About an hour by ferry ride from Istanbul (though technically still within the city limits) lies the chain of islands known as the Princess Islands. I have previously posted about the largest one, Büyük Ada and one of the smaller, rarely-visited ones, Sedef Adası. This year, after many times of passing by them, I have visited two of the other main islands in the group, Burgazada and Heybeliada.
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| Burgazada, from as seen from Heybeliada |
Like Buyuk Ada, these two also have old Greek Orthodox churches or monasteries on them. On Heybeliada, there are supposed to be many old unexamined manuscripts of Christian writings and Scriptures in the library. Anyways, on the recommendation of a friend, I visited Burgazada on a day early in the summer when I needed a chance for quiet. I wandered through the wooded areas, finding my way to the top using paths instead of the main road. You can see my approximation of the path I followed in the picture below.
Burgazada
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| on Burgazada |
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| Through the open window, looking into the chapel on top of Burgazada |
Heybeliada
Now as a family, we have visited Heybeliada and thoroughly enjoyed exploring it, its lovely national forest, and the quiet streets.
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| with the little buddy, watching the boats and the water |
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| Istanbul, in the distance - panoramic from Heybeliada |
In the Orthodox cemetery on Burgazada, there were a variety of interesting headstones: names that seemed to be a mix of German and Turkish (Ingrid Stiedl Ülker), headstones with German, Greek and possibly English on them; and some weren't even really accessible.
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Christina K Koymake ??? 2 March 1890
Aomnika D Maypake ??? 6 October1881 |
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| from 1946 |
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| Ingrid Ulker (1949-1990) |
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| Rene Glaser (1927-1947) |
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| Franz Muhlbauer 1928-1992 |
With my interest in family history, hidden cemeteries and their possible histories always interest me.
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