Crew Report July issue takes a look at Istanbul

yatservis — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:46:48 +0000

ISSUE 33 JULY/AUGUST 2009 t wwhw.yoetcru. cocm RrEePOwRT

crew passport 49

Istanbul Istanbul is an enchanting city of contradictions that will leave visitors with

sensational memories. The multifaceted city mixes ancient and modern,

religious and secular and Asia and Europe. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey

and the only city in the world to bridge two continents; at various points it has

served as capital city of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires.

Straddling the yawning Bosphorus Strait, the city remains the commercial,

historical and cultural pulse of Turkey. The city can offer even the most

demanding visitor a multitude of options; the vibrant shopping area of Taksim

buzzes with life and entertainment but for those looking for a more relaxed

pace the calm beauty of the Prince Islands in the Istanbul Strait brings a

touch of serenity to the fast paced metropolis. Istanbul offers a huge variety

of ancient mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars; alongside these are

exciting bars, clubs and galleries making the city a top destination for cultured

globetrotters. We asked some Istanbul-based yacht industry friends to give us

the low-down.

Inspiring

How would you sum up Istanbul in fi ve

words?

Vast, beautiful, ugly, dynamic and fun. Ataman

Seferoglu, Yat Servis (AS)

Unique city full of surprises. Charlie Baker, 777

Yacht Group Company (CB)

Where is the best place in Istanbul to enjoy

a bit of local fl avour/hospitality and why?

Visit Sultanahmet for history, Asmalımescit to see the yuppie

and intellectual side of Istanbul, Nisantasi for upscale fashion,

Bebek is an upmarket location by the Bosphorus, Bagdat

Caddesi is cosy, or Kanlıca – an old village by the Bosphorus. AS

Hamdi Restaurant (+90 212 528 0390) – Chef Hamdi offers the

most unrivalled kebabs in the south-eastern region. Onur

Ozgey, C2C Yachting Turkey (OO)

Anyone visiting Istanbul should head for restaurants on the

Bosphorus, especially for fi sh, as the service and meals are

indescribable. Gurkan Caliskan, MY ‘Leo Fun’ (GC)

Where do you go to escape from it all in

Istanbul and the surrounding region?

Büyükada (“Big Island”) is the largest of the nine islands

comprising the Prince Islands in the Marmara Sea, close to

Istanbul. Motorised vehicles – except service vehicles – are

forbidden, so visitors explore the island by foot, bicycle,

in horse-drawn carriages or by riding donkeys. Esra

Tarlan, Dunya Yachts (ET)

Sapanca, around 100km from Istanbul, is a summer resort

by a large lake. But there are so many things to do in

Istanbul, you will not think about going anywhere else. AS

Going to the islands in Marmara Sea is a good option.

(Büyükada or Heybeliada), Yıldız Palace and park, the

Anatolian Castle and the Rumelian Castle. CB

Are there any areas that are best avoided

at night or if you are on your own?

It is better to avoid places around Taksim Square and

Beyoglu after midnight; ladies should keep their purses

close to them. However Asmalimescit, at the far end of

Beyoglu, is safe any time. AS

When you visit Istanbul you should be careful walking in

Istiklal Avenue in Beyoglu, especially late at night. GC

50 crew passport > port to port

The Bosphorus

Blue Mosque

the crew report

crew passport > port to port 51

What is the one thing that people

visiting Istanbul simply have to

do/visit?

Essential sights include the Dolmabahçe

Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Galata Tower,

the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia church and

Istiklal Avenue. ET

You should visit the Bosphorus at night,

reserving a table on a cruise boat to eat dinner.

The Swissotel (+90 212 326 1100) offers

this boat trip but there should be cheaper

alternatives. AS

One thing that people visiting Istanbul simply

have to visit is Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya),

also known as the Church of Holy Wisdom.

Construction started in 532 and took only fi ve

years to complete. It has a 33-metre-wide dome

dating back to the sixth century and is one of the

most ambitious building projects undertaken to

date. It was considered to be the most “sacred

piece” of the city during the Byzantine age. After

1453, it was converted to a mosque and in 1953

it was opened to visitors as a museum. For more

than 1,000 years, Hagia Sophia was the largest

and grandest church in the world. OO

Join a Bosporus boat tour, visit Topkapı Palace

to see the Spoonmaker Diamond (86 carats),

see Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque

Also visit the Grand and Spice Bazaar, visit

Basilica Cistern, Galata Tower and Maiden’s

Tower. CB

Al Jamal

The Bosphorus

Can you recommend any good

places to stay in town? Both for

lower budgets and for splashing

the cash?

The top three hotels are the Four Seasons Hotel

(+90 212 402 3000), the Çıragan Palace Kempinski

(+91 212 326 4646) and the Ottoman Hotel

Imperial (+90 212 513 6150). ET

For cheaper hotels I would advise hotels around

Taksim. Richmond Hotel (+90 212 252 9707) and the

various Green Park Hotels (www.thegreenpark.com) are

relatively cheap and offer good accommodation. AS

From Taksim Square, you can walk all the way

down Istiklal Avenue in half an hour or less. You

can fi nd good places to stay around Taksim Square.

For lower budgets, Taksim Point Hotel (+90 212

313 5000) is a nice option as it is walking distance

from the square, is clean and inexpensive. OO

For splashing the cash Çıragan Palace Kempinski

(as above), Les Ottomans (+90 212 359 1500) and

the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul (as above). For

lower budgets Taksim Square Hotel

(+90 212 292 6440) or Taksim Hill Hotel

(+90 212 334 8500); for minimal budgets try

any hotel or hostel in Sultanahmet. CB

the crew report

52 crew passport > port to port

Useful Numbers:

Turkey dial code: +90

Emergency services: 110 (Fire), 155 (Police)

Coastguard: 158

Atakoy Marina: +90 212 560 4270

Kalamis Marina: +90 216 346 2346

With thanks to:

777 Yacht Group Company

www.777ygc.com

C2C Yachting Turkey

www.c2cyachting.com

Dunya Yachts

www.dunyaursa.com

Gurkan Caliskan, deckhand on MY Leo Fun

Yat Servis

www.yatservis.com

Are there any good cafes or internet cafes in

town you would recommend?

There are lots of cafes in town, especially on the Asian side on Bagdat

Street, you can go to Café Cadde (+90 216 302 7624), Mid Point

(+90 216 360 4071), Café Divan (+90 212 257 7270), Suadiye Café

(+90 216 445 8424) and Kahve Dunyası (+90 212 293 1206). There

are small boutique internet cafes everywhere. ET

There are many good cafes in Asmalımescit (at the far end of

Beyoglu), Nisantasi, Sultanahmet and Bagdat Avenue (on the

Anatolian side). Coffee chains like Starbucks and Kahve Dunyasi are

good alternatives for a short pause. Almost all of them have good free

internet connections – there is no need to go to internet cafes. AS

Istiklal (Independence) Avenue is the heart of Istanbul, the more

modern district built during the 19th century. The city’s most popular

strolling and snacking pedestrianised street is lined with boutiques,

cafes, internet cafes, consulates, galleries, cinemas and banks, with

residential apartments above. When 19th-century travellers spoke

of Constantinople (Istanbul) as the “Paris of the East”, they were

thinking of the Grande Rue de Péra (Istiklal Avenue) and its half-

European, half-Asian culture. The avenue extends from Taksim Square

to Tunel Square, the hub of modern Istanbul, which hosts the famed

Çiçek Pasaji (Flower Passage) dining and taverna district. OO

Any Starbucks or Gloria Jean’s cafes serve good coffee with

broadband internet connection. Apart from this Taksim, Bagdat

Street and Bebek area is very good for nice cafes. CB

Where is the best anchorage or beach in the

region?

The best beaches are Küçüksu Beach, True Blue Beach, Sile Beach

and Solar Beach. ET

As Istanbul is a commercial port of call there are not many beaches.

However, islands are a 30-minute ferry ride away. There are beaches

on the islands that the crew can enjoy on their day off with great

views and nature. Also there are two marinas in Istanbul: on the Asian

side Fenerbahce/Kalamis Marina and on the European side Atakoy

Marina. OO

Bebek, Kuruçesme, Ataköy, Istinye, Fenerbahçe, Anatolian or

Rumelian Castle Bay are all good for beaches. CB

Is there any produce made locally

you would recommend, and where

can you buy it?

You must eat kebab (or kebap), traditional food and

Turkish coffee. Also, buy Turkish rakı and Turkish

delight. ET

Carpets and jewellery are the major tourist

attractions; clothing is also quite cheap. You can

try the big malls for clothing: Akmerkez

(www.akmerkez.com.tr), Istinye Park

(www.istinyepark.com) and Kanyon (www.kanyon.

com.tr). AS

The historical Grand Bazaar has evolved since 1464

as an economic trading centre of its time and today is

Turkey’s largest covered market offering a huge selection

of authentic goods such as Turkish carpets, pottery,

jewellery, leather etc. It is truly a unique experience with

4,400 shops, 3,000 companies, some 17 hans (separate

inns for specifi c types of product), 64 streets, 25,000

employees, four fountains, two mosques and 22 gates. It

is heaven for shoppers and a good opportunity for people

to discover Turkish hospitality. OO

Rugs and carpets, turkish delight, baklava, turkish

coffee and coffee cups, porcelain, gold and leather

products [are all good]. Grand Bazaar is the place to

buy these products. CB

Grand Bazaar

What is the most popular place for people to go for

nightlife, both for owners and crew?

For owners and crew wining and dining try Vogue (+90 212 227 4404), Su Ada

(+90 212 263 7300), Ulus 29 (+90 212 358 2929) and 360 Istanbul (+90 212 251

1042). For clubs try Crystal (+90 212 229 7152) and supperclub (+90 212 261

1988). ET

The nightlife of Istanbul is famous for its large outside clubs, bars and

noted restaurants. It is an experience that should not be missed. Al Jamal

restaurant and nightclub (+90 212 231 0356) has become a favourite with

its delicious food, incredible interior design and colourful belly dancing

performances. Other world-renowned options are Anjelique (+90 212 327

2844) and Reina (+90 212 259 5919). OO

The most popular place for people to go for nightlife is Sortie (+90 212

327 8585) in Kuruçesme, under Bosphorus Bridge. GC

the crew report

Images courtesy of Turkey Tourism

We have contributed to the issue by referring places we liked to Juliet Benning of Deputy Editor, The Crew Report. For the article please refer to www.yotcru.com.

The 28th Boat Show Istanbul

yatservis — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:30:27 +0000

The 28^th Boat Show Istanbul will be held between 21^st and 26th of October in Pendik Marina.

Istanbul Sailing Academy’s Şan overhauled

yatservis — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:28:57 +0000

Yat Servis mechanical team performed a successful overhaul on the Volvo Penta MD 2030 B engine powering regatta sailing yacht Şan of Istanbul Sailing Academy.

The cylinder cover block was tested, wet cooled exhaust manifold was metaloc welded and the sea water heat exchanger was replaced. Injectors exhaust and inlet valves were inspected and adjusted. Battery charger was overhauled with repair kit including ball bearings.

The engine is up and ready for the long regattas.

Yat Servis English

Crew Report July issue takes a look at Istanbul

The 28th Boat Show Istanbul

Istanbul Sailing Academy’s Şan overhauled