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Guides
of Istanbul specializes in custom-made private tours
in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey for individuals and groups. Established in
2005, Guides of Istanbul has earned an excellent reputation
and proudly become Turkey's preferred and recommended
private tour
operator in a short time.
With the completely personalized services of
Guides of Istanbul that pay attention to every detail, the guests not
only visit the historic sites of Istanbul with the most
distinguished guides of the city, but they also experience
an Istanbul most tourists never can. The guests of Guides
of Istanbul enjoy their stay like upper-class
Istanbulians do visiting the historic sites as well as the non-touristic but incredibly beautiful
districts of the glorious Istanbul.
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 Info about
Hakan Gurger, Owner & Managing Director of Guides of Istanbul:
Hakan
Gurger studied Political Science at Northwestern University
(Evanston, IL, USA). He speaks Turkish, English, German, Italian,
Spanish and is learning French. During his last two years in college he took
many History courses and has since then read numerous books in this
field. Hakan specializes in Ottoman History, History of Modern
Turkish Republic and Ataturk's Reforms and European History. He
recently began studying Roman History thoroughly. He finds the
connections between the Western Roman, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine)
and the Ottoman Empires especially astonishing with an emphasis on
Constantinople or Istanbul.
Besides History,
Hakan has been interested in such rich subjects as Architecture of
Istanbul, Religions and Temples of Istanbul and Turkish Cuisine.
Although Hakan loves to share his knowledge with others around him,
he asserts that the only thing he knows for sure is that he knows
nothing. Each book he read raised more questions than giving answers
and caused Hakan to read many more books on any topic. Hakan
believes that in the Realm of History, the given answers always
depend on points of view,
thus making it impossible to reach a conclusion agreed by everyone.
Istanbul is an
excellent place to raise questions:
Was the Fall of Constantinople a dark day as it was for the Romans?
Or was the capture of Istanbul a glorious event as it was for the
Turks?
Was Justinian a heroic Emperor having made conquests rivaling those
of Alexander the Great and having built one of the masterpieces of
the Christian world?
Or was he a ruthless dictator having killed 30,000 people?
Was Suleyman the Magnificent the most powerful king of his time
ruling over vast territories in three continents? Or was he a
romantic poet who praised love and good health and wrote beatiful
prose for his wife Roxelana?
Were the Venetians efficient and pragmatic merchants who frequently
bought products in Istanbul and sold them back at home? Or were they
cruel invaders who destroyed the entire Constantinople in 1261?
Hakan does not
have answers to these questions. But sometimes the question itself
can be more beautiful, more real or more important than even the
best possible answer. Therefore, Hakan invites you to ask questions
with him and furthermore, to think, to imagine and to dream with
him.. in Istanbul of course.. in the most beautiful city of the
world.. where else could it be?
Hakan lives in
Istanbul but travels extensively in other parts of Turkey as well as
in other European countries, mainly Italy. |
