[mrnyc]

if you want it -- here is that unavoidable song (extended version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX7q5qYKVdM



to start, here in the nw is maslak, sort of a secondary business district going up west of ataturk oto sanyi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslak

maslak competes with levent, the main business district to the west.
it may at some point have the diamond of istanbul project complex,
which would surpass levent’s sapphire tower nearby as the tallest in europe.
however, it seems that project is currently on hold:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_of_Istanbul




























next up is the main modern business sector at levent and levent4,
starting with the groovy kanyon mall complex
http://www.kanyon.com.tr/#/en/homepage/






















outside kanyon mall






















last is the 55 story sapphire tower, the tallest in europe
http://www.istanbulsapphire.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Sapphire







levent business district



asia on left, europe on right







looking west over the old city and sultana met in the distance



looking nw -- trump’s istanbul twin towers project on the left
http://www.trumpistanbul.com.tr/



looking west with the black sea in the distance



nw - up here the bosphorus meets the black sea











turk telecom arena, new home of galatasary SK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BCrk_Telekom_Arena





north








sw - the bosphorus and asian side







nw - big cemetery





ne











bosphorus bridge on rt (1973)



fatih sultan mehmet bridge (1988)






















*** i hope you liked the rainy day views - more istanbul neighborhoods to come! ***