The Bosphorus
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Photo: Hayri Çalışkan
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During the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires small settlements appeared along both shores. Sultans and Pashas built their palaces, pavilions and yalıs (a Greek word meaning coast and used for water-front residences in Turkish) along the Bosphorus. Stone buildings such as Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi Palace,and Küçüksu Pavilion gave the Bosphorus its final outlook of "incomparable beauty".
Such beauty obviously has many legends. One of these is: In mythology Io was seduced by Zeus (God of Gods). Io changed into a milk-white heifer to protect himself from the rage and jealousy of his wife Hera. However Hera senses the situation and sent a gadfly which drove Io from land to land, and he crossed the strait between Asia and Europe, hence its name, "Bosphorous". "Bous": cow, "Phoros": ford.
Along both shores are many palaces, pavilions, ancient ruins, traditional red brick, milk white, and pink yalı's (waterfront houses) and beautiful forested areas. The beauty of the buildings embellishing the shores are highlighted by lovely greenery around them and hence make for delightful viewing. A wonderful cruise will provide unforgettable memories as will a simple tourist ferry departing from Eminonu. As the ferry passes the shore, at times you will be so close to the yalıs that if you look hard you might see the occupants through the curtains lightly blown by the breeze, as they sip their coffee and read the newspapers. Sundays are popular time for ferry rides so be at least 1 hour early if you want a place on board.