Balat

Balat is a neighborhood in İstanbul near the Golden Horn that was once completely inhabited by Greeks and shortly after by Jewish immigrants. 

A high school built by the Greeks in 1881, the same year Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born.

Two of my dearest students, Ömer and Adem followed by a thankful French tourist who we picked up along the way.

teach English in a different country.. cannot tell you enough how cool it is.

These pictures are from the center of Balat on the top of a great hill.  İt is kind of interesting how this place was once Greek Orthodox and later Jewish only to now become the place of many conservative Muslims.

Turkish people intermingling with Kazaks.

He shot me with his toy gun about eleven times after this photo was taken :)

Efendim Hacı!  Kilise nerede?