Kız Kulesi

Last in Istanbul I had the most romantic dinner I ever had. Nothing was forgotten, a boat tour, fireworks, fantastic food, a live band and a breathtaking view of the city that never sleeps, all from one of the most legendary places in Istanbul, Kız Kulesi - Maidens Tower.


There are many legends about the construction of the tower and its location. According to the most popular Turkish legend, a sultan had a much beloved daughter. One day, an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a venomous snake on her 18th birthday. The sultan, in an effort to thwart his daughter's early demise by placing her away from land so as to keep her away from any snakes, had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect his daughter until her 18th birthday. The princess was placed in the tower, where she was frequently visited only by her father.

On the 18th birthday of the princess, the sultan brought her a basket of exotic sumptouous fruits as a birthday gift, delighted that he was able to prevent the prophecy. Upon reaching into the basket, however, an asp that had been hiding among the fruit bit the young princess and she died in her father's arms, just as the oracle had predicted. Hence the name Maiden's Tower. (Wikipedia)

Fog

Hard to show in a picture, but this was the thickest fog i ever saw..! In the mountains north of Istanbul. And in second it disappeared.

Ağva

Ağva is a small idyllic fishing village two hours from Istanbul at the Black Sea. Me and Cems family went there to spend a calm sunday.

An Istanbul Party

Kanyon

The coolest shopping mall ever! By architecture measured.

Better tilt-shift

Only in Turkey

Tulumba

A typically turkish dessert consisting of fried batter soaked in syrup. One of these desserts that are so sweet that they are impossible to eat.

Spice Bazaar

Boğaziçi Üniversitesi

Ağva lighthouse

Flight delay

When I was going home to Sweden I was informed that the plane was full - even though I had a ticket! Stupid stupid Turkish Airlines, that I loved before because they have the best plane food.

The reason that the plane was booked - thousands of arabs returning from Mecka to Stockholm. I thought I was waiting at the wrong gate at first...

Where my heart is

Üsküdar bazaar

Irony

Bosphorus tilt-shift