The city’s iconic Blue Mosque stands tall over its surroundings. It is called as such because of the blue tiles covering its interior walls.
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TURKEY: Cruising the Bosphorus Strait

Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul

The Bosphorus Strait is that body of water that separates the Asian and European geographical landmasses as it meanders its way from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. It’s what makes Istanbul an exotic city that straddles two hemispheres where East literally meets West.

The entrance to the Black Sea where this new bridge connects the European (left) and Asian (right) landmasses.
The entrance to the Black Sea where this new bridge connects the European (left) and Asian (right) landmasses.
The city’s iconic Blue Mosque stands tall over its surroundings. It is called as such because of the blue tiles covering its interior walls.
The city’s iconic Blue Mosque stands tall over its surroundings. It is called as such because of the blue tiles covering its interior walls.
The waters of the Bosphorus run fast and deep at the narrowest point here.
The waters of the Bosphorus run fast and deep at the narrowest point here.

In order to see and experience for ourselves the ghost of the past and the vibe of the present, we took the 1-1/2-hour cruise that plies the 31-kilometer length of the waterway. The trip actually takes about 6 hours total because there is a 3-hour layover at the last stop for passengers to stroll around, have lunch and visit the ruins of a fort located on top of a hill. And so we hopped on one of the ferries at the dock in Eminonu right in the city center next to the Galata Bridge which took us to the town of Anadolu Kavagi at the mouth of the entrance to the Black Sea. At $10 for the return journey, it was a steal!

The Yoros Castle sits on top of the hill with great views of the waterway.
The Yoros Castle sits on top of the hill with great views of the waterway.
Passing under the second suspension bridge, the Sultan Mehmet.
Passing under the second suspension bridge, the Sultan Mehmet.

Along the shoreline stood hundreds of ancient and modern landmarks such as old houses in traditional neighborhoods as well as palaces and fortifications that blended in with the landscape. Upon embarking, we took up our prime seats at the rear of the upper deck so we could see a wider panoramic view of the receding scenery. With a short blast of its horn and the chugging of its engines, the ferry pushed off from the dock followed by a flock of seagulls whom passengers threw bread crumbs at in order to take their pictures up close.

Enjoying our seafood lunch in Anadolu Kavagi which means “Anatolian control post” since it’s the town that guards the entrance to the Black Sea.
Enjoying our seafood lunch in Anadolu Kavagi which means “Anatolian control post” since it’s the town that guards the entrance to the Black Sea.
This is the ferry boat that took us on the 31-km. long cruise.
This is the ferry boat that took us on the 31-km. long cruise.

First stop was Dolmabahce Palace which was the home of the Sultans after it was built in 1856 with a mixture of European styles fused with Ottoman architecture and is the biggest palace in Turkey occupying 4.5 hectares including huge gardens. Next was the chic Besiktas district with expensive neighborhoods before we stopped in Ortakoy, with its small but beautifully well-proportioned mosque with a Baroque design which stood right next to the towering Bosphorus Bridge. This first of three suspension bridges spanning the strait was built in 1973 and is 1.5 kms. long.

The Kuleli Military High School stands serenely on the Asian side of the strait.
The Kuleli Military High School stands serenely on the Asian side of the strait.
The view of the Golden Horn from the ferry dock near the crowded Galata Bridge with the medieval cylindrical stone Galata Tower in the distance built by the Genoese in 1348.
The view of the Golden Horn from the ferry dock near the crowded Galata Bridge with the medieval cylindrical stone Galata Tower in the distance built by the Genoese in 1348.

The outskirts of Istanbul slowly gave way to attractive towns and villages which you could glimpse from afar before the Fortress of Europe came into view with its crenelated stone walls connecting three great round towers. This was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prevent the passage of foreign vessels as a prelude to his conquest of Constantinople. Here the strait reached its narrowest point at 700 meters where the Sultan Mehmet Bridge stood. Interestingly, it was also at this point where Darius the Great built a pontoon bridge in 500BC to enable his army to cross in order to wage war against his favorite enemy, the Greeks.

The sprawling Dolmabahce Palace served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s.
The sprawling Dolmabahce Palace served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s.
The entrance to what was once an imposing stone citadel built by the Genoese that fell in the hands of the Ottomans when they conquered Constantinople.
The entrance to what was once an imposing stone citadel built by the Genoese that fell in the hands of the Ottomans when they conquered Constantinople.

During the 19th century, foreign ambassadors built their summer retreat homes in the surrounding countryside which was quite hilly but with great views of the Bosphorus. You can see these large and beautiful houses still standing with additional boathouses in front owned by the city’s rich clique. Another interesting sight are the well-preserved wooden villas called yalis built by the well-heeled 17th century Ottoman Turks. Some have become more elaborate done in Baroque and turn-of-the-century Art Noveau with many painted rust red, a color known as “Ottoman Rose”.

Several stately homes line the shore in the Asian side of Istanbul.
Several stately homes line the shore in the Asian side of Istanbul.
The busy dock where we disembarked in Anadolu Kavagi is lined with so many restaurants vying for the best views of the waterfront.
The busy dock where we disembarked in Anadolu Kavagi is lined with so many restaurants vying for the best views of the waterfront.

The last stop on the European side was the village of Rumeli Kavagi where the Bosphorus widens up to join the Black Sea. The ferry crossed this spot to the Asian side in the quaint village of Anadolu Kavagi where all the passengers got down. It was quite touristy with numerous restaurants lining the quay and the narrow streets in the center had row upon row of stalls grilling seafood. Suddenly feeling hungry what with all the appetizing aroma permeating the air, we settled down in one of the restaurants’ outdoor verandah for a sumptuous lunch of calamari, seabass and salad washed down with Efes beer.

Another mosque on the waterfront in a busy district of the Bosphorus.
Another mosque on the waterfront in a busy district of the Bosphorus.
The New Mosque built in 1663 is an imposing structure near the Spice Market just across the ferry terminal and is one of Istanbul’s most prominent mosques.
The New Mosque built in 1663 is an imposing structure near the Spice Market just across the ferry terminal and is one of Istanbul’s most prominent mosques.

Then it was time for some serious walking up the hill to visit the Yoros Castle. Fought over by the Ottomans, Byzantines, and Genoese, the fortifications are now in ruins and the main entrance was closed. The only consolation after the 20-minute climb were the breathtaking views of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Gleaming white in the noonday sun stood the third bridge, the brand-new $3 billion Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge which is also the tallest in the world standing at 350 meters.

The still well-preserved Fortress of Europe.
The still well-preserved Fortress of Europe.
One of the old Yali houses painted with Ottoman Rose.
One of the old Yali houses painted with Ottoman Rose.

The return trip on the same ferry that left at 3:00PM. skirted the Asian side this time. It had fewer sights but there were interesting things to see as well like the colorful stately houses dotting the shore. The cool breeze made us drowsy as we watched many ships and tankers headed for the Black Sea carrying their cargo all the way to the Ukraine and Russia. The strait sure is a busy waterway.

Ships headed for the Black Sea.
Ships headed for the Black Sea.
The Baroque Ortakoy Mosque is dwarfed by the 165-meter tall Bosphorus Bridge.
The Baroque Ortakoy Mosque is dwarfed by the 165-meter tall Bosphorus Bridge.
One of the 19th century mansions surrounded by heavy vegetation on the hillside.
One of the 19th century mansions surrounded by heavy vegetation on the hillside.
A double-decker bus crosses the first suspension bridge on the strait.
A double-decker bus crosses the first suspension bridge on the strait.

By the time we disembarked on the same pier we earlier left in Eminonu, we had a wider understanding of  Istanbul’s colorful past and realized the vital importance of the Bosphorus in the life of the city after seeing it up close. So if you find yourself there, go on a ferry cruise – it’s deeply enthralling, amazingly cheap, and lots of fun!

Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in Turkey.

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Also read: 15 Best Things To Do In Istanbul, Turkey

Written by Al P. Manlangit

I'm a Filipino architect based in Kuwait who loves to travel everytime I get the chance to do so and shoot pictures. The genres that I explore are landscape, architecture and street photography which come in handy wherever my wandering spirit takes me. My travel/photoblog pretty much shows interesting places I've been to with short stories to tell behind each frame.

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Filipino travelers may expect free travel tax soon

Filipino travelers may expect free travel tax soon

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