For those lucky enough to have visited, or lived in Istanbul, nothing can compare to the Prince Islands, off the coast of Istanbul. The main island or 'Büyükada' (Prinkipo) is the most prominent among the nine. And collectively, they offer a glimpse into the multicultural society that Turkey is, even if the islands are often viewed as a haven for jet setters and a destination for others trying to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city.
And who better than someone who lives there to give us a rare behind the scenes look. Thanks to Yuvakuran and his wonderful post about the famous monastery (Hagia Yorgi) standing on the island's highest point.
"It is a holy place for all religions... There is a ritual to climb and you should strictly follow the centuries old rules... You should not speak, nor talk to anyone. You will pray all the time while walking, for whoever/ whatever you believe in. Orthodox believers climb barefoot."
"...almost every morning, at the town center you will see your humble blog writer with undercover local fisherman appearence with some thick beard in High Café (Yuksek Kahve) reading his daily local newspaper Cumhuriyet while sipping Turkish coffee with no sugar... Occasionally he may be seen as trying to type a few lines for this blog on his laptop PC. Your comments are always welcome."
Be sure to read the first comment left on his blog post from an anonymous follower who gives a detailed description of 'a day at Büyükada.'
Also please check out Alias Jones and his adventures, as well as the photos from Büyükada. And The Nevin Politology who takes a break from her usual politico insights this weekend... Who knows, maybe one day we'll all meet there.
