joy and not a complete surprise that the Toronto Film Festival would feature Turkish films at the TIFF festival season this year, 2010. Over the last couple of years I have been lucky to attend the Toronto Film Festival and watch some of the movies which come from Turkey. This year, it is [...]

Restoration of the Pera Palace Hotel

Imagine — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:53:33 +0000

The restoration of the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul has finally been completed and re-assumes its role as one of the great hotels of Istanbul. Seeped in history with echoes and imprints of some of the most interesting personalities of 20th century history, it can now take back its old glory in modern day Istanbul. [...]

Internet censorship in Turkey

Imagine — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:43:13 +0000

It’s pretty pathetic that Turkey still censors the internet, banning YouTube or anything else for that matter. A true democracy allows people to decide for themselves what they themselves want to watch or read. If one does not want to watch or read something, the individual should decide for themselves. In this news article on [...]

Istanbul Asks for Help to Avoid UNESCO Delisting

Imagine — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:44:58 +0000

Update for the news regarding UNESCO threat to remove Istanbul from World Heritage Site list. One could say, it is time to take care of beautiful Istanbul. Do not abandon her. The following story comes from the Hurriyet Daily News. “Following a series municipal developments that have endangered Istanbul’s cultural heritage, UNESCO has threatened to [...]

Istanbul Possible Removal from Unesco World Heritage List

Imagine — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:56:20 +0000

Tourist sites in Istanbul may be deleted from UNESCO’s World Heritage list and added to the United Nation’s endangered heritage list because of a lack of care and dialogue around such tourist sites as the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome. In the following news article, Isil Egrikavuk writing for the Hurriyet Daily [...]