in Istanbul: August 2016

Sunday, August 21, 2016

First outing outside Istanbul. First time over the bridge to the Asian side. Great highway in the beginning. Then got on the regional roads. Drove up and down forest hills. Quite authentic. Many wooden houses along the road.
Agva is a small town between two rivers on the Black Sea coast. I did not have desire to stay long on the beach and plunge into the sea.

Agva

Mosaic Palace

One of my favorite places in Sultanahmet. Never crowded.

Mosaic Palace

Sunset at Galata

Reconnecting with Katya

On her way to Tokyo Katya had about 10 hours layover. Last time we met in person was five years ago. We missed each other in Moscow. It was easy to catch up and nice to hear she is doing well and still enjoying Japan. We compared notes on different cultures.
We did a small Sultanahmet tour: Mosaic Palace, Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cisterna, Grand Bazar and after dinner Galata Tower.
Great time!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Flowers

Mashatan Sunset

TeamLab Exhibition

Amazing art at Borusan Contemporary. The Japanese collective Teamlab shows four real time interactive computer installations. I got mesmerized by watching choppy waves. I felt as floating on them. I enjoyed the tree - which from basic, minimalistic form in space became a blooming, rotating garden. I preferred tree to butterflies. The waterfall was impressive too. The room with flowers installation full of colors looked too busy in the beginning. But than the guard explained that I could change the painting if I touched the wall. Then the flowers disappear into zillions of petals. If one stand one minute in front of the wall - a new flower appeared. I ws so grateful the security guard explained me the installation. Later I read it in the booklet - but if it would not be for the guard I would miss the fun of co-creation. More info about the exhibition at: http://www.borusancontemporary.com/client/pdf/BC_TeamLab.pdf

Borusan Contemporary

An amazing building on Bosphorus. It is head office of major Turkish company during the week and in the weekend a museum. Amazing views on the Bosphorus. Inspiring art.

New office view

I changed the office. This is my new view.

Home found!

Continue Reconnecting

Three years ago I met Lara through a training. She arranged an amazing week of trainings in Istanbul. I wished to reconnect with Lara. I sent her an email when I knew I will be coming to Istanbul. I sent another one when I arrived. I interpreted no responses with a busy life.

Then last week a colleague invited me for an outside lunch. There was even some debate whether to go or not as traffic in Istanbul is unpredictable and we needed to be back in the office on time. We decided to go as my colleague wanted to share with me a nice place.

To my surprise she took me to Sabanci Museum. I told her I love the place. We sat at the table in the restaurant and than I was approached by Lara.

Was this by chance/coincidence or by strings pulled by some invisible hand? Who knows. Some might say "birds of a feather flock together" but it is quite amazing that on my first lunch outside the office area I go to Sabanci Museum and meet Lara! Lady Luck was kind to me!

Today I met Lara, Lea and Cam at the wonderful terrace of their home overlooking the Bosphorus. One dolphin joined to celebrate our "reconnection" and made few leaps. Lara than showed me Borusan Contemporary with a fascinating computer art. The exhibition is set at the head office of one large turkish company. It is nice to think that over weekend one's office is a place to enjoy art to others. We also shared a delicious meal with spectacular Bosphorus view.

It feels great reconnecting.