Locally Istanbul Sidecar Experience

   Couple of days ago, our Vintage 1955 BMW R25 Sidecar Motorcycle was finally and completely restored and got our of the mechanic.

Greetings from sunny Bagdat Ave., the Asian Side of the City.

   We started our journey long way from our final destination, Cihangir. Driving through Bagdat Ave., to the Bosphorus Bridge in about 45 minutes. 

   We had our GoPro Hero3 cam with us all the way, for you to get a small bite of the experience.

Enjoy.. =)

Money is not everything

Art Barter is coming to Istanbul for the first time on 18^th to 26^th of January.

Early in 2009, curators Alix Janta-Polczynski and Lauren Jones grew aware of a shift in how people obtained wants or needs.

They formed Art Barter as an alternative platform to create an environment where the viewer always has a chance to acquire the works on display.

Artists have always been familiar with the use of barter worldwide, however, the Art Barter schema is distinct in its promotion of such a form of exchange in the current art market and in the lasting working relationships that are being born out of the project.

At Art Barter, the names of the artists are not displayed along with the artworks; the viewer values the art for its own sake without being predisposed to a name or a price tag. Having to barter also motivates the viewer to think about what they have that is unique to offer the artists.

Previous Art Barters have seen artists exchange their works for 6 months of Italian lessons, 3 months of psychotherapy, 30 hours of reflexology, website design, a gallop on a white horse, gardening lessons, a poem for each month of a year and other creative offers ranging from a woman offering to bear the artist’s child to one promising a life time of cheese supply.

The way it works...

Each artist's work is displayed in the exhibition with a number next to it. Viewers are invited to fill out barter forms with their offers on any work that they desire. These offers are then pinned on a communal board or placed on a box to protect the privacy of the bid. At the end of the show, the artists will choose from all the offers made on their work and will decide which (if any) offer they would like to exchange their work for.

For further information, Art Barter Facebook

Terracotta Warriors in Istanbul !

The Terracotta Army, a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, is coming to Istanbul’s Topkapı Palaceon Nov. 20. Five terracotta soldiers will be on display at Topkapı Palace as a part of an exclusive joint exhibition approved by the Chinese government, as the terracotta soldiers are rarely sent overseas for display.

In addition to the soldiers, artwork from the Shanghai Museum and Beijing’s “Forbidden City” will be shown. A terracotta horse, which has never left China, will also be at the exhibition.

The exhibition team, which took special measures to protect the precious pieces, said a highly-priced insurance agreement was paid to bring the terracotta soldiers to Turkey. While it generally takes two or three years to prepare an exhibition of this caliber, the team said Turkish and Chinese representatives were able to prepare the display within one year.

The exhibition will bring Turkey and China closer together through cultural exchange, as Topkapı Palace is a very important museum for Turkey and welcomes some 10,000 visitors each day, the China Art Exhibitions Association vice-manager An Yao said. The museum will host the terracotta exhibition for three months as well as a display on the Dunhuang Caves.

About the Terracotta Army

The Terracotta Army, also known as the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses,” is a form of funerary art that was buried with Qin Shi Huang in 210–209 BC for the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife. The figures, dating from the third century BC, were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in the Lintong District of Xi’an in Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals, and include warriors, chariots and horses. In the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there are an estimated 8,000 soldiers and 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried near the Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum. Other non-military terracotta figures were also found including officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.



Hurriyet Daily News.

We're renewing our website!

Hello again,

We've been quite busy with the sidecar project and we got it! We need to update our website, so during this period you can reach us via our facebook page , The House Hotel  and info@locallyistanbul.com. Coming Soon!

Madonna MDNA Tour - Istanbul

Last Thursday, we went to Madonna MDNA Tour.

To be honest, i was much better than i expected.. Seeing Madonna on stage was amazing.

On the way to the arena, 

It was a lovely, sunny Thursday afternoon

Passing by Historic Haydarpasa Station

Subway was a real mess..

The arena & The tickets

Before Madonna,

And here she is..

Last Weekend

Last Weekend with Mr. & Ms. Bunford;

On 28 & 29th of April, we had a great weekend with Mr. & Ms. Bunford,

We picked them up from THH Bosphorus, and drove to the Old City. Had a quick tour at must see sights like Saint Sophia, Blue Mosque, Arasta Bazaar & Grand Bazaar.

Then we went to Beyoglu - Pera area, walked through the bohemian neighborhoods at Cukurcuma & Galata.

Had a nice stop just next to the Galata Tower.

Next Day, on Sunday, we went to the Asian Side of the City, we started with Sakirin Mosque, considered to be the most modern mosque..

To experience and feel the local life, we went to Kadikoy. The cultural & commercial center of the Asian Side. 

We walked to Moda neighborhood with a few stops at Antiques shops, lunch at Ciya Restaurant & desserts at Baylan..

We have a new logo!

We have a new logo designed by Dukkan Creative!