GALATA AND ITS CATS
February 16, 2012 § 94 Comments
Places that you shouldn’t miss…
If you feel awkward eating alone in restaurants then Mavra is the perfect place, especially for breakfasts when it’s a bit more quiet (actually it’s very quiet, at some point we found ourselves murmuring). During lunch hours though, it gets pretty busy, people usually come here to work on their laptops, to talk about projects etc. Very cool place with a beautiful atmosphere and delicious food! Şahkulu Mah. Serdar-ı Ekrem Cad. No: 31 Daire:A, Beyoğlu Istanbul Province, Istanbul
You enter this place and you immediately fall in love with the atmosphere. There is an old turkish song playing on a record player in the background. There is a sweet lady working there. She owns the place and when she sees us taking photos she says ‘A new camera never creates the same beauty of an old one’. She shows us a photo her husband took years ago, then another one with her and her family. ‘I’m the blonde one on the front’ she says proudly and then, she poses with the picture in her hand. You could stay there the whole day and listen to her, to her story. She talks about her records, Pink Floyd for instance.
This place is the perfect place to shop for your house; it’s a second hand store where you can find all kinds of vintage furnitures. They have it all; from clocks to desks,tables,sofas,chairs, make-up boxes, vases etc (the cats are not for sale though!). It wasn’t a day of ‘shopping’ but we already have several things in mind to buy for the next time we stop by.
This is a very small shop and that’s a positive thing. You enter it and you find all kinds of small funny things : notepads, books , bookmarks, postcards, games, stickers for your cigarette pack etc. Actually you don’t need any of these but when you’re in the store you realize that you always wanted them and you just didn’t know it! Kağıthane (houseofpaper) : Şahkulu Mahallesi Yörük Çıkmazı no:5 Galata Beyoğlu
Ready to travel back in time? If you are, then you should definitely visit Giyçek ( Serdar-ı Ekrem Street Doğan Apartment No 30.C Galata Beyogğlu) they have amazing old time costumes and accessories, you just need to tell them the style you’re looking for and you’re then ready to go to the photo studio to have your picture taken! Next time…we’re definitely doing this!
pop.see.cul 
OK…I totally need to get me some cat masks. Those rock!
😉
Gotta love them kittehs 🙂
Oh my! What an odd and interesting assortment of pictures.
As my son would say, “Weee-ird”!
Not many cats.
Wow…that is probably the most interesting chandelier I’ve ever seen! Out of all of the photos, the first one is my favourite…gorgeous!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! 🙂
Agree. Love that chandelier–and the post. Both are definitely unique. Great collection of details.
lol
Freshly pressed is often too American, too boring, but this is a wonderful post and rightly deserves to be featured. Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing the photos. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
I want to be sitting in Mavra right now…… ❤ Istanbul
What a fun trip!!! To a real magic shop!!! Your shots are so wonderful, just like I would have taken, the contrasts, so interesting. I know you had to spend several hours there. I would have gotten lost even in such a small place 😉 Great FP, congrats! AmberLena
I’m torn between “time warp” and “culture shock” !
I would have gotten the pictures taken in cool vintage clothes!
I love stores like this. I wish we had more than the two that are in the downtown our city is trying to revive. We have an old bank building refurbished into a vintage store that has different vendors. We also have a cute little store in a famous building in town. It was in Ripley’s Believe It or Not for being the world’s smallest skycraper. Someone bought it and has put items that he’s collected over the years for sale in it. I may have to take pictures of them later on, but there is no way they are going to turn out as good as these. Beautiful job!
I want a cat face fan!
Istanbul’u ozluyorum…. tesekkurler.
Reblogged this on My Favorite Spaces.
An amazingly wonderful eating emporium, Fantastic photos, and an even more wonderful story simply told with very complex pictures.
Great Post!
I forgot to add, thank God the cats are not for sale.
Wonderful photos! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
I could do some damage to my bank balance in those shops;)
What a cool place that store is! Glad ya made Freshly Pressed!
I was promised cats!! I see only four cats.
=(
=(
I want HUNDREDS of cats!
hi freinds, what a nice photos, i love that cats….
Cats are looking very good, very nice photos , thanks for sharing…….
i love pet animals…nice click.
keep it up.
I love the first pic!! I could paint those kinds of streets.
share to all.
Old is gold !
Lovely!
This post brought me back some sweet memories… ah Istanbul… what a magical place you are! I’ve felt like I am there again with this post… Love, love, love it!
Sounds like heaven and looks terrific too. A lovely snap shot of another world.
This shop reminds me a place called “The Museum of Fond Memories” in Birmingham, Alabama USA. Next time I’m in Galata I will check it out. Here is my post about the cats on Asian side of Istanbul if you are interested: http://pondfrogsplash.com/2011/12/27/the-prophet-prefers-cats/
LOVE this – thanks for all the fab piccies! 🙂
love the cat face fans/masks and all the other beautiful fun things!
nice ancient unique items
Reblogged this on finnegan2749.
I really enjoyed your post and the photography was nice.
Bet those cats stay busy exploring all that stuff.
Longest post ever .. full of interesting pics. The fat street-working puppet holding the hammer drill is truly odd ..
Reblogged this on Bendi Official Blog and commented:
Good blog!
Reblogged this on Words and Pictures and commented:
Having lived in Beyoğlu for something like 5 months, I feel almost shameful for having not found these places. Although then the image portrayed here doesn’t reflect the Istanbul I remember at all.
Beyoğlu is on what is considered the “Western side” of Istanbul and is north of the Golden Horn, a small river that divides the old Constantinople from the “new” Istanbul. Galata is a very busy area at the end of a large “pedestrianised” street, İstiklal, which also connects you to Taxim Meydanı. There are a lot of contradictions in Istanbul, for example a modern and suave hotel might be just around the corner from a shanty town with house façades and just just the façade, nothing inside. Still, despite the advertisements in this article, it is interesting to see what else lies in Beyoğlu other than what you might already know.
I spent time in Turkey this summer and these pictures really brought home some memories of small shops I saw in Taxim square and Sultanahmet. Way to be.
Oh, this looks like heaven! I love second-hand shops, in fact I’ve gotten to where I don’t really like shopping at big retail stores if I can avoid it. There’s something so magical about places like this! Thanks for sharing!
You captured great photos.
Very, very cool!
Dude, these are seriously some really cool looking pictures. Cheers from San Diego! Ill be checking up on you from time to time 🙂
http://operationshellshock.wordpress.com/
Check me out whenever your bored 🙂
Very nice photography. Ready to travel now and take pics of my own. Thanks for sharing.
That tabby curled up on the green couch looks exactly like my Precious! I just posted pictures of her a few days ago.
Wow- your pics are like stright from some design magazine. Uber cool. Those arms were spooky though….lol. Love the way you see the world through your camera.
Many Book on there… wow.. i can’t wait to read that book… :ehm… i think, that book romance genre.. hahaha.. 😀
Ahhhh I stayed in Istanbul for 6 months last year. Everyday was amazing 🙂 I miss it so much!
Thanks for this wonderful post and beautiful pictures 🙂
Fantastic Istambul, my husband took me there last year and I absolutely loved that city, it is exactly what you captured in your pics: eclectic, unexpected and surprising at every step!!!!
The best freshly pressed so far!!!! congrats 🙂
Great shots! Really neat title =D
just 2 cats 😦
well clicked dude. Really awesome snaps. Hats off to you from Bangalore(India)
Fantastic old items
Thanks for sharing, but your title is misleading.
its nice
I loved Istanbul. Thanks for taking me back there!
Amazing perspective on your shots!
[…] CULTURE: pop.see.cul […]
i curios want to know, what kind of brand your camera is it…….
Hey! it’s a canon7D
Reblogged this on Make Something Every Day and commented:
Citrus drink on a grey day. Great blog post!
What an extraordinary place! The woman sharing a portion of her life with you and the odd bits of time that can be found in not just her shop, but the others that you showcased here, are remarkable. It’s a small part of the world I haven’t given much consideration to, sadly, but you have helped open my eyes and mind to it’s beauty and wonders. Thanks for this brilliant post and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Oh, and I’m lovin’ that chandelier. 😉
Thank you for your comments! x
This makes me want to go to Istanbul even more! Great photos.
O wow…. Beautiful!! I love love LOVE the statement from the woman in the shop about old vs new cameras – so true! And – I desperately need to get me a few of those cat masks… Meow!
This is probably my favorite pressed blog I’ve seen on WP thus far.
It’s right up my alley with all the cool shops and photos. My favorite being the photos of the “sweet lady” with the Turkish music playing in the background. I would die to look through all the stuff the ladies got at that shop. and as the person above me commented about the old vs new cameras… my sentiments are the same. she knows what she’s talking about.
I don’t know how long you’re there for in Turkey but I suggest finding any records or music on any format by Erkin Koray (you’ve probably already heard of) one of the greatest musicians Turkey has ever produced.
I was in Turkey in the 70’s driving a van as a taxi (I’m American) and selling arts and crafts on the streets. It was a hell of a time and i’m dying to go back. The place is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing!
Ron Holborn
http://www.northorangecountyrealestate.com
Reblogged this on reinaldobanh and commented:
– Why?
– Then, bye bye.
It’s really a small but good shop
A good and small shop, i like it
It’s a small but very good shop
I want to be there RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Great blog- really enjoyed reading it. Have bookmarked and i will check back regular.
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i enjoy reading this article. i want to have one of those mask.
Superbbbbbbb thank you for sharing…….
Your photos bring back so many warm memories from my time spent living in Istanbul. Such a magical city! I love Galata for it’s artistic scene, music shops and vintage and retro stores.
Nice pics!
wow!
It’ s real suggestive narration!
Thank you ‘ cause great atmosphere!
superb photos……….really nice
where is molly’s cafe and her cats!
I want that colourful chandelier … beautiful pics … beautiful of Turkey and its friendly people … Love, cat.
I love cats, please see my cat photo.
http://goo.gl/lJjy8
Reblogged this on EV.Takes a Stand and commented:
Amazing magical pictures. Luv it!
Awww !! I love cats 😀 Especially these ones !! Cheers
I love these pictures and the stories they tell! Well deserving of being Freshly Pressed…congrats!
Thanks for sharing.
You have attracted a herd of cat lovers because of the heading picture. I am glad I got to “visit” Istanbul briefly and found the cat masks too!
Great pics!
The Lioness!
Reblogged this on billyandhisjourney.
looks like i’ve got more reasons to visit Istanbul. ; )
thanks for sharing!
i’ve been to Istanbul once… it was great… very friendly people n i can even walk on my own to enjoy the city… wish i could go there again…
— salam from malaysia
Oh my goodness, these photos are so interesting and the places so off-beat! I’ve already pegged Istanbul high on my to-visit list, but these photos only reinforce how unique a place it is!
a very nice photos with different places that you shouldn’t miss. a simple thing became special when you picture it with such different angles. love it.
wonderful picsx