Equidistant from London and Abu Dhabi, Istanbul makes an ideal half-way point to meet a friend from the Old Continent.
Q&A:Welcome to the Great Divide
Last Updated: June 6, 2011
What is Turkey's main industry? Turkey has a diversified industrial base but its economy has always centred on the Bosporus, a strategic waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It provides Istanbullus, as the city's residents are known, with an excellent excuse to get out on the water regularly because the city spreads across both sides of the channel.
Is it used for anything other than carrying Byzantine navies and Russian commodities? Small cruise ships jostle for position on the quayside at Galata Bridge, offering tourists a delightful tour of the nearby coast for a mere 10 lira (Dh23.35) per person. It's also a superb sailing venue, and last month played host to the Extreme Sailing series for 40-foot catamarans.
Is Turkey part of Asia or Europe? That is the whole point! Istanbul is built on both sides of the Bosporus, so it qualifies for both.
Isn't it joining the EU? Turkey applied to join in 1987, signed a customs union in 1995 and was officially recognised as a candidate in 1999. But negotiations have stalled.
So you mean I have to change money and get a visa? You can buy a visa at the airport for about US$20 (Dh73.50). You can change all major currencies at exchange houses in Istanbul.
For the European visitor, this city spanning the Bosporus provides a tantalising glimpse of the Orient, with its rich Ottoman past. For the Gulf traveller already conversant with Islamic history, it offers a fascinating variation on the theme.
There is just so much history packed into this town, and so many delightful views, that any business traveller will need to set aside at least a weekend to take it in.
Top of the deck for this writer is the Topkapi Palace. Home to the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years until the mid-1850s, this hill-top fortress hides a city of exquisite tiles with painted floral designs behind its stone walls.
Perhaps the most fascinating enclave of the palace is the imperial harem, which was home to ruling Sultans' mothers, who were known as the Valide Sultans, the concubines and Sultans' wives plus the rest of the royal family, including servants. This complex household was overseen by African eunuchs and out of bounds for anyone else.
Perhaps the most evocative story of the harem was the Kafes, otherwise known as "the Cage". To avoid wars of succession, Ottoman rulers were mandated for centuries to kill their brothers on assuming office. But in the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet dictated the tradition of fratricide be reformed in favour of putting all potential successors under house arrest in this area of the harem. Brothers were confined to this precinct surrounded only by deaf mutes and barren concubines. Their only hope of escape was in the event of the Sultan's death.
For some, it proved too much.
Ibrahim I emerged from the cage in 1640 and earned the sobriquet "Ibrahim the Mad" for his depraved rule.
He was deposed eight years later after drowning 280 concubines in the Bosporus.
Top 5: Essentials while in Istanbul.
1 Bosporus cruise.
2 Grand Bazaar.
3 Spice Market.
4 Underground cisterns of Yerebatan Sarnici.
5 Turku band in Beyoglu restaurant.
The Quote: "First the rent and taxes went up, and then, thanks to the immigrants, the city was flooded with razor sellers, simit sellers, stuffed mussel sellers, tissue sellers, slipper sellers, knife and fork sellers, sundries sellers, toys sellers, water sellers and soft drink sellers, and as if that weren't enough, pudding sellers, sweet sellers and doner sellers have now invaded our ferries." Ohran Pamuk in Istanbul, Memories and the City
tashby@thenational.ae
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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More on animal trafficking
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White
Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse
Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The%20Mother%20
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE and Russia in numbers
UAE-Russia ties stretch back 48 years
Trade between the UAE and Russia reached Dh12.5 bn in 2018
More than 3,000 Russian companies are registered in the UAE
Around 40,000 Russians live in the UAE
The number of Russian tourists travelling to the UAE will increase to 12 percent to reach 1.6 million in 2023
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The years Ramadan fell in May
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Kalra's feat
- Becomes fifth batsman to score century in U19 final
- Becomes second Indian to score century in U19 final after Unmukt Chand in 2012
- Scored 122 in youth Test on tour of England
- Bought by Delhi Daredevils for base price of two million Indian rupees (Dh115,000) in 2018 IPL auction