Beyoglu, Istanbul: Little Street Kids Hanging Out the Nostalgic Tram on Istiklal Avenue
If you plan to visit Istanbul, there are 2 places to stay, either in the district of Fatih (this is the old city) or in Beyoglu (where the shopping and nightlife happening is). I booked a hotel in Beyoglu because I didn’t want to be caught walking around in an empty street at night in Fatih. When twilight beckons and Fatih shuts down, Beyoglu is where everyone, locals and tourists alike go to.
You can see in the map below where Beyoglu is. The heart of Beyoglu is Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddessi (this is a pedestrian zone street).
Only the Nostalgic tram runs on Istiklal which plies between Taksim Square and Tunel. There are two heritage tramlines in Istanbul: 1) Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway in the European side and 2) Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway in the Asian side. The trams remind me of the ones still running in Lisbon and Porto.
On a Saturday evening (perhaps they do this regularly?) they run the Taksim-Tunel Nostalgic tram with a live band act tagging along. They literally attach an extra open tram serving as its stage for the live band. They rock and roll as they entertain the amazed public with a moving concert on Istiklal Street. This was the first time I have seen something like this. I have to admit that it was really cool =)
During the day, street children enjoy getting the kick out of joy riding and hanging out the tram as well. I was horrified when I first saw this! But it seemed however so normal for everyone? Nobody really seemed to care much or thought it was dangerous for the little kids to be hanging out of the moving tram.
Maybe because they are street children? That they are anyway used to the rough life of living on the streets? It’s a bit sad methinks.
What are your thoughts?
Travel Period: May 2015
Destination: Beyoglu, Istanbul (Marmara), Turkey
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Istiklal Street is always packed.
You can see in the map below where Beyoglu is. The heart of Beyoglu is Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddessi (this is a pedestrian zone street).
Only the Nostalgic tram runs on Istiklal which plies between Taksim Square and Tunel. There are two heritage tramlines in Istanbul: 1) Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway in the European side and 2) Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway in the Asian side. The trams remind me of the ones still running in Lisbon and Porto.
On a Saturday evening (perhaps they do this regularly?) they run the Taksim-Tunel Nostalgic tram with a live band act tagging along. They literally attach an extra open tram serving as its stage for the live band. They rock and roll as they entertain the amazed public with a moving concert on Istiklal Street. This was the first time I have seen something like this. I have to admit that it was really cool =)
During the day, street children enjoy getting the kick out of joy riding and hanging out the tram as well. I was horrified when I first saw this! But it seemed however so normal for everyone? Nobody really seemed to care much or thought it was dangerous for the little kids to be hanging out of the moving tram.
Maybe because they are street children? That they are anyway used to the rough life of living on the streets? It’s a bit sad methinks.
What are your thoughts?
This is a moving tram and just look at those street kids hanging out the tram.
They are very, very young kids. Perhaps 2-4 years old? You might be wondering where the mother is. Perhaps down the street begging for money on the corner.
This is the only motorised vehicle that is allowed to run on Istiklal. You can see on the second picture the live band act.
Travel Period: May 2015
Destination: Beyoglu, Istanbul (Marmara), Turkey
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
