A VIEW OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND PERA - THE GRAPHIC JUNE 15, 1870

A VIEW OF CONSTANTINOPLE FROM PERA 1881, publication unknown

The city looking towards Galata. The arrow indicates the Galata Tower.

For a panoramic view from Galata go to Library of Congress

Constantinople was founded by the Roman emperor Constantine in 330. From the conquest of the city by Sultan Mehmet II in 1453 it was known as Istanbul; meaning "in the city". Constantinople officially became Istanbul in 1930. It was still referred to as Constantinople until the 1960s.

The city is basically divided into three sections. Stambul and Pera on the European side of the Bosporus and Scutari on the Asian side.

Historically the European side of Constantinople was divided into a Moslem section and a non-Moslem section. The Golden Horn (Corne d'or) separated the two sections. The Moslem section was known as "Stamboul". The European section was variously known as Galata, Pera, and Beyoglu (Pera was an northern expansion of Galata due to population growth. Beyoglu was what the Ottoman Turks called Pera). The nomenclature of the European section gets a little confusing as the names in many cases were used interchangeably and in other cases more specific designations were given. The embassies, European hotels, and the Armenian Catholic churches were located in the Galata/Pera/Beyoglu section of the city.

The family of Abraham and Lucy Azarian lived in Constantinople from at least 1895 to 1921.The Azarians lived in the "European" section of the city. The known Azarian "addresses" were:

• Beyoghle 1895-1901 and 1908
• Taksim 1903-1905 and 1910-1914

Most of the non-Muslim population of Constantinople lived in this part of town.

• Galata

  Galata was a walled Genoese city until the 19th century. The Galata tower was a lookout point on the northernmost boundary. The tower is a major land mark on the city skyline and a focal point of the European section.

• Pera

  Pera is sometimes used to indicate all of the European section of the city at other times it seems to refer to the specific area north of the Galata Tower. In a 1893 Scribner's article there is mention of "the busy quarters of Galata, or of Pera above."

  At another point in the same article there is reference to: "both cities, Pera and Stamboul."

  Note: "Stamboul" was the Moslem quarter of central Constantinople and encompassed the area south of the Galata Bridge.

• Beyoglu

  By the mid 1800s the Galata/Pera area was not large enough for the non-Muslim population that lived there so the Galata walls were torn down and the neighborhood was enlarged. Elegant hotels and apartments were build on the Grand Rue de Pera. The area then became known as Beyoglu. Beyoglu encompassed the old Galata/Pera. Taxim was a sub-section of Beyoglu.

  Beyoglu was very Europeanized. French was the predominant language. There were communities of French, Italians, Russians, Germans, English, Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Hungarians, and Poles, each with their embassies, schools, churches, etc..

Note: A major problem with identifying some locations in Constantinople is a reflection of the international status of the city. The names are variously in Turkish, French, German, English, etc.

The Galata Bridge and the Old Bridge (Vieux pont)

Two bridges, the Galata Bridge and the old bridge, connected the two "cities" of Stambul and Beyoglu (Galata & Pera).

The Galata Bridge is the more famous of the two. Originally built in 1845 the Galata Bridge was rebuilt between 1910 and 1912. The present bridge dates to 1992.

Climate

The summers are frequently very hot and dry.

Winters are mild but very wet.

"Snow sometimes falls in winter, but the ground rarely freezes, becoming instead a mass of adhesive mud which is rendered still more disagreeable by incessant rain."

National Geographic, May 1915

"Winter in Constantinople is long and disagreeable, not because of its cold, which is rarely severe, but because of its darkness and penetrating dampness...... you cannot count on the sun between October and April. Those six months are really a rainy season."

National Geographic December 1914

Streets were unnamed and houses were unnumbered. However, each neighborhood or quarter had a name. To find a given person first you had to find the quarter and then someone in it would know the person being sought.

Language

Constantinople was an international city. In addition to Turkish people spoke: Arabic, Armenian, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Persian, Russian and other languages.

"In the polyglot multitude, he who speaks but a couple of languages is considered ignorant and is often helpless. The common handbills and notices are usually printed in four. The sign over a cobbler's shop may be painted in the languages of six different nations, and the cobbler on his stool inside may in his daily talk violate the rules of grammar in a dozen or more. Still the resident who is possessed of four languages will almost always be comfortable and at ease.

First in importance is his own vernacular; then French, for intercourse with the high Ottoman officials and for general society; then Turkish for dealing with the humbler classes; and Greek, as an open sesame among the native Christian population. Howsoever many additional languages one can speak- Italian, Russian, English, German, Arabic, Armenian, Persian, or a dozen besides- they are not superfluous, and on occasion each will be of advantage and use."

National Geographic May 1915

Population

A census in 1886 gave the population of Istanbul at 851,494 a 110% increase from forty years before.

129,243 were said to be foreigners. Of the permanent residents of the city 53% were Muslims, 21% were Greek, 21% were Armenians and 3% were Jews.

Looking from a street in Stambul (the Moslem side of Constantinople) across the Galata Bridge to Galata and the "European" side of the city. The Galata Tower is visible against the sky.

1912

Looking across the Galata bridge towards Galata and the Galata Tower from Stamoul.

First built in 1845 and originally a pontoon bridge, the Galata Bridge was one of two bridges crossing the Golden Horn. The Golden Horn was for centuries the city's harbor where ships off loaded their cargos into the warehouses that lined its shore.

In 1893 it cost "a penny" to cross the bridge on foot. Varying tolls were charged on animals, carriages, etc. The toll was ended in 1930.

No date

This "view of the port" (the Golden Horn) looks towards the European section of the city. The Galata Tower is in the center.

No date

Karakeui

Place de Karakeui (Karakoy Square) is on the European end of the Galata Bridge. Karakoy is the modern name for the old Galata.

Constantinople Place de Karakeui (Karakoy).

"There is no city in the world where so many different types of humanity meet and jostle each other and the stranger at every turn. Every nation in Europe is represented, and every nation of Asia as well."

Scribners 1893

No postmark

Yusek Caldirim is a steep street that runs from Kayrakoy to Galipdede Street and then on to Istiklal Cadessi. It is the most direct route from the heights of Pera to the Galata Bridge. It can be seen in the background of the Karakoy postcards. From this photo one can get a sense of just how much the Place de Galata has changed.

No date

Several of the main thoroughfares of Galata are, in fact, staircases.

THE EASTERN QUESTION: THE GRAND RUE DE PERA - THE GRAPHIC MAY 13, 1876

The shop sign in the upper left reads N MELKENSTEIN

According to A Guide to Constantinople, 1902, Meleknstein Bros. 517 Grand Rue de Pera, Tunnel Square were jewelers.

THE BRITISH FLEET OFF CONSTANTINOPLE - "HORSE MARINES" IN THE STREETS OF PERA

The Graphic April 6, 1878

Unfortunately, the text, which may have explained why these British soldiers are charging down the step street of Constantinople, was not included with the image.

This image represents the presence of the British in Constantinople in the spring of 1878 as they attempted to bring to a close a war between Russia and Turkey. The Russians and Turks were traditional enemies. The wars between them were numerous. The war between Turkey and Russia from 1877-78 ended with the intervention of the British. England sent a fleet of battleships to Constantinople to keep the Russians from entering the city.

Horse Marines were calvary soldiers assigned to a ship.

Publication and date unknown.

"STEEP SHOP-LINED THOROUGHFARE LEADING TO PERA

Beyond the quays between the bridges on the north bank of the golden Horn, which divides Stamboul, the Turkish Quarter of Constantinople from the European parts of Galata and Pera, rises steeply a succession of narrow streets, some little more than stone stairways with housed closely built on either side."

City Life

We are in the European quarter of the city, where business men of many nations and many races carry on trade. Some streets in the neighborhood are wider but many of the important thoroughfares are like this, mere lanes, running steeply up and down hill, where large buildings and small, old buildings and new shoulder each other along the way. This narrow lane of stone steps leads to the Grand Rue of Pera where the fashionable shops are located. The storekeepers may be French, German, Greek, Italian, Armenian, Russian, Persian or Jewish, but nearly everyone here can speak a little French.

Buying goods here either at wholesale or at retail prices is a slow process, for prices are not definitely fixed. The seller always asks more than he expects to get. The purchaser offers less than he expects to give. Each one argues and pleads; each makes concessions to the other. Finally an agreement is reached.

Geography- Industrial history -

It is Constantinople's geographic position, at the doorway between Europe and Asia, that has made people from many lands come together here for business. Quantities of good come by caravan, on the backs of donkeys and horses. Vessels come here from the Black Sea ports; from Mediterranean ports; from western and northern Europe; from America; from India, China and Japan. All bring cargoes from other lands. All carry cargoes home. Constantinople has also railway communication both with Europe and (from Scutari at the other side of the Bosporus) with Damascus and other trade centers of western Asia.

Galata Tower

The above two post cards show different views of Bukuk Kendek Street which runs from the Galata Tower to Yolcusade Iskender Street. Notice the large number of dogs lying in the street in the second picture.

Constantinople, Vue panoramique de Galata et Pera

In 1914 the Azarian and Arevian families lived somewhere in the general area pictured in this postcard and the next photograph. See Abram Azarian.

Constantinople, Pera

In 1914 the Azarian and Arevian families lived somewhere in the general area pictured in this postcard and the next two photos. See Abram Azarian.

Constantinople, Vue panoramique de Galata et Pera

Une rue pittoresque de Pera (Corne d'or)

A street in Galata

No postmark

The Grand Rue de Pera is now known as Istikal Caddesi.

Grand Rue de Pera

Not posted

Grand Rue de Pera

Not posted

Constantinople, Grande Rue de Pera e Tarcho

Constantinople, Grande Rue de Pera

Title: Grand Rue de Pera, Constantinople Creator(s): Underwood & Underwood, photographer Date Created/Published: c1912 July 26.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF TURKEY'S TROUBLES

The Graphic October 17, 1908

"One of the most noteworthy features of the present crisis has been the extraordinary moderation and self-restraint shown by the Turks in the face of the wanton provocation offered the by Austria and Bulgaria........ Crowds, composed of all sorts and conditions of people, paraded the principle streets of Pera - the quarter in Constantinople were the foreign Ambassadors and Minsters reside."

Istanbul, Beyoglu, Istikl. Cd.

Written in blue ink on reverse "Rue principal de Galata"

Not dated.

Much has been written about the dogs of Constantinople. They roamed the streets of the city and lay in large packs interfering with traffic of all sorts. These dogs were without owners and were mongrels who breed, were born, and died on the streets.

"With us it is customary for the dogs to withdraw to allow horses and people to pass by. There it is quite different, people, camels, horses, donkeys, and vehicles making sometimes quite a considerable circuit in order not to disturb the dogs: sometimes in one of the most crowded quarters of Stambul four of five of them, curled up fast asleep directly in the middle of the street will make the entire population turn out for half a day. And in Pera and Galata it is nearly as bad, only there it is done less out of respect for the dogs themselves than for their numbers. Were you to attempt to clear the road, you would have to keep up an uninterrupted series of blows and kicks form the moment you set out until your return."

Constantinople Edmondo De Amicis - 1896

" ISTANBUL TURKIYE

The most important street of the modern Istanbul "Istiklal Caddesi"

ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, JULY 2, 1876 VIEW OF THE RUINS AFTER THE GREAT FIRE AT CONSTANTINOPLE

A fire near the British Embassy destroyed "nearly the whole of Pera" on Sunday the 5th of June. "More than 3,000 dwellings or shops, occupying a space much exceeding one square mile, and including the residences of many wealthy families were entirely consumed." The number of lives lost was estimated between seven and nine hundred. The fire reported started in the Armenian quarter in Valide Tshesme street when a "little child" spilled a pan of burning charcoal on some stairs. A fierce gale quickly spread the fire among the wooden houses. The "conflagration" quickly spread to Feridje street and both sides of the Grand Rue de Pera. The walls of British Embassy was built of stone and so withstood the flames, although the roof was damaged.

Most of the residence were in the country, and nearly all the Armenians had gone to Unkiar Skelessi*, to celebrate a national fete, the tenth anniversary of their civil and religious Constitution.

Agatha Christie stayed here on her first trip to Constantinople. She used the hotel in the opening scenes in Murder on the Orient Express. The cliental of this 160 bed luxury hotel was mostly European. The Tokatlians, and Armenian family, owned several hotels and restaurants in Constantinople.

HOTEL AT PERA, OCCUPIED BY LORD SALIBURY AND HIS STAFF, THE CONFERENCE AT CONSTANTINOPLE, THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, DEC 25, 1876

VIEW FROM LORD SALISBURY'S HOTEL AT PERA, THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, DEC 25, 1876

Frances Elliott born in England in 1820 was a popular travel writer of her day. She wrote several "Diary of and Idle Woman" including Diary of an Idle Woman in Constantinople. She describes her approach to the Hotel Royal by horse back in 1893.

"As we approach the summit of the Pera Hill, the beggarly shops die out, and some stone houses and a few graceful villas in gardens, belonging to wealthy Greeks, appear: a dismal casino also owing all to its prospect over the Golden Horn: and a last, a really decently appointed street, the precursor to the Grand Rue di Pera. (I say this relatively, as in comparison to what we have been traversing some half-hour on the steep hill.)

Among some cypresses to our left, I catch a glimpse of the broad facade of the British Embassy, tree-shrouded in a shady grove, on a broad garden terrace crowning the height - a palace in stone, doubly impressive among these walls of wood, but most incongruous in architecture. Tuscan Gothic, copied from the Palazzo Pitti at Florence! Now this for an Oriental capital strikes one as absurd, and is due to the taste of the Sir Henry Elliot.

.........

On the brow of the hill are the other European legations, placed more or less in a line, commanding the beautiful outlook over the Bosphorus; the Russian, large and plain; the French, much less commodious; the German, a veritable palace, on a magnificent site, overlooking the hills of Asia, and the wooded heights of Scutari clothed with cemeteries. The Dutch, too, have built themselves a stately house.

.........

Adjoining the British embassy, and shadowed by it dark groves, is the new Hotel Royal, at which I land. Barring the near outlook over the Pitet Champ des Morts it is a pleasant palace, and commands a fine prospect over the Golden Horn and Stamboul, both of which, I remark, look far better at a distance than at hand.

..........

The Hotel Royal....planted on the summit of the hill of Pera, with and extended outlook over the Golden Horn and empowered in the thick groves of the British Embassy, is the place to go to.

Diary of an idle woman in Constantinople By Frances Elliot

Mrs. Elliott was clearly a snob and a bigot. But her account of the city is colorful.

Constantinople, Le Petits Champs

Le Petit Champs was lined with European style hotels that provided great views of the city. The street is now called Mesrutiyet Cd.

Constantinople Ambassade d'Allemagne a Pera ( The German Embassy at Pera)

Constantinople

A very similar photo was included in an article in Sky Life (Turkish Airlines, May 2005) about Galata. "Büyük Hendek Street, one of those created when the defense wall were demolished". I don't known when the walls were demolished but it was before 1875.

Constantinople, Hospice of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (Hospice de sept douleurs de la S. V. or Chapelle Notre-Dame des Sept-Douleurs). The hospice and its chapel are located in Pera.

In the year 1548 the Sacred Guardianship erected a house for the purpose of keeping there a person to look after the affairs of the Holy Land at the Port*. The house was twice burned and twice rebuilt.

Constantinople, Interior of the Chapelle at the Hospice of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows. This was the private chapel of the Sacred Guardianship and was considered a auxiliary to the Latin mission of Constantinople.

A street in Galata, 2005

Tophane is a section of Beyoglu along the coast of the Bosporus in Istanbul

Constantinople

A view of the entrance from the Bosporus to the Golden Horn. Beyoglu is at the bottom of the picture. The Seragio Point and the Topkapi Palace are at the top right.

No date.

This overview shows part of the Moslem section on the bottom of the picture. In the middle are the Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn, with the Galata Tower on the left. To the right is the Bosporus.

While the Galata Bridge appears a barrier it could open to let large ships into the area between the Galata Bridge and the Old Bridge further up the Golden Horn.

Vue Panoramique du Port - Constantinople

I do not know from what vantage point this picture was taken.

Dans la Corne d'Or. No date.

This view is towards the Galata bridge. Notice the Galata Tower in the distance on the right.

No date

No date

Family history says that Abraham Azarian was a "purchaser for the French Lines" in Constantinople. Surely he spent time on the docks of the city.

The Galata docks (Quai de Galata) were at the foot of the Galata hill on the Outer Harbor (Bosporus side of the Galata Bridge).

"My county La Drôme is the region of France which has the biggest Armenian community in France, in the cities of Romans and Valence."

Constantinople, Quais de Galata

Constantinople,Quai de Galata

Post marked 1909

No date

The Golden Horn, Constantinople

Constantinople, Corne d'or prise de Pera, Amiraute (Golden Horn from Pera, Admiralty)

The American Embassy

Constantinople from the American Embassy.

"Showing (in the center of the picture) the building of the Ministry of Marine on the famous Golden Horn with the city below." This picture was taken from a slightly higher position on the hill than the picture above.

No date

The old bridge looking towards Galata. Note the Galata tower in the upper right.

Ortakoy Mosque which is just up the Bosporus (toward the Black Sea) from the city of Istanbul.

Constantinople - Porte du Palais de Dolma Baghtche

Dolma Boghtche from the Bosporus

Constantinople, Palais Imperial de Dolma-Bagtche, Bosphore

The Dolmabahce Palace is on the Bosporus below Taxim. Alice Azarian said that she and her sisters used to play in the gardens near the palace.

No postmark

No postmark.

The Bosporus connected Constantinople to the Black Sea. Boats stopped at many places along the shore.

Istanbul Bebek

Bebek is a wealthy neighborhood of Istanbul located along the Bosphorus between the old and new bridges from the European to Asian sides of the city.

The French Embassy

HEAVY RAINS IAT CONSTANTINOPLE - THE PEOPLE GOING TO HEAR THE READING OF THE CONSTITUTION

HARPERS WEEKLY, February 24, 1877

RAIN IN CONSTANTINOPLE

Of all cities in the world Constantinople is, perhaps, the worst in which to encounter rain-storm; and unhappily, here as elsewhere, on the very occasion when sunshine is specially desirable the mischievous powers that control such matters frequently conspire to send down their floods upon the earth. The day appointed by the Sultan's government for the proclamation of the new Constitution for the Turkish Empire was not favored with auspicious weather. This ceremony took place in front of the "Sublime Porte," in Stamboul, the Turkish capital, devied from Galata and Pera by the Golden Horn. The first meeting of the European diplomatic Conference was held on the same day in Pera."

Posted 1905

Looking towards the New Mosque and the bazaar from the "European" side of the Golden Horn

No date

Place Emin Eunu Stamboul, Constantinople. No postmark

The Emin Eunu Square was at the Stamboul side of the Galata Bridge.

Another view of Emin Euno Square with the New Mosque (Yeni Cami)

Un des portes du Grand Bazar, Constantinople

Interieur du Grand Bazar, Constantinople

Grand Bazaar

Stamboul. Bazar Fgyptien

La gare a Stamboul, Constantinople

Gare des Chemins de fer Orenteax de Constantinople

Suleiman Mosque. Posted from Pera to London, England 1909.

The Sulieman Mosque overlooks the Golden Horn. The Galata Bridge is visible in the middle right.

Interieur de S.te Sophia, Constantinople

Interieur St. Sophie

No date

Two postcards of the same view.

No date

Marchand de melons et Machand d'eau (Mellon merchant and water merchant)

Hamal or street porter.

According to a National Geographic article of December 1914, most of the street porters were Kurds or Asia Miner Turks. Another National Geographic article from May 1915 says that the hamals had strong organized unions entirely controlled by the Kurds. Hamals proceed at a steady pace and carry everything from crates of chickens to up right pianos on their backs.

Street Scene 1857

An Armenian

Scribner's 1893

Transport de carbons par chameaux

Post marked 1913

No date

I love this postcard. When Tom and I were in Istanbul in 1969 we saw dancing bears.

Post marked 1909

When Tom and I were in Istanbul in 1969 there were still lots of street dogs.

No postmark

No date

The eaux douces d'Europe were where a fresh water river entered the Golden Horn.

To escape the foul summer air in the city many wealthy people in Istanbul had summer retreats along the Bosporus and on various islands in the waters surrounding the city.

"Salut de Constantinople - Bosphore Vue de Yenikevy et de Beycos" (Bosporus view of Yenikoy and Beykoz)

Beykoz is on the Asian side of the Bosporus and Yenikoy is opposite on the European side. They are situated above the second bridge on the way to the Black Sea.

Mailed to France in 1906

Constantinople - Buie de Therapia (Bosphore) (Therapia Cove, Bosphorus)

Tharapia Cove is situated above the second bridge on the way to the Black Sea.

Vue de Buyukdere

Buyudere is on the European coast of the Bosporus above the second bridge.

BOSPHORE Buyukdere - Vue de Quai

THE GRAPHIC MAY 5, 1871 - THE WAR IN THE EAST - TURKISH IRONCLADS AT BUYUKDERE

The Azarian family had a summer home in Buyukdere. See Azarian

Istanbul was hit by a sizable four shock earthquake between the 10th and 11th of July 1894.

On July 10 an earthquake induced tsunami arose around the Prince Islands causing the sea to inundate the golden Horn, flooding the area around the harbor and other low lying areas of the city and damaging many small boats. The bridges across the golden Horne were under water. There was extensive damage along the coast between Istanbul and Adapazari where many villages were totally destroyed with a large loss of life.

The earthquake itself caused much damage in the city toppling parts of the great walls of Theodosian (408-450) and causing major damage to the Grand Bazaar and other public buildings. Hundreds of lives were lost.

At Pera four houses collapsed and many were damaged. Five people died. At Galata many houses and shops were damaged and ten people died.

There was a lot of damage at Prinkipo in the Princess Islands.

Towns along the Bosphorus "Generally escaped without much damage." (The Graphic).

No English or Americans were reported killed.

See Istanbul: a brief seismic history

Images of the 1894 Istanbul earthquake from the Illustrazione Populare - Giornale per la Famiglie

The Graphic August 4, 1894

THE RESTAURANT AT THE GRAND BAZAAR

The Graphic August 4, 1894

THE RUE SARACHCHE

The Graphic August 4, 1894

See 1895-1896 and The Genocide

It was the Young Turks who later undertook the attempt to exterminate the Armenians.

The following three photos were taken from an article published by Scribners in 1909.

It appears that the "capture" was relatively easy but there was firing in Pera and Taksim, the section of the city were the Azarians lived.

According to the article many people fled the city.

In connection with Taxime (Taksim) it says:

"By the time I reached the vicinity of the Taxime artillery barracks, however, there were other reminders. I saw an iron shutter nearly perforated by dozens of small round holes. The windows of houses, in otherwise good repair, were riddled and broken. Walls were curiously pockmarked, and I saw a shell embedded in one."

Taxime = Taksim

April 27, 1909

The following images were taken from the Illustrated London News of May 8, 1909

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS MAY 8, 1909

1. Damage don to a private house by the fire of the Young Turk's army.

Tashkishla Barracks, after the bombardment

3. The damage done to a house by the bombardment.

4. The damaged Topdji Barracks

5. Sublime Porte after the Bombardment.

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS MAY 8, 1909

6. The Galata Bridge empty and in a state of siege for the first time.

7. Preventing passage of the Galata Bridge with a quick-fire

8. Taksim Barracks after the Bombardment

9. Cannon trained on the supporters of Abdul Hamid

10. English Tourists under the escort of the Young Turk soldiers

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS MAY 8, 1909

TRAMS AS AMBULANCES: PLACING MEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING ON A CAR

THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS MAY 8, 1909

ENVER BEY

" Enver Bey is the idol of the Young Turk party. He is young, handsome, and very particular about his appearance, having been described as the "most elegant officer of the Ottoman army." An admiring crowd follows him whereever he goes, with shouts of acclamation. His portrait... (and that of others) ... has been on sale in the streets of Constantinople .... as "heros of liberty."

* This information comes of the Internet where things can be repeated hundreds of thousands of times without a real reference.

2500 PRISONERS AND SPIES; THE ARMY OF SHAME

PASSING A GREAT TRENCH FRO THE DEAD: PRISONERS TAKEN BY THE YOUNG TURK ARMY BEING MARCHED OUT OF CONSTANTINOPLE

"The Young Turk forces took many prisoners. Witness this illustration of some two thousand five hundred soldiers being marched out of Constantinople to the rail-head, that they may be tried and their fate decided. Describing his sketch, our correspondent says: "some of the men walked four abreast: some six. They were divided into groups, according to their regiments. The sketch shows prisoners (soldiers of various regiments from the capital). The disloyal Salonica men, bound together, being in front. Many carried bundles, and almost all looked dejected and pitiable. They were marched past a hugh trench which men were in the act of digging for the bodies of those who were killed in Saturday's fight.The prisoners wore their uniforms."

"Aeroplani inglesi, durante un arditissimo raid, hanna bombardato Constantinopoli" (English airplanes, during a daring raid bombed Constantinople)

See Turkey in the First World War, Aviation

"The first air raid on Istanbul came on 12 April 1916, when two British aircrafts departing from Imbros dropped a total of 11 firebombs on the munitions plant in Zeytinburnu and on the aircraft hangars in Yesilkoy, as well as propaganda leaflets on the city itself. It was a small squadron, with limited armament capacity and apparently its aim was not inflict damage on the city, but to give the message that Istanbul was not untouchable."

Scutari is the section of Istanbul that is on the Asian side of the Bosporus.

Much of the merchandise in the shops in this bazaar was not from Turkey. There were a lot of objects from further east: Uzbeki suzanis, embroidered skull caps, various ikat items and Indian wooden containers. Most of the artifacts were lovely but I was supprised that there was so little that was actually Turkish.

In the distance are several of the high new rise buildings that are changing the skyline of the city. On the right and barely visible is the first of two bridges that span the Bosporus from Europe to Asia.

We were told that real estate in Istanbul was very expensive. There were many buildings all over the city (like the one in this image and the next image) that where open to the elements with no apparent new construction going on.

Ther are attempts to perserve the old historic buildings. However, many of them are razed to make way for cement high rises.

In August 2009 Robing Lorsch Wildfang wrote that she was working on a book of letters written in the "1880s from Constantinople to Germany by my great grandmother who was working as a governess for a German Jewish family living in Pera (Constantinople)."

Robin has graciously shared these two letters:

My dear parents!

So, let me start my "book." In order, so first, Stamboul with its bazaar. I will begin today, Sunday, so that I will be able to finish. Last Monday at 2 o'clock, Herr W. came to pick me and Frau Trb. up. Willie had no school, but I said that I would come back right away, that I had to take care of something. So, nobody in the house knew where we were going and that I would be in company. We took the tramway to Galata and then went by foot across the great bridge to Stamboul, which is only a short distance. The view is magnificent; the wide sea, the many boats, and the view are really enchanting. Having arrived in Stamboul, we rode in a carriage to the bazaar, which is quite a distance. Herr Waiß explained all of the buildings to me in detail. I looked up toward the "Sublime Porte."

We were completely amazed by the bazaar, which as I said, is a small city in which one can easily get lost. There I saw real Turkish types crouching on their rugs. One can buy everything there from A to Z. We were looking for Turkish embroideries, which are magnificent. You, Mama, will have seen some in Frau Herz's home. After we had wandered from one seller to another, we made our purchases to our satisfaction. Herr W. treated us to "malibi," a very delicious Turkish dish. e had already drunk coffee which we bought from a seller, and which one gets served here with water, the same as outside, i.e., Turkish coffee of course, but delicate. Then we went outside again into the fresh air, at my request, so that I could see better and because the weather was magnificent, we walked on foot through the city, which is very beautiful. I had imagined a few streets and dirt, and I was all the more amazed by all the great plazas, streets, and buildings. Herr W. showed me everything, again with explanations. The churchyards in the middle of the city are very beautiful; they make such a peaceful impression, but unfortunately we couldn't enter a mosque or anything else because our time was too short. So, we took another wagon and rode to the bridge, which we crossed on foot. On the other side, we took a carriage back to Pera. I arrived home at 5:30, and Madame paid another congratulatory visit. I will think back on this afternoon for a long time; I was completely dumb with amazement!!

25 april 1886

Dear Mama,

This week you will be busy with the children at home. We haven't been able to enjoy the vacation up to today as we had planned. The first free afternoon was nice, but Frau T. had callers, who couldn't be put off, till late afternoon so that it was 5 o'clock, and we didn't want to give up our project. So we went to the Golden Horn. It was rather cool already, so we made a round trip and didn't get off along the other shore. In the Golden Horn lie the battleships, enormous, beautiful ships.

Thursday was piano lessons. On Good Friday, Frau Traub had her last 'at home' for this year. After Easter you don't entertain any more. I went for a walk with the children. You just can't imagine the crowds in the streets. All going to church. This year Easter was the same day for all nationalities. Greeks, Russians, Catholics, Protestants, Jews (sic) and Armenians. Besides it was Turkish Sabbath and this alone would be enough to fill the streets. In a narrow place on the main street the crowd was so dense there was danger of being trampled. Yesterday the weather cleared, and we had a nice afternoon. We went to the Sweet Waters of Europe. The water is a small river which strangely enough contains sweet water though it is a part of the salt sea. On a Friday for instance you can't get through the crowd because the Turkish harems are there. You can get there by land or water. The Sultan has a small palace in this valley, sheep and horses, etc. On the whole it is very idealistic. We bought oranges and coffee and went back home.

Today is Easter Sunday and we had to stay at home. It is a custom and a bad one to celebrate the resurrection of Christ with as much noise as possible by shooting. Tonight we couldn't sleep. During the day you were scared every moment because in spite of police law and patrolling of the streets, there was pistol shooting from all sides. What do you think? Across the street on the street were 10 soldiers as guards. The men seemed bored and all of a sudden they themselves started to shoot rifles. This in a public square! Mr. Traub was right to be afraid that something might happen and the children played at home and I took my book.

In November 2010 Jeanette Rosenberg wrote that she was related to the Traub family and to share this interesting web page Ken Kronenberg's Website, Looking for Signs of Life in Old Letters

"The main street of Constantinople is the Grande Rue de Pera. I went into it first at night; there were but few shops open, a few men sitting on their chairs outside of the cafes, a few passers. Heaps of refuse lay in the gutters, dogs nosed into the refuse, dogs lay asleep in all the holes and jags of the pavement. As I passed, a strange dog was being led in leash through their midst, and a howling began which was caught up and continued along the street; dog after dog got up slowly and began to bark; there was a dense, uninterrupted noise, which I soon came to know as the unresting, inarticulate voice of the city.

Earlier in the evening, at the six-o'clock promenade, the Grand Rue de Pera is filled with people. There are a few Turks sitting at the cafes, tranquilly, with their cigarettes, watching the passers; poor men sit at the street corners, sweating and idle; hamals pass staggering under burdens, grape-sellers weighed down with deep hampers of grapes; tawdry shops are open, with dark young men lounging in the doorways; the red fez passers, with distrustful, disdainful, anxious eyes under it; but for the most part, in this crush and tangle of races, each elbowing the other in the slime of the street and against the shoulders of the trotting tram-horse, it is the European that one sees, — the Levantine, the Greek, the Armenian; women and girls, dark with profound eyes and empty faces, tightened into their smart dresses, walking slowly, cynically, with their free, hard roving eyes; young girls with superb hair and finely cut mouths, and neat, small firm figures; men with handsome, deceitful faces, odiously regular and lustrous; a slow, steady passing, uncomfortable and continuous."

By Arthur Symons

Constantinople: an Impression, Harpers, 1903