Istanbul
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The whirling dance or Sufi whirling that is proverbially associated with Dervishes, is the practice of the Order in Turkey, and is part of a formal ceremony known as the Sema. The Sema is only one of the many Sufi ceremonies performed to try to reach religious ecstasy (majdhb, fana). The name Mevlevi comes from the Persian poet, Rumi (born in Balkh, modern day Afghanistan), whose shrine is in Turkey and who was a Dervish himself. This practice, though not intended as entertainment, has become a tourist attraction in Turkey.
Istanbul 2009.IstanbulturkeySufidervishesMevleviwhirlingwhirling dervishesPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Men fishing from the Galata Bridge.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeyGalata BridgeGalataBridgePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeySultan Ahmed MosqueSultanahmet CamiiBlue MosqueMosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Worshiper cleaning his feet before prayer at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeySultan Ahmed MosqueSultanahmet CamiiBlue MosqueMosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Interior of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeySultan Ahmed MosqueSultanahmet CamiiBlue MosqueMosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Portrait of a woman in front of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
Istanbul, 2009IstanbulturkeySultan Ahmed MosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
A person taking a Turkish bath first relaxes in a room (known as the warm room) that is heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air allowing the bather to perspire freely. Bathers may then move to an even hotter room (known as the hot room) before splashing themselves with cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling-room for a period of relaxation.
Masseuse, Istanbul, 2009IstanbulturkeyTurkish bathhammamPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Man selling fish at a small fish market under the Galata Bridge.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeyGalata BridgefishPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Worshiper cleaning his feet before prayer at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeySultan Ahmed MosqueSultanahmet CamiiBlue MosqueMosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
The hamams in the Ottoman culture started out as structural elements serving as annexes to mosques. However they quickly evolved into institutions unto themselves and eventually, with the works of the Ottoman architect Sinan, into monumental structural complexes, the finest example being the "Çemberlitaş Hamamı" in Istanbul, built in 1584. Seen in this photograph.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeyhamamÇemberlitaş HamamıPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Women having a snack between the busy city traffic.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeyMosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
View of the Ottoman Neo-Baroque style Mosque on the Bosphorus, as seen from the Ortaköy pier square.
Ortaköy has had an important place in the daily life of the city during both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent encouraged the Turks to move to Ortaköy and live there, which marked the beginning of the Turkish presence in the neighbourhood. One of the oldest buildings in Ortaköy is the Turkish Bath built by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in 1556.
Ortaköy, Turkey, 2009IstanbulturkeyBosphorusOrtaköyMosquerivereuropeasiaPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Only in Istanbul would the construction of the "New" Mosque have been finished in 1663 (it was inaugurated in 1665). The mosque is visible from the Galata Bridge were this couple is standing, and is only dwarfed by the Süleymaniye Mosque on the horizon.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeySüleymaniye MosquePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
A hookah, also known as a waterpipe is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) instrument for smoking in which the smoke is cooled and filtered by passing through water. The tobacco smoked is referred to as narghile or sheesha in the United States and Canada. Originally from India,hookah has gained popularity, especially in the Middle East and is gaining popularity in North America, South America, Europe and Australia.
Here men can be seen smoking in a cafe in the popular area of Tophane, Istanbul, 2009IstanbulturkeyhookahnarghilesheeshapipePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Istanbul skyline as seen from the Bosphorus.
IstanbulturkeyBosphorus.Photito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Local boys inside the tram that runs almost the entire length of Istiklal Street, one of the longest streets in Europe.
Istanbul, 2009IstanbulturkeyIstiklaltrainPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
In the Arab world, people smoke narghile as part of their culture and traditions. Social smoking is done with a single or double hose, and sometimes even more numerous such as a triple or quadruple hose in the forms of parties or small get-togethers. When the smoker is finished, either the hose is placed back on the table signifying that it is available, or it is handed from one user to the next, folded back on itself so that the mouthpiece is not pointing at the recipient.
Here men can be seen smoking in the popular area of Tophane.
Istanbul, 2009IstanbulturkeyhookahnarghilesheeshaTophanecafePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Young women smoking narghile in Tophane.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbuturkeyhookahnarghilesheeshaTophanePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.comIstanbul
Youth smoking narghile whilst surfing the net in Tophane.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeyhookahnarghilesheeshaTophanecafePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Carpets displayed in a shop at the grand bazaar.
Istanbul, 2009.IstanbulturkeycolorPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Backgammon is very popular in Istanbul, seen all over the city, in almost every cafe and played by people of all ages.
Youngsters playing backgammon in the popular area of Tophane.IstanbulturkeyBackgammoncafePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Woman waiting for a Taxi in Istanbul.
IstanbulturkeyPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Getting the Blue Mosque ready for prayer.
Istanbul, Turkey, 2016.Istanbulturkeyblue mosqueprayerPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Fishermen on the Golden Horn with the Yeni Cani mosque in the background.
Istanbul, Turkey, 2016.IstanbulturkeyYeni CamiGolden HornfishermanPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Man cleaning the street around his stall on the shores of the Golden Horn.
Istanbul, turkey, 2016IstanbulturkeyYeni CaniGolden HornPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
View of the Galata Bridge.
Istanbul, Turkey, 2016.Istanbulturkeygalata bridgegolden hornPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Street scene.
Istanbul, Turkey, 2016IstanbulturkeyPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
Locals having coffee.
Istanbul, Turkey 2016.streetsceneIstanbulturkeycafePhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
woman going to prayer at the Blue Mosque.
Istanbul, Turkey, 2016womanblue mosqueprayerIstanbulturkeyPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
local man having his shoes polished early in the morning before heading to work.
Istanbul, Turkey 2016.IstanbulturkeyPhotito travelphotitotraveltravel photographydocumentary photographyspencerphotographyculturewww.photito.com
