East Meets West
Istanbul is a big city in Turkey. Istanbul is one of the world’s special cities because of its location between Europe and Asia. The western part of the city is in Europe, and the eastern part is in Asia. Many people say Istanbul is a bridge between Europe and Asia.
Because of its unusual location, the people and culture of Istanbul are also an interesting mix of East and West. In art, music, and even fashion, the people of Istanbul have a style all their own. A A walk around one of Istanbul’s many markets is usually quite a surprise for many tourists. At these crowded, colorful markets, tourists can buy anything from carpets to spices.
Istanbul is a great city to visit any time of the year. B The city has a mild climate with four very different seasons. Some months are cold and some are warm, but the temperatures in Istanbul are not too extreme.
In April and May, Istanbul has a cool spring. C From September to December, fall is a beautiful time to see the city – although it sometimes rains. In winter, between December and March, it is often cold. You might even see snow in the city. D
Istanbul is a modern city and many people in Istanbul are multilingual. In addition to Turkish, many people speak English and other languages. So traveling around is not too difficult, even if you don’t speak Turkish.