IT is sightseeing

In September we organized our quarterly IT directors meeting. This time in Germany, Meerbusch nearby Düsseldorf. We decided to walk from our luxuous hotel to the diner location. It appeared to be a longer walk than our host estimated (1,5 hours). The result however was rewarding: we had diner in the famous tower that has a top that spins around.

In the same month, all directors of our company were invited in Istanbul for our annual meeting. Off course we visited the many ancient Turkish sites where history began. Istanbul is a city of wonders far exceeding what words can tell. A famous myth explains very precisely the unmatched location of Istanbul : Commander Byzas, who gave his name to the empire to be later called as Byzantine, sets off to sail to build a new colony from where Greece is located today. During the long voyage and his searches, he goes to an oracle for advice. The oracle makes this prediction: “You are going to build your city right opposite of the land of the blinds!” Continuing his voyage, Byzas reaches to the banks of Sarayburnu, the Istanbul of today. When he sees this protected peninsula, he thinks that it is just the place that he was looking for; meanwhile he notices the area of residence on the opposite side (Kadıköy at present). Byzas decides that the people who, given the excellent area of residence right before them, do not prefer to reside there are blind. And since it also coincides with the prediction, he builds his colony on this land without hesitation…

Although thousands of years have passed, Istanbul still maintains its geographical importance. Today Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, religions and being home to eleven million people; and one of the greatest business and cultural center of the regio. The last nigh we visited Club Reina, it so happened that the people from the Dutch Quote Challenge arrived in Istanbul at the same night. Together we partied on until early in the morning.