Comments can be written but are only visible after I have checked them: these pages are not forums for political debate - nor to just let the world know you exist!

Yorum yazabilirsiniz ama yorumlarınızı ben kontrol ettikten sonra sitede görebilirsiniz. Bu sayfalar politik tartışmalar ya da dünyaya hayatta olduğunuzu duyurmak için hazırlanmış forumlar değil!

Istanbul has, on the European side that is, a surprisingly small station (Sirkeci Station), the station in my hometown Amsterdam is bigger (and similarly impressive). It became the terminus of the Orient Express in 1888. When in the early ‘70s I first went to Turkey this is where I arrived with the so-called Tauern Orient. Three days of travel it was.
I have created a separate gallery because it is such a fine building. I show much of the side (the front is not very impressive and has been ruined by some modern additions) and of the inside waiting rooms and the North side of the building. I also have one shot from inside the small and frequent train that rumbles its way to some of the suburbs. That train used to be fun because itinerant tradesmen sold their wares there, getting in on one station, getting off on the next, selling (bad) razors, socks, lighters and other nick-nacks. Heavy patrolling seems to have made an end to that. And someday the material will be improved, I hope. The contrast with the “tramvay” with its air-conditioning is alarming, and the doors get stuck (either opened or closed) a bit too often.