Tuesday 8 June 2010

Byzantium not Constantinople Now it's Istanbul not Constantinople...














Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks.

It was a song I could never get it out of my head I blame that jukebox at the Flamingo in Acland Street it ate a lot of my sixpences. OO EE OO haha ting tang wallawallabingbang, That’s the name of the game, every generation they play the same.
Finally we got to old Stamboul.














With Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul Memories and the City as our companion we dive into the deep end.
















Lush Times?
Lost in translation with the Cucumber blues again.


















Black Sea Boletus She said that she would need to consult the elders for a positive identification. An unusual wet and cool week had brought them out.














Ahmed Ertegun the real Sultan of Swing's Bentley roadster If the back seat could talk? 















For Hüzün take a Gripin a cup of tea and a good lie down
















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4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi George-I hope your friend from your last post sorts things out at the market.
That song 'Constantinople'( a cover of sorts I believe) from 'They might be Giants' is one of those insidious melodies that gets under ones skin.
Hope you are well.

George Biron said...

Hi Steve, We are OK a bit exhausted from travel but OK.
How are you?? I hope the test pattern just means a rest from
blogging? Your previous post was a bit scary.
Kamal has been closed down. Istanbul reinforced how silly markets can get. Imagine the Grand Bazzar many acres of a superb high Ottoman domed maze bursting with people but 300 gold shops, 200 carpet shops,300 ceramics shops all selling the same stuff visually brilliant but nobody selling much.
So no more European deli in Footscray market for the time being?
Again I hope you are well..
Ps the song was from the fifties by the Four Lads one hit wonder I think Now with the benefit of a visit the words are so accurate
I highly reccomend Pamuk's book a great read.

Thermomixer said...

Great lot of photos yet again. Good to see you back ready for the QB weekend.

Are there loads of tourists frequenting the bizarre grand Bazaar? .. or is it over the top for locals?

My mother used to sing that song all the time and the melody just sticks .... all day once you start. Don't know why but just makes me think of bad movies with Bob Hope & Bing Crosby when I hear it.

Sad about Kamal.

See you soon.

PS Good to hear the truffles have hit.

Jeremy said...

Looks like some good times in the bul!
That city rocks, and I had some of that boletus when I was visiting a writer, he had me make risotto and mushrooms!

Cheers