Istanbul's Tulip Festival

The beautiful Tulip Festival in Istanbul takes place in early April every year. It is an absolutely amazing experience to see the colourful display of 16 million tulips blooming all over the city, especially in Sultanahmet square, Gulhane park, Topkapi palace, and Emirgan park along the Bosphorus.

Most people think that tulips come from Holland. Actually, the tulip is  native to Central Asia Minor and was brought from Turkey to Holland via Austria in the 16th century.


Tulips were the favorite flower of the Ottomans for several hundred years. It even had a religious significance because, in the Arabic script, the word for tulip, l’le, resembles the name of Allah. Its botanical name, Tulipa, is derived from the Turkish word "tulbend", meaning “turban", which resembles the shape of a big tulip, as you can see in this portrait of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566).

The tulip was already a cherished element of Ottoman gardens, visual arts and poetry by the time Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent ascended the throne. In 1554, the Austrian ambassador Busbecq came to the court of Suleyman the Magnificent and was struck by the great beauty and variety of flowers in the imperial capital. He was especially impressed by the tulip, a flower then unknown to Europeans. He took some bulbs with him back to Vienna where the first picture of a tulip appeared in the Book of Garden Flowers in 1561. Later the Dutch botanist Clusius obtained some bulbs from Busbecq, and developed many new varieties.

Sultan Suleyman the Magnificient continued the Ottoman fascination with tulips in his own lifetime, as did the succeeding Sultans after him.

Examples of Tulip Motifs in Ottoman Artworks

Imperial monogram of Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566).
The decoration inside the loops and shafts includes tulips, hyacinths, carnations, and roses.

 

Iznik ceramic plate circa 1575 with a design of tulips in a naturalistic style. 

 

Kaftan of Sultan Murad III (1574-1595).
The design of large silver tulips and crescents enhanced the splendid appearance of the wearer.

 

Silver belt encrusted with pearls, emerald and rubies. The buckle is in the form of a tulip, and there are tulip motifs on the two segments attached to it.

Imperial throne used at religious festivals. The entire surface is inlaid with mother-of.pearl in the shape of tulips and roses.

Ceremonial shield dating from 16th century.
The shield is wound with silk in a design of tulips and carnations.

Today, the Tulip continues to fascinate. It often appears in the name of hotels and other public venues in Turkey, and there is even a Golden Tulip Award attributed every year at Istanbul’s Film Festival. The most spectacular example of modern tulip fascination is off course Istanbul's annual Tulip Festival in April, when 16 million tulips bring smiles to people's faces and inspire fresh feelings in their hearts.

Favorite Club Music in 2009

Top Favorite songs 

on Istanbul’s gay scene in 2009

Based on an article written by Rene Ames and published by Time Out Istanbul.

Turkish Pop and the Gay audience

It is often Pop music that is played for the listening pleasure of mixed audiences in restaurants and bars. In such places Turkish Pop is seamlessly interwoven with imported selections. That can easily be done because Turkish Pop sounds both familiar and exotic, and because it is a blend of imported genres (electronic, hip hop, rap) fused with original elements.

As a gay audience we identify strongly with pop music when the songs exalt certain essential values – such as pride, boldness, self realization, and understanding – and when the performers fascinate us. Unfortunately, in Turkish Pop music there are very few songs that extol fundamental human values. There is, however, an abundance of fascinating performers.

The winning songs each year are naturally the ones with the catchiest tunes; songs that stick in your mind and are impossible to ignore; the songs you start humming to yourself after hearing them 2-3 times.

Here are six of the most popular songs on Istanbul’s gay scene in 2009:

1.   Toz Pembe by Demet Akalin

The title – Pink Powder – is probably what makes this song so popular anywhere gay arms are up in the air, waving imaginary disco sticks. Could it be more gay? “Pink powder” squirting in relentless tempo after a gentle opening!

2.   Hayrola by Hande Yener

This pop superstar is arguably the queen of Turkey’s dance music. All the albums she has released since her debut in 1999 have produced top hits that make people’s bodies move even when they’re not on the dance floor. Having adopted Madonna’s formula of constant cosmetic and musical reshaping, Hande Yener is assured of her gay fans’ innocent devotion. They would never ask themselves “hayrola/what’s up?”, this song sounds like a rehash of Romeo, her number one hit in 2008. And why should they when her songs call for demolition of taboos, tolerance for alternative lifestyles, and diversity in love?

3. Herkes Evine by Ziynet Sali

This mega-hit is the title song of Ziynet Sali’s second album released in 2008. It didn’t start to dominate the gay club scene until a year later, when some DJs tinkered with the upbeat tempo arising from her melancholy voice. The slow popularity may also be because she is a Northern Cypriot, and considered an outsider in the tight Turkish music world. Yet another inhibiting factor could be the Greek tavern songs she has included in her repertoire. Consequently, many people don’t know how to define her as a singer.

4. Bu Böyle by Sertap Erener

Turkish pop diva Sertab Erener has an amazing voice, which is said to hit the high F. Perhaps this is why her songs are seldom played in bars and clubs; her delivery is too blazing for comfort and she’s better off seen on stage.  The couple of times she was on everybody’s play list was right after winning Eurovision 2003 with Every Way That I Can. The public’s fascination continued that year with Here I am, a single obviously designed to cash in on her recent victory. After that, she was accorded national icon status and mainly appreciated on TV guest appearances. Bu Böyle appeared this year with Sertab singing in her middle register - meaning no vocal pyrotechnics - and immediately she retrieved her lost charm. The song is easy on the ears and smooth for dancing.

5. Kasaba by Murat Dalkiliç

With most Turkish club music, there is a tendency to produce aggressive studio sounds that kill the human quality of the singer’s voice and make it sound mechanic. Luckily for Murat Dalkilic, this catchy song muffles the pumping techno beat and let the lyrics be heard loud and clear. No wonder it became a raging success all over Turkey and in some parts of the EU when the video clip was released in late December 2008.

6. Vur by Gökhan Tepe

Gökhan Tepe, talented actor/singer/composer, is widely considered to be the most handsome performing artist in Turkey and a serious rival to Tarkan. After studying music at Istanbul Conservatory, Gökhan Tepe released his debut album, Çöş Beni, in 1996. He has lived up to his early promise and produced a series of hit songs, including Gel Aşkım Gel, Yürü Yüreğim, and most recently Vur, a big hit in 2009.

Turkey's Song Contribution to Eurovision 2010

We Could Be the Same -- Söylüyor
Performed by the rock band MaNga

MaNga is a Turkish rap rock band. Their music is a fusion of alternative rock and hip hop music, with a touch of Anatolian melodies. In 2009 they won both the Best Turkish Act award from MTV Turkey and the Best European Act award at MTV Europe Music Awards. They will represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.

We Could Be the Same

We Could Be the Same You could be the one in my dreams You could be much more than you seem Anything I’ve wanted in life Do you understand what I mean?

I can see that this could be fate I can love you more than they hate Doesn’t matter who they will blame We can beat them at their own game

I can see it in your eyes It doesn’t come as a suprise I’ve seen you dancing like a star No matter how different we are

For all this time I’ve been loving you Don’t even know your name For just one night We could be the same No matter what they say

I feel I’m turning the page And I feel the world is a stage I don’t think the drama will stop I don’t think they’ll give up the rage

But I know the world could be great I can love you more then they hate Doesn’t matter who they will blame We can beat them at their own game

For all this time I’ve been loving you Don’t even know your name For just one night We could be the same No matter what they say

Marmaray

A high-speed railroad system:

• connecting Europe and Asia
• protecting the historical beauty of Istanbul
• solving the local transportation problem

Marmaray is a 76 km long high-capacity railroad between Gebze on the European side and Halkaı on the Asian side of Istanbul. Construction started in 2004. The name Marmaray is a combination of “Marmara” and “Ray”, the Turkish word for Rail.

Marmaray trains cross the Bosphorus inside a 1,4 km long earthquake-proofed underwater tube. The tube lies 60 metres below sea level, making it the world’s deepest undersea tunnel:

The undersea tube opens into underground tunnels on both sides of the Bosphorus. This underground-undersea tunnel system is 14 km long and stretches from Kazlıçesme on the European side to Ayrılıkçeşme on the Asian side. New underground stations will be built at Yenikapı, Sirkeci and Üsküdar. Another 37 above-ground stations will be rebuilt or modernized along the line. 

At Yenikapı station, Maramaray connects with both Istanbul Metro and the Light Rail Train.

Marmaray wıll carry as many people and vehicles as 14 Bosphorus bridges combined. Its trains can transport up to 75,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The trains will travel as close as two minutes apart at a top speed of 100 km/hour. Travelling from Bostancı to Bakırköy.will take 9 minutes compared to 90 minutes today. 

After completion, the use of rail transportation is predicted to rise in Istanbul from the present 4% to 28%, the third highest rate in the world behind Tokyo (60%) and New York City (31%).

  

Construction of Marmaray started in May 2004. The Marmaray tunnel was completed in September 2008. The project was initially expected to be completed in 2012 but is now four years behind schedule, mainly due to the discovery of a Byzantine era archaeological find at Yenikapı constructıon site in 2005.
The excavations uncovered Istanbul's largest harbour, the 4^th century Port of Theodosius. There, archaeologists found traces of the city wall of Constantine the Great, and the remains of the only early medieval galley ever discovered. In addition, the excavation has uncovered the oldest evidences of settlement in Istanbul, dating back to 6000 BC.

The only early medieval galley ever discovered

Interview

Marmaray will change Istanbul profoundly

Professor Murat Guvenc, of Bilgi University's Architectural Design Masters Programme, says that the region will experience an unprecedented transformation once Marmaray begins to operate. He thinks that Marmaray is essential for Istanbul and that the social impacts of the changes that the project will bring about should be researched...

 What will change with the Marmaray Project?

What sort of transformation in the settlement

and transportation structures of the region is

anticipated?

The transportation lines will be interlaced.

Traveling from Bostancı to Bakırköy will take

only nine minutes, and not the current one

and half hours. As many as 1.5 million people

will change continents in Yenikapı. Marmaray

will carry as many people and vehicles as 14

Bosphorus bridges combined would do.

Marmaray will leave no stone unturned in

Istanbul. The city residents will also change.

The project is the most strategic one Istanbul

has seen until now.

How exactly will this change transform this city?

It will change Istanbul at a speed

unprecedented in the city's history. When it

begins to operate, we will wake up to see that

the firewood sellers working in the area are

gone, maybe replaced by textile businessmen.

Maybe no longer spices but Rolex watches will

be sold in the Egyptian Bazaar. The so-called

Historical Peninsula of the city will begin to

resemble Manhattan. Isolated from the

metropolis, this region will be the most

accessible location and therefore will receive

most of the glory. Places like the Grand

Bazaar will transform incredibly. They will no

longer sell handkerchiefs but famous brands.

The more visitors they have, the more likely

they will be able to sell higher value products.

We will together observe how the city will

change. Research must be undertaken to

forecast the social costs and impacts.

Istanbul 2010 - Heritage, winter issue, page 33

Related Links (right-click link to open in new tab or window)

Marmaray - Project of the Century

Excavation at Yenikapı


Istanbul 2010 - Heritage (winter issue)