Hello, 👋 Istanbul 🇹🇷
A walk down memory lane
A city I’ve never been, but once you land there it sure does feel magical although chaotically to say the least. Somehow this chaos simply works. From the beautiful Bosphorus sea, the historical Grand Bazaar,Turkish tea’s and what feels like a ride on Aladdin’s’ magical Turkish carpet (in my opinion, the amount of stairs and hills could have inspired that story). Through the secret alley ways with untold stories as old as days — this is Istanbul Turkey and so much more… Plus apparently plastic surgery. (Men hair growth I think I’ve seen my fair share of that)
This city is probably mostly known for it’s history. You can see the influence from that period and mentality of the local people — they thrive in hustling, doing business and being very friendly! Although I found the geography very unique. The only country that lies on two different continents one in Asia and European side. Which you travel mostly by Ferries or if you feel like it an underwater metro. (Yes there is a bridge but for this city that’s overrated).
A well connected city from walking for the fit, trams and trains for a European feel, busses and even a funicular. The taxi system however is not your first option you will end up paying double at some point — I told you they are hustlers. (To our annoyance but gotta give it to them) This city you can both gain and lose weight. From indulging in their unique and unbelievable sweet delicacies and lose weight by walking all them stairs…I mean STAIRS for days.
In the beginning….
We headed to Turkey from Tbilisi, Georgia with a bitter sweetness of the long lasting friendships we have made. On our last days we had the best Churro’s to star our planning with our first nomad friends and so much in between that words cannot describe. The Tbilisi feeling will always be real.
With much anticipation to this hyped up city we also knew we were meeting up with our fellow nomad friends for a month of Turkish exploration.
There is no better way than to start with Coffee and that’s exactly what we did….every day….multiple times….over again….until we felt ill….(that didn’t last long either). Then of course you have to enjoy it with a sweet treat. What other way than with pistachio (wait I said sweet — you are right) pistachio in everything chocolate, baklava’s latte’s and we couldn’t get enough. Let me note rain and snow indeed do not stop anyone from enjoying these little pleasures.
And then came the journey of walking….
And so we did, from Taksim square all the way to the Blue Mosque, a tea at the spice bazaar, a coffee in the busiest streets of Istanbul a walk past Gallata tower (in it’s time the highest building and in that area still is) and then we called it a day
An early morning ferry ride to the Asian side, a stroll on the coast, a coffee in between and shopping at the plaza before heading back on the ferry in snow and a Turkish tea. We ended the day with curry at our nomad friends and an unforgettable magical walk in snow on our way back — everyone young at heart came out to play, from DIY water bottle sleds. All round everyone was having fun, smiling and laughter — that was contagious for the rest of our stay in Turkey.
An in the end came the Hot air balloons….not
Yes, you’ve guessed it — Cappadocia. Something out of a fairytale book — the natural rock town with it’s unique chimney liked houses covered in snow. From love valley, evil eyes and a hike to see the sunset to end our Turkey trip. We didn’t get to the hot air balloons not because someone (I won’t say names set the alarm wrong ) which lead to us oversleeping. To be honest I’ve never seen us get ready in 5 minutes — let me tell you in shock it can be done. No not at all, the weather needs to be 100% perfect to go up and the entire town is in on it except the travel company. After being “ready-late” we heard it being postponed by a random stranger in the streets. At least we enjoyed an early morning walk and a mud fall here and there.
The day after we left our friends went up and these are the ever so popular hot air balloons shots. I guess there will indeed be a next time now. Oh no :)
Goodbye to a winter wonderland
I haven’t even covered the feasts, frequent walks to the Bosphorus good long chats over pistachio latte’s with a new dear friend. This city isn’t written in words but feeling — go feel the city of Istanbul and you will feel exactly the liveliness I can’t describe.
The city will live forever on, with or without us — be like Turkey and be delightful to the world and life will flourish.
It’s simply easy to talk about Turkey as it is a friend you’ve known for years — like all humans we are a little magical and chaotic at times but also so much more, this is…
Anina & Daniel
