Random Izmir Photos

1st Kordon at night. As you can see, the European "Cafe Life" is well in effect here. Canopies, windows, and heaters keep the patron sitting outside regardless of time or temperature. Too bad we don't have more of that stateside.


Night shot of the city I took while staying in the hotel when I arrived. You can just make out a castle on top of the hill - more on that later.


I have nothing to back this up, but I swear the ferry boats race at times. In this picture the inside ferry came in at speed only slowing after passing the other. Often, as a passenger or standing on the dock, you'd swear they are going to run aground but somehow they stop in time. Exhilarating. And yes you step straight from the moving boat onto a wheeled ramp positioned precariously at the bow - no OSHA here in Turkey.


Night shot of the Kordon from ferry.


On the weekends, especially Sunday, most ferries are given a rest.


One of the many Squares on the Kordon. More on the statue and meaning once I figure it out.

View from apartment

View North - You can barely see the district of Karshaka on the far side of the bay. Off to the right behind the palm trees is where the cruise ships dock once a week. I can tell when they arrive without even looking - I hear the horse drawn carriages taking the tourists up and down the Kordon’s cobblestone streets.


View South - As the Kordon fades off you can see one of the many monuments and public squares that line it.


Sunsets are amazing. Even the ships awaiting their turn in the port are nice to watch, unless their lights are aimed at your window (time to close the privacy curtains).


Nights on the Kordon range from mildly active with the typical dining crowd, to wild on football (soccer) nights, and extreme on evenings they have open-air events, concerts, etc. Luckily I have 4 doors I can close between the balcony and my bedroom. I enjoy all the commotion though when I’m home alone in an empty and quiet apartment.

Apartment - Living Room

My living room/dining room/den (taken from my desk). I pretty much live in this room to savor the view, departing only to cook and sleep. Yep, you guessed it, I’m paying a bit over my housing allowance for this location, but the view gives me some badly needed inspiration. I'll snap a few more pictures after I've cleaned up a bit.

1st Kordon, Izmir

This is the 1st Kordon (Ataturk Caddesi) where I live. The bottom floor of each apartment building has either a cafe, restaurant, or pub. The green area includes a rubberized walking/running path, bike path, promenade, and area for fishing (I work with one of the architects who designed it). The silver/black building on the left is one of the many Ferry Terminals. Ferries are cheap and a great way to get around the bay or to just take a mini cruise for lunch. Public transportation here is abundant, with Taxis used to fill the gaps. This is considered the most important street in Izmir and as such is named after Mustafa Ataturk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic. Most Embassies, Consulates, and big wigs of Izmir live within its 2 mile length.