On a walk the other day, I ventured north from my apartment along the seaside road - what might have been a routine walk gave way to a secret in the city. OK, not really a secret, but it seemed so tucked away and unexpected, this park. The entrance was gated by a big brick wall which span all around the park. The entrance has an attendant, to collect money from cars that wanted to drive through, though cars seemed scarce. The park was full of kids playing on the swing sets and running around and well-manicured flower beds. There were a few historic houses turned banquet halls, now government owned. Right in the middle of the park was a large fountain and lake with ducks. There were a few kinds of ducks – black, white, and black and white and a few mallard-looking mutts. From the top of the hill I was able to see out to the Bosporus. A stark contrast to the busy street I had walked to get here.