Buyuk-Ada in Turkish means the Big Island. It is the biggest of the seven islands south of the Asian side of Istanbul. Once home to fishermen and prosperous Greeks, Jews and Armenians, these islands cannot be more touristy now. The wood-houses and the tree lined promenades giving it a unique character with a relaxed air are still maintained in spite of the large tourist flux.
No petrol vehicles allowed on the island. I expected to see a red horse drawn phaeton used in all promo pictures but didn't find it. One could smell horse shit at places, so it might still be around :). Lots of beautiful cats everywhere. I think the cats outnumber the residents of the island. Tourists are not included in this eyeballed census, they were crammed practically everywhere. I find it hard to believe that early May is not the peak tourist season!
It was wonderful to spend a few hours here...and time permitting, one would love to spend a few days here.
Ate the best cherries and nectarines ever, so juicy that we got juice all over us. Fruit lunch is good for oldies like us: keeps the energy levels up with none of the lethargy that comes after a normal meal. Eating "on the go" gives us more time to amble. When we got tired, we took a short circular tour of the island in a mini bus to get a feel of the parts where we couldn't walk to.
Took a lot of pictures of Beyoglu region, Old Istanbul as well as of the Dolmabache Palace from the ferry. Both the ferry ride and the island itself can be best described through these pictures. So here they follow...
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