Guide offers tourists Istanbul experience through back streets

Istanbul is a timeless city. The enchanting convergence of thousands of years of history and culture with a thriving modern economy attracts millions of tourists every year. And few of these tourists hop on a plane without first being equipped with a guidebook.

     Istanbul is a timeless city. The enchanting convergence of thousands of years of history and culture with a thriving modern economy attracts millions of tourists every year. And few of these tourists hop on a plane without first being equipped with a guidebook.

These books detail all the best dining, entertainment, and “must-see” attractions. But what many soon discover is that while their books dutifully lead them to all the major sightseeing points and expensive restaurants, most are lacking something when it comes to the more authentic, off-the-beaten-path places to see and things to do.

Seeking to achieve a more personal touch in an Istanbul guidebook, American Ann Marie Mershon and Turkish Edda Renker Weissenbacher, have stepped up to fill the void.

Their recently published travel book, “Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours,” was written for tourists interested in getting a taste of the “real Istanbul.” For travelers seeking to experience the back streets of Istanbul as locals do, this rich and colorfully illustrated book provides the perfect combination of local insight and exploration.

With a comprehensive historical timeline, hundreds of photographs, background information, and hand-drawn maps, travelers are offered four walking tours through the famous bazaars, mosques and landmarks. Descriptions of numerous small caravanserais and workshops [known as hans] are provided along the way, as well as introductions to the artisans working there. The book provides profiles and personal interviews with a variety of craftsmen from spice and antique dealers to weavers and shoe repairmen.

“That’s what people have really commented on,” Mershon, co-author of the book, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. “Travelers have actually met the artisans included in our book and have gotten to know them.

I have also gone back to see them, and they’ve all received a copy of the book, so they’re expecting travelers to stop by and chat” she said.

Mershon had been living as an expat in Istanbul for five years when she and Weissenbacher, who gave tours of the area to family and friends, decided to create the book.

“A tour with Edda is fabulous, and this book is the next best thing,” Mershon said. “There’s a lot of Edda [in the book]. We started with her writing. I expanded, edited, re-routed the walks to be sequential, and did a lot of research, but the information is primarily hers. We had a lot of fun working together; she was delightful.”

Sequentially, all four walks will take travelers from two to four hours. “It’s by far the most interesting and rewarding way to see this incredible city,” Mershon said.

“People spend a lot of time in these areas, but there was no book in English specifically about the bazaar quarter. It feels good to have contributed to the Turkish tourism industry in this way.”

The book even includes handy pronunciation guides, for those with little to no knowledge of the complicated Turkish language. “Edda would say the words aloud, and I would write the letters phonetically,” Mershon said.

Mershon advised expats living in Istanbul to present the book to their guests, and travelers visiting Istanbul, be it for the first or the tenth time, to take the time to go off on their own and “poke around the back streets” and explore.

“Read the book as you go,” she said. “It’s easy to follow, but there is a lot of information there that could be overwhelming to read ahead. Completing the walks gives a great picture of what the city is like.”

Teaching profession and background on writing

Before coming to Istanbul, Ann Marie Mershon was an English teacher in northern Minnesota, with a strong background in writing. She wrote columns for her local newspaper and published one children’s book before coming to Istanbul in 2005 to teach English on a two-year contract at Koç High School.

“I came to Istanbul simply because I could,” Mershon said, describing the time leading up to her journey as “being courted” by the city. “Everyone who has been here absolutely adores it. I had to see it for myself.”

Since coming here, Mershon has been extremely pleased with Istanbul, its culture, and its people. “Turks are incredibly warm and helpful,” she said, when asked about her favorite part of the city. “I have been exploring for five years, and I continue finding new things. It is a city that spreads itself across centuries.” In addition to the unique culture and friendly atmosphere, Mershon also enjoys Turkish food, particularly mezes and raký.

“I’m not so much of a tourist as I am just interested in the cultures of other places,” Mershon said. “This has been the best experience I’ve ever had overseas.”

While she has fallen in love with the culture and people of Istanbul, Mershon said a lack of respect for public areas as something that should be addressed to preserve Istanbul’s stunning beauty. “Things have really improved over the past few years, but there’s a long way to go. Things are still dirty. There is so much litter, and the traffic is horrific.”

Despite these minor complaints, Mershon has stayed far past her intended two years in Istanbul, only returning to the United States for one semester in five years. She has even turned down a job in Qatar to renew her teaching contract here in Istanbul.

Astonished by how much she learned about Istanbul while producing her book, Mershon also keeps a blog about her travel experiences. She hopes one day to publish another book about her experiences here. “I want to let people know that Turkey exists. And to help end this vilification of Muslims that drives me nuts,” she said.

Mershon advised everyone, young and old, to take advantage of what the world has to offer and travel the back streets.

“Istanbul Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours” has recently been nominated as Citlembik’s Best Seller in bookstores throughout the United States, and is available throughout English bookstores here in Turkey and on Amazon.com.

Source:http://www.turkishdailynews.com

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