Photography Trek to Burgazada

 

Burgazada Waterfront

Just before leaving Istanbul for our new nomadic life, I joined my last trek with our photo club. We visited Burgazada (the Island of Burgaz), one of the Princes Islands, in the Sea of Marmara. This island is a favourite holiday getaway for locals; although few tourist manage to find their way there, preferring to visit the much larger Buyukada, or Big Island.

Burgazada is well-known for its fresh fish

Stray dogs roam the island, and are found everywhere.

Flowers were blooming all over the island, like this purple hibiscus

Photographer at work

We climbed up the island's hills to photograph the locals going about their daily work

Horses roam the island too!

Private cars are not allowed on the island. transport is by way of horse and carriage. It was coming to the end of the summer season, so not so many carriages were needed. Extra horses are put out to grass for the winter, and usually spend their time wandering the island. Unfortunately, they are often chased by the packs of homeless dogs.

The population of the island is mainly Turks with a Greek heritage, 

which explains the existence of the Greek Orthodox churches.

We were fascinated by this sign in a shop window.

You can see our group reflected here.

Beautiful bougainvillea was everywhere!

I caught this reflection in a doorway

The Asian side of Istanbul, from the water

Too soon, our trek was over, and we were headed back to the city. I hope to visit Istanbul, this time as a tourist, in November. I loved belonging to the photo club, and I definitely recommend it for any new resident. You get to see areas of the city that you might never see on your own, and with a group of wonderful friends. I will certainly miss you all!

Elizabeth Coughlan

Exploring Our Environs in Istanbul

 Haydarpaşa Railway Station

David was on holiday this past week, so we decided to explore our environs, which also gave me a chance to practise my new passion, photography. One of the places we visited was Haydarpaşa Railway Station. Every time we take a ferry we pass this magnificent building, but we have never taken a closer look until now.

 

A train, waiting to depart for stations in the east.

The Haydarpaşa Railway Station was designed by German architects on the initiative of Kaiser Wilhelm II, as a gift for the Emperor; although it was really part of Germany's plan to dominate the trade routes between West and East. The first trains left Haydarpasa Station on August 19, 1908, and enabled a link between Berlin and Baghdad. The railway was used extensively to move troops during WWI, until it was bombed in 1917.

The ornate booking hall, richly decorated.

The building, built in the neoclassical-style, is very grand with its circular turrets and Baroque decorations. The inside is also very ornate, and beautifully decorated with floral motifs. The station is built on the edge of the Bosphorus, just behind the Haydarpaşa ferry port. Between the two, there is a magnificent old steam engine, recalling the good old days of rail travel, when passengers from the Orient Express crossed the Bosphorus to travel on to Baghdad.

The old steam engine outside the station.

The promenade on Burgazada.

Boats in harbour on Kaniliada

On another day we crossed over to Kaniliada, one of the Princes' Islands, as this was one island David had yet to visit. We were a little confused as to which island was which, so we ended up on Burgazada first, then had to transfer back again to Kaniliada. Once there we set off to explore. Kaniliada is much smaller and quieter than the other Princes' Islands, especially now that the summer houses are empty of their seasonal residents.

A tree-lined avenue on Kaniliada

We walked along tree-lined avenues, seeing very few people. It was very peaceful. As we climbed higher, all we could hear was birdsong and the rustling of leaves in the sea breeze. Then we came across a church. We discovered that it was the Armenian Orthodox Church of St Gregory the Enlightener. It is a beautiful building that looks as if it has been recently restored, and serves the large Armenian community on the island.

The Armenian Orthodox Church of St Gregory, the Enlightener.

During the week, we also explored Kadiköy and Moda, and visited the Santralistanbul Museum, but these will have to wait for another post!

We often pass this balloon in Kadiköy.

One fine day I want to go up in it to take photos.

Every time I travel on a ferry, I try to take pictures of seagulls in flight. 

They are very hard to capture, but I have one at last!

A Beautiful Day on Burgazada

Every time we passed by Burgazada on the ferry, we wondered about this church. 

Now we know that it is the Greek Orthodox Church of St John.

On Tuesday, we spent the day on Burgazada, one of the Princes Islands off the coast of Istanbul, in the sea of Marmara. Burgazada is the third largest of the 9 Princes Islands, and is a lot quieter than either of the two largest islands, Büyükada oand Heybeliada. We have been meaning to visit this island for a long time, as we have been curious to see the Greek Orthodox Church of St John, that towers over the settlement there. The day was glorious and we deliberately took the slowest ferry from Bostancı, the one that visits Büyükada and Heybeliada first, so that we could enjoy the sea air.

David surveys the scene.

On arrival in Burgazada, our first task was to have a full Turkish breakfast in one of the beach-front cafés, before touring the island in a horse drawn buggy. The tour didn't take too long as the island is only about 4 square kilometres in size! But the trip was well worth it, as we saw some spectacular views and, travelling in a horse-drawn buggy, always induces in me a feeling a calm and tranquillity.

David enjoying his typically Turkish breakfast.

Our carriage awaits.

After our tour, we walked up to the church, known locally as the Aya Yani. The original church is thought to have been built in 876, although its present form is a result of major restoration in 1896. The church is very beautiful inside with lots of valuable icons, and other religious artifacts. Interestingly, it is one of three Greek Orthodox Churches on the island, alongside only one mosque and a synagogue.

The richly decorated iconostasis that separates the Sanctuary from the nave.

The pulpit and lectern.

One of the many beautiful icons.

A painted wooden panel depicting Saint John.

Burgazada was once entirely Greek, and the Patriarch Methodius was exiled here. Other notable inhabitants were Antigonus, one of Alexander's generals, and the Emperors Vasil, and Michael III. Today, the island is also noted for Sait Faik Abasıyanık, a famous Turkish writer, who made the island his home. Burgazada has 1,500 inhabitants in the winter, which swells to 15,000 in the summer when people from Istanbul arrive to take up their summer residences.

Turkish Fishermen on the Sea of Marmara.