Princes' Isles

Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin - Green Bay

Kinali Ada

	The Princes' Isles, or simply Adalar ("islands" in Turkish) are a group of islands in the Sea of Marmara. They are a popular day trip destination. Kinali Ada is the northernmost of the islands
	This church is said to have been built in 842, but the restoration has been so thorough that most of the old masonry is covered.
	Left: Harbor at Kinali Ada Below: views of the island

On the Ferry

	Meybeli Ada is the third of the four islands
	Looking past Meybeli Ada to Buyuk Ada, the southernmost and largest island.
	Looking astern toward Kinali Ada

Buyuk Ada (Big Island)

Buyuk Ada simply means "Big Island" in Turkish
	Street scenes on Buyuk Ada. There are no cars, just horse-drawn carriages.
	Sunset views. Just before sunset, without a sound, everybody came out on the streets for an evening stroll. One moment the streets were nearly empty, the next they were thronged.

I have one memory of this trip that has stayed with me. It was well after dark when the ferry got back to Istanbul. Sitting across from me was a couple in their thirties. The man was stocky and working class, the woman had a homely but kind face. In between them was a little boy about six years old, dozing off but still clutching a balloon from the day's adventure. They weren't rich but they looked happy. You could tell they loved each other.

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Created 19 December 2003, Last Update 24 May 2020