An afternoon spent in Ortakoy enjoying the Bosphorus from a waterside cafe is a relaxing and rewarding way to catch a glimpse of Istanbul. Wandering through the narrow old streets of a thriving and fashionable town will provide an opportunity to acquire knick-knacks from the local curio shops or outside table vendors, and more substantial "souvenir antiques" too. Numerous cafes and bars offer plenty of choice of different atmospheres to relax in, whether your preference be for rock & roll environments, Latin American surroundings or typical Turkish tea houses. There you will also find a magnificent mosque represented in conic columns and decorative porticos, a synagogue, churches and several ancient but dilapidated buildings which appear to date from Byzantium times, standing amidst clusters of stucco or wooden houses typical of a bygone era.
