İstanbul is synonymous with history and cultural landmarks, but it also has colourful gardens and forests to enjoy a spot of nature in the city.
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00:00Istanbul is a sprawling metropolis with stunning historical and cultural landmarks, but there's
00:11a quiet side where you can get lost on trails surrounded by greenery, escape the noise of
00:16city life and leave behind the hustle and bustle.
00:26One of the greenest places in Istanbul is the Belgrade Forest where I've chosen to start
00:31my day with a run. It's located in the northwest neighborhood of Sarıyer and it's a 5,500 hectare
00:37protected forest full of oak, beech and chestnut trees. Hiking, biking, nature walks and running
00:44are all options for a fun day out in the so-called lands of Istanbul. Here it's common to come
00:50across groups of people training. There are several trails and tracks with workout equipment
01:15along the way. You can spend hours wandering around and appreciating the beauty of nature.
01:20The Belgrade Forest is just one of the many green areas of the city on the Bosphorus.
01:27Istanbul's most enchanting gardens are transformed by spring with a fresh vitality that breathes
01:33life into every corner. That's the case at Emirlean Park. At 325,000 square meters it's
01:41one of the largest urban parks in the city. Every April it hosts the Tulip Festival where you can
01:48see the blooming varieties of tulips in different patterns. People come here to stroll, take pictures
01:54or just have a picnic. Another location that you can't miss is the Ildiz Park, a beautiful garden
02:01complex set in a very large park of plants, trees and flowers where you can enjoy stunning panoramic
02:07views of the Bosphorus. For those who want to escape the city noise, Prince's Islands, an
02:14archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, is just a short ferry ride from the heart of
02:20Istanbul. In Büyükkada, nostalgia greets you on the historic pier and the refreshing air promises
02:26a rejuvenating getaway. This island, the biggest one in the archipelago, welcomes you with its
02:31frozen-in-time atmosphere. Here fuel-consuming vehicles are banned but you can explore its
02:36picturesque streets by electric bus, bicycle or on foot. Walking in its quiet streets feels like
02:44being transported to a different world. What's inherently special to all of these islands is they
02:50have this incredible cultural and historical heritage as well as the exceptional fauna and
02:56flora that we very much enjoy. During the Ottoman Empire, Büyükkada became a summer retreat for the
03:02wealthy Istanbulites, evidenced by its numerous ornate Victorian-style mansions. You can see
03:08buildings from all different particular architectural periods. It's like an open-air
03:12architectural museum. Of course we have beautiful beaches as well, beautiful courses where people
03:17can run or bike, so it's just a little heaven in itself. After a long uphill walk to the
03:25Aya Yorgi Church, you can admire the magnificence of Istanbul in the distance.
03:35Before I leave this place where time has stood still, there is something I want to do.
03:39Have a real Turkish coffee and learn how to make it. Turkish coffee, which was invented in the 16th
03:45century during the Ottoman Empire, is considered one of the world's oldest coffee brewing methods.
03:51In 2013, UNESCO recognized this deeply-rooted tradition as an intangible cultural heritage of
03:57humanity. Turkish coffee comes from Yemen, its stems are separated and finely ground.
04:07Ground coffee and water are combined in a cezve, a small copper pot. The most important thing
04:14is to heat the mixture slowly until it's hot but not boiling. To do so, you place the cezve
04:21in a pan filled with hot sand. The sand takes total control of the heat to create the coffee's
04:30signature foam. This is quite good. It's essential to sever this coffee slowly as it embodies the
04:41spirit of hospitality and leisure. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to
04:49reconnect with nature and to discover traditions in the incredible city of Istanbul. Görüşürüz!