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Kadırga (KAH-duhr-gah)
is a district in Old
Istanbul down
a relatively steep hill from the southwestern
corner of the Hippodrome (map).
There are hotels all the way down the
hill to and on the flat land by the
Sea
of Marmara shore.
The hotels start just off the Hippodrome.
Some are not far down the hill, others
are all the way at the bottom.
Some
streets up and down the hill are of
granite paving blocks, others
of smooth macadam (asphalt).
This is a real Turkish neighborhood,
with non-tourist shops, coffee houses,
families, clothes hung out to dry in
front of houses, children playing games
in the street, old men sitting in the
sun smoking and sipping çay.
One excellent feature is the large,
shady park at the
bottom of the hill, always busy with
little kids playing, parents chatting,
old men sunning.
Unfortunately, you're a bit far from all means of transport except taxis, and if your trip is not very far, they may refuse to take you (although this is against the law). So you'll have to walk.
Kadırga is by no means fancy, but it is authentically
Turkish, friendly, and less expensive
than some areas that are more touristy.
Just get used to that hill....
—by Tom Brosnahan
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