Welcome to Innocents in Istanbul

A blog of living & working in Istanbul. We'll do our best to keep this updated with daily life and activities.

Aug 18, 2008
We live in a very quiet neighborhood; surprisingly quiet--I didn't realize how noisy all those sirens on Ocean Parkway were! the noise this morn is seagulls, ducks and crows and one muezzin (call to prayer) not very close by.

All well here: sunny apt w/ a big kitchen--finally, my dream has come true--a kitchen big enuf to have a table & chairs! Wow. We live in one of 2 apt buildings full of co-workers. It's a bit dusty (has been cleaned, but not recently), and needs a few things (ironing board, wastebaskets) and most of all a FAN...

I'm anxious to see the library where I'll be working, but I think that won't be until next week. So far co-workers (who live in these bldgs) are nice, interesting, well-traveled, etc. Seems like a very fun group. I've already found someone to trade books with!!

There are shops everywhere; like Brooklyn & AD...so if you forget milk for coffee, there's a place close by to get it, even fairly late at night.

It's definitely a Turkish neighborhood--not at all touristy--so the real thing. I think getting to Sultanahmet, the touristy area will take about 45 minutes...bus + ferry + tram (!!), about what it took to get from Midwood to Midtown via the NYC subway system on the B or Q. So we've got a spare bedroom for visitors if you're game. Hoş Geldiniz / Welcome!