Flowers around Istanbul

[farah]

Asalam alaikam

chances are when you go to a new city you end reading up about it a bit to get acquainted at speed and the section on flora in Istanbul was really interesting, hopefully you'll find it interesting as well flora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul#Flora)

Where we stayed there was a magnificent fig tree and a fair few hazelnut trees in the villages not far from the city.

You can kind of make out the green figs

http://i38.tinypic.com/5wj8t1.jpg

Lots of under sea plant life as well, sorry it isn't a fantastic shot

http://i35.tinypic.com/2eyx53b.jpg

Grape vines (a guess)

http://i36.tinypic.com/2iub8g1.jpg

Cute tiny birds

http://i37.tinypic.com/fdwqk2.jpg

[farah]

Trees everywhere in this fishing village and the masjids are really something to behold!

http://i34.tinypic.com/20787wk.jpg

Odd tree


http://i36.tinypic.com/2mdjabo.jpg

Tea house in the jungle and 'facilities' built in around the wilderness...

http://i37.tinypic.com/2zisnpt.jpg

[farah]

http://i37.tinypic.com/2dryvqv.jpg

around and on the grounds of the two magnificent masjids the Sofia Hagia and Sultanahmet

http://i38.tinypic.com/2zpjbq9.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/1phrax.jpg

http://i35.tinypic.com/1zel6wj.jpg

[Riz]

hi farah..

long time no see stranger :)

i love the pics, the water looks so clean, i would definitely go for a swim. pic 5 is awesome looks so idyllic,, the sink strapped to the tree is different huh !!!? lol

[Riz]

the hydrangea bush look awesome.. i bet ya dindt wanna come back huh !!!?

[Sarah]

Great pictures Farah!

[Kirsten]

Beautiful!! I LOVE the hydrangeas! :)

[farah]

Same here, =) they were grown everywhere and everywhere we went there were potted plants, window boxes, big healthy trees, forested areas, parks, shrubs, grape vines used as 'outdoor roofing' and lots of water features mash'Allah lots of different fresh fruit was available too I guess the temperature is really good for gardeners.

Sorry, I haven't been around too much in the last few months, hope you all had a spiritually beneficial Ramadhan personally I find its a good period of reflection.

Turkey's a definite recommendation for anyone who needs a change of scenery and can withstand the heat it was around 30 degrees in July and In sha' Allah the locals over there are recovering well from the intense flooding that happened over the summer.