Istanbul Apartment pera!place is one of the best preserved and most interesting Istanbul Apartments. Istanbul Apartment pera!place is located in the very centre of the city, downtown, Taksim, Beyoglu.

"Crossing the Bridge: The sound of Istanbul" by Fatih Akin

This is a movie about the music that is currently being played in Istanbul. Istanbul was the center of the three Old World superpowers: the East Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is a megalopolis of almost 15 million. So it is to no ones surprise that a lot of music is being played in Istanbul, with a great variety of voices, styles, and influences from everywhere on the globe. The movie features different singers, instrumentalists and bands. Spoken comments from the musicians nicely illustrate the music being played, and the social context in modern Turkey. Furthermore, the movies shows urban scenery mainly from Istanbul which is very pleasant to watch.

This movie is strongly recommended for lovers of the music and culture of Turkey, the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It may also be worthwhile for those with a keen interest in the global effects of musical styles such as Rock and Roll or Hip Hop.

Great footage of Ceza, a Turkish rapper. Priceless performances by amazing Turkish musicians Orhan Gencebay, Sezen Aksu, Muzeyyen Senar. The gorgeous voice of Aynur, singing in Kurdish. And, amazing clarinet and signing of a romany gypsy group from Thrace. Last but not least, Istanbul bands mixing Turkish music and rock, as well as trance music -- Baba Zula, Orient Expressions, Duman, and others...

"Hamam" by Ferzan Ozpetek

This film is really a very subtle, literate story. Nothing hits you over the head, there's nothing to win or lose at the end, it's just characters and events unfolding and interacting within a languid pace. It's really a beautiful film, both in scenery, sentiment and depth of feeling.

If you've ever visited Istanbul or have plans to visit Istanbul you should see this film. One would expect to see the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque right off, but you never see them; the film chooses to see Istanbul through the charming back alleys and everyday people. The traditions of the country and the warmth of the people are ever-present in this film. Istanbul itself is like a character here, and its special charms are at the center of the story. If you visit there, you will understand why the characters become so captivated.

But this film only uses Istanbul and the Hamam as a vehicle for showing its characters ways of finding happiness and tranquility in one's life. The story is much more general and eternal. It shares that quality with literature; it is at once about these specific characters, and also about everyone, everywhere.

Hamam has been marketed as a gay/bisexual film and therefore many people missed the opportunity to see this fantastic film. Also known as: A Törökfürdö Hungary; Baño turco (Hamam), El Argentina; Bagno turco, Il Italy; Baia turceasca Romania; Hamam - Das türkische Bad Germany; Hamam - turkkilainen kylpylä Finland; Hamam: The Turkish Bath UK; Hamam: det tyrkiske badet Norway; Hamam: el baño turco Spain; Hammam, le bain turc France; Steam: The Turkish Bath USA; The Turkish Baths USA; Turkiska badet, Det Sweden.

"Birds Without Wings" by Louis De Bernieres (Author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin)

This is a truly great novel. It is set in Western Turkey in the early 20th century and concerns the events surrounding the first world war, the break-up and eventual dissolution of the Ottoman empire, and the effect that this has on the everyday inhabitants of a small town.

The story opens in Eskibahce and we are drawn into daily life through a series of anecdotes and tales told through the eyes of its various inhabitants. As the book progresses, the scene is cut more frequently to the historical events that are taking place, and as the book reaches its climax, we find ourselves totally engrossed in the war: the geopolitical struggles, the nationalist politics, the struggle between Greeks and Turks, and life in the trenches at Gallipoli.

The book achieves a superb balance between its gripping description of the history and politics of the time, and its equally gripping personal dramas being played out in this context. It explains the great tragedy that results ultimately in the deportation of the Turkish Greeks from Turkey and Greek Turks from Greece, with its attendant destruction of whole communities, the terrible consequences to individuals, and even the break-up of individual families.

To call this an "historical novel" is to understate the quality of the story-telling. There is some wonderful narrative here: the book creates its own folklore, marvellous tales, funny stories, sad stories, shocking stories, all embedded in this steam-rollering march of historical inevitability. We also meet some marvelous characters, who become like old friends as they come back time and again to contribute their little piece of the story. And here is another beautifully-executed technique - the stories overlap, as told by different people and seen from different points of view. In the mind of the reader is built a much richer experience of events when seen from so many different angles.

It's one of those books that is satisfying and interesting right from the outset. You know you are not going to be disappointed. It's original, it's intelligent, it's informative, and it's one of those books that you must not miss.