Earlier this year Turkish Airlines or Turk Hava Yollari had started their flights directly from Mumbai to Istanbul and that was great news for the Indian travellers who could now in mere 6 hrs 30 minutes reach directly from Mumbai into Istanbul and into the country known as the Cradle of Civilization. We at Compact Travels were promoting the F1 Grand Prix in Istanbul and to get a first hand experience, I planned a visit to Istanbul to see the second edition of Grand Prix being held in Istanbul which was scheduled between 25th and 27th August 2006. Along with me were a reporter and a photographer of a leading TV news agency who were hosted by Compact Travels to see the F1 and experience first hand the only city in the world which lies in two continents.

Turkish Airlines flies out of Mumbai three times a week which is Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and we took the flight on Saturday, 26th August 2006 from Mumbai at 0455 hours arriving at Istanbul at 0845 hours. The advantage of the morning flight is that you can conveniently connect from Istanbul to other cities within Turkey as well as to various cities in Europe as well as to cities across the Atlantic in the North American Continent.

On arrival in Istanbul, we first had some fine Turkish breakfast at Tamara restaurant which was very close to the Bulvar Palas Hotel where we would be staying until Tuesday after which I would be heading to explore the other places in Turkey whereas my colleagues would head back to Mumbai. Istanbul is a city which lies in two continents - Asia and Europe although the city is comprising of three parts - the European side has the Historical Peninsula to the south of the Golden Horn and the Galata district to the north and then there is the New City on the Asian side. After breakfast and checking in at the hotel, we assembled once again at around 1.00 pm as all of us were eager to witness the qualifying session which was scheduled at around 1400 hours to decide on who would take the Pole Position on Race day. This was the 14th Grand Prix race of the year and though Alonso was leading and so was Renault for the Constructors' Table with both Schumacher and Ferrari in second place, it was indeed a crucial race for Ferrari as well as Schumacher to reduce the gap between Schumacher and Alonso and likewise for Ferrari to reduce the gap with Renault.

Istanbul is a fascinating city to hold such a prestigious event like Formula 1. With a population of over 12 million, the city has a growing history of motor sports after its inaugural event which was held in 2005. Not only for the locals, but visitors to Istanbul can combine the three days of F1 with an extension to see some other fascinating cities in Turkey. Istanbul is an excellent blend of the old and the new with its domes and minarets which dominates the old city and takes you back in time to the days of the Ottoman Empire and Constantinople. The modern city is bustling with activity and you find bars, clubs, shops, cafes and one of the areas which is there to explore wholenight is Taksim Square where you can enjoy fine cuisine and night life as well.

Coming back to the track at Istanbul, whether it's the organizers or the drivers or sponsors, they all agree that the Istanbul Park circuit is undoubtedly one of the best tracks in the world. The 5.378 kilometre track is only the third track after Imola in San Marino and Interlagos in Brazil which goes in the anti-clockwise direction which makes the Istanbul circuit all the more exciting. The circuit has a seating capacity of 130000 but on Race Day it appeared as if there were as many as 200000 people. You could just see a sea of people getting out of the Park and it was an experience that can be truly unmatched to what you see on television. So all you F1 fans, if ever you want to see one of the finest sporting events in spectacular environment, Istanbul is the place to be in.

The only flip side was the scorching heat and I remember on race day the temperature touched 40 degrees. However, there are several activities around the circuit which can help you keep your cool - you can gulp a couple of beers or soft drinks, take a picture in one of the finest cars on display wearing a helmet and posing like a F1 driver or carry home souvenirs of your favourite teams from one of the several merchandise shops. Why not try a Virtual Reality F1 experience or send a video to your families and friends from one of the swanky car stands as if you are reporting live from the F1 circuit. For kids too you can ride something similar to a quad bike or play a few games or enjoy the ambience of 22 cars racing on the circuit at 300 to 330 km/hr.

And to unwind after the race you can experience a Turkish night and see a cultural show or fine belly dancing or even be surprised at some of the talented Turkish singers who sing a few songs in Hindi besides more than 8 to 10 other languages to make you feel at home. Combine it with some fine Turkish cuisine and gulp down a couple of rake which you have to be a little careful and take in a few sips at a time. It may also be a good idea to experience Hamam or the Turkish Bath which is a rejuvenating experience especially at the end of a very hot summer day.

Coming back to the race itself, it was Day 2 and we had missed the practice sessions on Day 1 and we took a longer rest at the Hotel before heading to the Istanbul Park which lies on the south which is on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. We did not expect such heavy traffic heading south and it appeared as if the entire city or probably most of Turkey was heading to the Istanbul Park and we just about reached in time to see the last segment of the Qualifying Session. We were sitting in Tribune 8 Silver which is a good stand as it gives you a very good view of the last curve as well as the start and end of the race. We could also see the Paddock from a distance and whilst entering the Istanbul Park area itself we could hear the roaring of the engines from quite a distance. The arrangements were exceptional - whether it was the security or the shuttle service to take you to the different parts of the Park. The grandstand seats are plentiful and seats are divided as per pricing into the bronze, silver and gold price brackets.

The Pole positions 1 and 2 were taken by Ferrari with Felipe Massa in 1 and Michael Schumacher at No 2 followed by Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella of Renault in 3 and 4 respectively. So it was all set for the Race Day on Sunday for the top two teams and top 2 players of each team to compete and we all were eagerly looking forward to see the outcome on the following day of the eventual winner of the Turkish Grand Prix at the end of the 58 laps of the race. After having seen the GP2 which comprised of 34 laps we headed back to the hotel and I decided to get hold of a pair of ear plugs on the following day when the engines would roar louder being the Race Day.

Whilst sharing information with those present at the circuit, we got to know that we missed out on history being made on Day 1 when Sebastian Vettel of BMW became the youngest ever driver to compete in an official Formula 1 session at the age of 19 years when he participated in the First Practice Session. And during the Second Practice Session Vettel recorded the best time which augurs well for him in future Formula 1 events especially when a champion like Michael Schumacher retired at the end of 2006 season. For BMW it was Nick Heidfeld of Germany and Robert Kubica of Poland who eventually took Pole Positions at No 5 and No 8 respectively.

That evening, although we were exhausted after an early morning flight and then a long drive to Istanbul Park especially with the traffic we wanted to experience some night life and we headed to Taksim area which is the place to be especially to try out some Turkish cuisine. We were recommended to visit Hala which is located in the Taksim area on Istiklal Caddesi in the Beyoglu area of Taksim. Beyoglu is the district on the north bank of the Golden Horn and Istiklal Caddesi which means Independence Avenue is in the heart of Beyoglu and is a very modern district where you will find many people even in the wee hours of the night strolling, shopping and snacking in this region. This area is exclusively reserved for pedestrians and comprises of boutiques, restaurants, cafes and galleries and the higher level of the buildings have residential flats. This avenue begins at the Taksim Square which is the main hub of modern Istanbul and on visiting this area especially late in the evening you wouldn't be surprised why Istanbul or rather Constantinople was called the Paris of the East by the 19th Century travellers.

The Taksim Square is one of the busiest areas of Istanbul and on walking this street a couple of hours can just fly by as if you have been here for a few minutes. Hala is one of the many restaurants in this area and on one side of the restaurant you will find a man calling out in Turkish to come and try the hand made Turkish Ice cream whereas on the other side you have a native woman in front of the window rolling out thin dough, something similar to our open tandoor restaurants that you find here in Mumbai. You can try out manti which is the Turkish ravioli served with a local yogurt sauce or even some of the kebabs that they serve and you would not miss your Indian food. The food served here is so good and the quantity is enormous as well and more importantly it offers great value for money. We liked the food so much that the following evening we were once again at Hala trying out some of the dishes that we missed out during the previous night and each one of us relished the Turkish food served to us and I would highly recommend Hala for anyone wanting to experience good Turkish cuisine.

After a long and exhausting day we returned back to the hotel although we would have loved to spend some more time at Taksim Square.  It was Sunday, day 2 for us at the Istanbul Park and Race Day and unlike the previous day we did not want to be stuck in traffic and we left immediately after breakfast. To our pleasant surprise we reached in less than an hour and we spend some time in the morning to visit a few merchandise stalls. It was a complete festive environment with a band singing away, some of the finest sports cars on display and there were lot of picture and souvenir collection opportunities. There were several events lined up before the big race which was scheduled to start at 1500 hours. There was the VW Polo Ladies of 8 laps, followed by the GP2 race of 23 laps which is an ideal platform for some of the drivers to showcase their talent to move up to the F1 circuit.

Later, there was the Driver's Track Parade at around 1330 hours and all the 22 participants who would later be competing with one another for the F1 Grand Prix went around the circuit waving at their fans who greeted them with thundering applause and finally the F1 Race was flagged off at 1500 hours to cover 58 laps of the circuit. Felipe Massa who had taken Pole Position came out a winner followed by Fernando Alonso at 2nd and not too far behind in third position was Michael Schumacher. Even though the fastest lap was recorded by Michael Schumacher, it was after the pit stop that Schumacher took that Alonso got the opportunity to take the lead and pipped Schumacher at the post for the no 2 spot. Coincidentally, the results for the F1 at Interlagos in Brazil for the No 1 and 2 positions were similar to the one at Istanbul with Felipe Massa of Ferrari winning and Alonso in 2nd position and Schumacher losing the third position at Interlagos to Jenson Button of Honda by about 5 seconds. Last year's winner Kimi Räikkõnen of Finland racing for McLaren Mercedes had to retire in the first lap itself due to an accident. Eventually it was in Japan that Fernando Alonso took the winning lead for the Driver's Championship in 2006 as well as ensuring that Renault won the Constructor's Championship in 2006 and the Brazilian Grand Prix was a mere formality especially as Alonso finished at the No 2 position ahead of Schumacher.

It was my first F1 experience and I must say that seeing the F1 live is truly a must and there is no better place to experience the F1 than Istanbul especially for Indian fans as it is in close proximity to India and the closest anti-clockwise circuit. Importantly, it gives also gives you the opportunity to explore a wonderful city like Istanbul - the only city in two continents as well as the country which is surrounded by the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Napolean once said, if there is one state in the world, Istanbul would be the capital of it and truly so due to its strategic location and being a city extremely rich in history and civilization. Firstly, it was ruled by the Greek Byzas who discovered the place known as Byzantium in 667 BC, thereafter it became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC and later the name was changed to Constaninople when Constantine became Emperor in 324 AD. Later it was conquered in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet II and was then called Istanbul. Over the years, the Christians, Muslims and Jews have lived in harmony and created a city rich in culture and architecture - one that is marvelled and remains one of the wonders of the world.

Amongst the greatest sights in Istanbul include the Haghia Sophia Museum, one of the world's greatest building; the Blue Mosque which is believed to have been built by the same stonemasons who helped build the Taj Mahal in Agra; the Topkapi Palace which was the official residence of the Sultans for over 400 years and contains several precious objects in its treasure room and a trip to Istanbul would be incomplete without taking a cruise along the Bosphorus and moving from Asia into Europe and vice versa. There is also the Sülemaniye Mosque and the Dolmabahçe Palace which are also worth visiting. It would be ideal to spend atleast a week in Istanbul as you can also see the Galata Tower, visit the Grand Bazaar as well as Spice Bazaar and experience the interesting sights and sounds of this beautiful city. The advantage of flying Turkish Airlines is that if you are flying onward to Europe or North America, it would be a great idea to take a 3 to 4 days stopover in Istanbul whilst flying west or even a stopover on your way back to India.

So whether it is London, Paris, Berlin, Prague or Athens, you can conveniently combine any one or more cities along with Istanbul and Compact Travels offers unique “twin city” packages with convenient flight connections on Turkish Airlines. And to get the true cultural experience of Turkey you must enjoy fine Turkish cuisine with a cultural show including belly dancing which brings in the true flavour of this wonderful country. The show which comprises of over 90 minutes displays some of the fine forklore dances as well as belly dancing and to keep you involved you are invited on stage to dance with the performers and carry home pleasant memories. You also have a good blend of cross cultures especially if the group that you travel comprise of several nationalities and we had one of the greatest experiences.

During my visit, not only did I witness the F1 but also the Superleague match between home favourities Galatasaray playing with Gaziantepspor at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul. Founded in 1905, Galatasaray is the oldest and most successful club in Turkey and seeing the home support that Galatasaray got, it was a mind boggling experience to be in the midst of over 25000 spectators and a packed stadium to witness one of the exciting games of the Super league encounter which ended eventually in 2-2. If you are in Istanbul and a football fan, I strongly recommend you to find out during your visit whether Galatasaray is playing in Istanbul and you will have one of the most memorable experiences witnessing one of the most popular teams of football in Turkey. Football is huge in Turkey and Turkey is one of the better teams of this high paced sport. We at Compact Travels, besides offering F1 also organized packages to see the UEFA Champions League match in December between Galatasaray and Liverpool and I am sure whether it would have been the Liverpool fans who are no less vocal in their support or the Galatasaray fans it would have been one of the finest spectator events to witness at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul which is the largest stadium on the outskirts of Istanbul with a seating capacity of 75000 spectators. In our next issue we will be highlighting the interesting sounds and flavours of Istanbul- a truly vibrant city.

Answers to Know Kutná Hora Contest ( October 2006) are