20230510 BALKAN DAY 11 : ISTANBUL LEISURE TIME [TURKIYE]
This is my travel notes for our Balkan trip which has brought us to Istanbul. As its was a free day for us, we have decided to explore the city in a smaller groups. We broke from the big group and formed nine-person group travelling together and agreed that we would be on foot if not using public transports.
DAY 11 (10/5/23) WEDNESDAY
TRIP TO EMIRGAN PARK
9:00 am
After Breakfast we gathered at the hotel lobby. Having had everyone most with jackets on, we started walking towards a nearby Metro station (red M1 line), Terazidere as the sign board stated. That was about 500 meters away from the hotel. Weather was a bit cold but amazingly beautiful for our adventure.
At the station we bought our first tram (transport) cards for most of us - it's called Istanbulkart, The prepaid card can be used for almost all public transportation in Istanbul. Alhamdulillah with some travelling experiences and fair knowledge of the city, we managed to pass this stage and got on the (right) train.
We took the line (M1) that runs to Yenikapi. After few minutes, we got off at Aksaray stop to catch a tram at Yusofpasa tram station. That was a fair bit of walk between the two. This tram line (blue T1) would take us through the center of the city and reached our next stop at Kabatas station (last stop). We would then take a local bus to our destination - Emirgan Park, betting ourselves there would still be very attractive park with blooming tulips and kinds of flowers though already announced the flower spring festival ended on last week of April which already ten days passed.
After Breakfast we gathered at the hotel lobby. Having had everyone most with jackets on, we started walking towards a nearby Metro station (red M1 line), Terazidere as the sign board stated. That was about 500 meters away from the hotel. Weather was a bit cold but amazingly beautiful for our adventure.
At the station we bought our first tram (transport) cards for most of us - it's called Istanbulkart, The prepaid card can be used for almost all public transportation in Istanbul. Alhamdulillah with some travelling experiences and fair knowledge of the city, we managed to pass this stage and got on the (right) train.
We took the line (M1) that runs to Yenikapi. After few minutes, we got off at Aksaray stop to catch a tram at Yusofpasa tram station. That was a fair bit of walk between the two. This tram line (blue T1) would take us through the center of the city and reached our next stop at Kabatas station (last stop). We would then take a local bus to our destination - Emirgan Park, betting ourselves there would still be very attractive park with blooming tulips and kinds of flowers though already announced the flower spring festival ended on last week of April which already ten days passed.
11:00 am
Time already passed 11:00. We got off the tram at Kabatas station. There we waited few minutes for a bus that go to the park and also asked people around for the right bus and surely glad we were all on the right track. Worth to mention I used the app call "Moovit" to plan and assist our trips in the city world wide. I have been using this a lot and never failed me once thus far.
11:40 am
Cut the story short we arrived at the park at 11:42am. Park is huge and almost like never ending. We roamed around the park, mild climbing at some parts, took pictures, enjoying the remaining of the flowers from the festival - some of them already dried up and some were even trashed away by gardeners there.
Watching ducks in the ponds. We had our drinks and light meals from nearby food places. Picnic would had been a better option. There is a prayers place as well. Conclusion - all faces were very satisfied and this was a worth visit park.
Cut the story short we arrived at the park at 11:42am. Park is huge and almost like never ending. We roamed around the park, mild climbing at some parts, took pictures, enjoying the remaining of the flowers from the festival - some of them already dried up and some were even trashed away by gardeners there.
Watching ducks in the ponds. We had our drinks and light meals from nearby food places. Picnic would had been a better option. There is a prayers place as well. Conclusion - all faces were very satisfied and this was a worth visit park.
2:00 pm
We left the park and walked to the nearest bus station again to venture out trips. We took a different route back to the city. We left the park with joyous satisfaction - memories, pictures, videos, and some even with flowers 🌼 in their purses.
We left the park and walked to the nearest bus station again to venture out trips. We took a different route back to the city. We left the park with joyous satisfaction - memories, pictures, videos, and some even with flowers 🌼 in their purses.
GALLERY
🔽 EMIRGAN PARK 1🔽
🔽 EMIRGAN PARK 1🔽
GALLERY
🔽 EMIRGAN PARK 2🔽
...
GALLERY
🔽 EMIRGAN PARK 3🔽
...
VISIT TAKSIM
2:17pm
We got off the bus at Maslak bus stop. Then we walked a bit to ITU Ayazaga
Metro station (M2 green line).
2:37 pm
We were at ITU Ayazaga station for our ride to the next place - Taksim.
We took underground metro train to Taksim. That was about 20 minutes ride.
2:56 pm
We arrived at Taksim station and took the escalator that brought us all the way up to the open Taksim Square. We then walked along the crowded Istiklal street. Stopped by (after 1.2 km) Zara clothing store. Some ladies had to see what they had in there. We turned back to Taksim square on a classic tram ride. The time then was 3:56 pm. Exactly one hour at Taksim square.
GALLERY
🔽*GOING TAKSIM*🔽
...
GALLERY
🔽*TAKSIM*🔽
...
GALATA TOWER
4:16 pm
We were back on the underground metro train Taksim station for our next stop at Sishane. That was five-minute ride. Then again our walk began to Galata tower. We felt tired quickly as paths were going uphill. Stopped by for drinks/kebabs place to qwench our thirst. Continued our walk.
5:06 pm
Made it at the Galata Tower. We didn't go up the tower - were just looking around the tower on the ground. It was built as a watchtower at the highest point there. No wonder the walk up here was very tiring. But it is now an exhibition space and museum, and a symbol of Beyoglu and Istanbul.
GALLERY
🔽*GALATA TOWER*🔽
...
GALATA BRIDGE
Soon we realized we were walking down towards the bridge - Galata bridge. The path this time was very steep down. We lost some of our members on this way. Waited at one junction and finally Alhamdulillah.
5:45pm
We were crossing the bridge, enjoying a lovely evening, watching people fishing. Soon we reached at the end of the bridge. We bumped in other group members going for dinner, but we made our separate way. We headed on to Egyptian spice Bazaar for quick spices purchase. We did 1.5 km from Galata tower to here.
GALLERY
🔽*GALATA BRIDGE*🔽
...
GALLERY
🔽*SPICE BAZAAR*🔽
...
BACK TO HOTEL
6:30 pm
We headed to Eminonu tram station near the spice Bazaar to go back to the hotel. Tram ride was very challenging at this hour with super crowded people inside. Somehow the team managed to stick together. No one was left behind.
At Yusof Pasa tram stop we changed the route to metro line at Aksaray Metro station.
8:05 pm
Finally we reached Terazidere Metro station - the one closest to our hotel.
We had such an adventurous tour of the day. Definite experience on our own. We believed to have walked (on foot) the longest mileage during the entire Balkan Trip. Panting and tiring from the walk but full of laughter and joy. At times confused of our ways. Took wrong elevator in the Metro station. Insufficient credit to enter the train/bus, and more. Surely this would be very memorable day in our life. We did it. Alhamdulillah...
We still had to walk back to our hotel from the station.
END OF DAY 11
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