Day 41 - Turkish Delights
That’s it, I am moving to Turkey!
Our stop in Istanbul marked my first time in Europe ever, and if it is any indication of what is to come, I may never make it back to the states. With its charming cobble-stone streets, palace-like mosques, friendly people, incredible food, winding rivers and Euro-Asian influenced architecture, I have fallen in love with this enchanting city.
It is hard to write about my time in Turkey. We almost didn’t make it thanks to some bombings some 300 miles away, and there was talk of skipping Turkey altogether. But my actual time in Turkey was so close to something I would do back home on any given weekend, it’s hard to quantify it. I sat in cafés drinking Turkish coffee (I am not really a fan), eating lovely desserts, went shopping in the bazaar for gifts, visited some mosques, sat on the steps feeding the birds in city squares with local kittens on my lap, shopped for exotic spices in the market, hung out with friends, went out to dinners on rooftops, and all in all had the time of my life.
There is something terribly romantic about Istanbul. We arrived on the most gloriously clear, warm day, and the sea glittered in the sunshine. While it would have been faster to take the train or a ferry, we walked all over the city soaking in the sights and smells, and the pleasure of being in a real contemporary city. There was nothing we lacked.
In the afternoon of the first day our ship held a peace rally in the center of Taksim Square, and little did we know there was also some protesting by the local labor union. It felt like something that could have happened in San Francisco or Berkeley. We were standing there with a megaphone, dancing and promoting peace and not 100 yards away was a very vocal group with flags and chants, trying to start a small scuffle with the local police force.
For dinner we walked through the narrow alleyways, crowded with diners spilling out onto the patio seats enjoying Turkish cuisine and a perfect evening. In the end we headed for the rooftop where resident musicians played Turkish favorites, and most of the restaurant sang along. I’m telling you, I could do this every day.
In addition to all the fun and excitement of the first day, the second day had the added bonus of being National Day in Turkey (think 4th of July). Flags were proudly displayed from every building, shop and villa. People were out and about, and as welcoming as could be. While some places were closed, most places of interest were open and keen to cater to the crowds.
Overall it was just so nice to finally be back in a place where it is safe for women to walk alone, to wear whatever I want, to stay out at night, and to basically, be free. I definitely have to go back to Turkey.
Our stop in Istanbul marked my first time in Europe ever, and if it is any indication of what is to come, I may never make it back to the states. With its charming cobble-stone streets, palace-like mosques, friendly people, incredible food, winding rivers and Euro-Asian influenced architecture, I have fallen in love with this enchanting city.
It is hard to write about my time in Turkey. We almost didn’t make it thanks to some bombings some 300 miles away, and there was talk of skipping Turkey altogether. But my actual time in Turkey was so close to something I would do back home on any given weekend, it’s hard to quantify it. I sat in cafés drinking Turkish coffee (I am not really a fan), eating lovely desserts, went shopping in the bazaar for gifts, visited some mosques, sat on the steps feeding the birds in city squares with local kittens on my lap, shopped for exotic spices in the market, hung out with friends, went out to dinners on rooftops, and all in all had the time of my life.
There is something terribly romantic about Istanbul. We arrived on the most gloriously clear, warm day, and the sea glittered in the sunshine. While it would have been faster to take the train or a ferry, we walked all over the city soaking in the sights and smells, and the pleasure of being in a real contemporary city. There was nothing we lacked.
In the afternoon of the first day our ship held a peace rally in the center of Taksim Square, and little did we know there was also some protesting by the local labor union. It felt like something that could have happened in San Francisco or Berkeley. We were standing there with a megaphone, dancing and promoting peace and not 100 yards away was a very vocal group with flags and chants, trying to start a small scuffle with the local police force.
For dinner we walked through the narrow alleyways, crowded with diners spilling out onto the patio seats enjoying Turkish cuisine and a perfect evening. In the end we headed for the rooftop where resident musicians played Turkish favorites, and most of the restaurant sang along. I’m telling you, I could do this every day.
In addition to all the fun and excitement of the first day, the second day had the added bonus of being National Day in Turkey (think 4th of July). Flags were proudly displayed from every building, shop and villa. People were out and about, and as welcoming as could be. While some places were closed, most places of interest were open and keen to cater to the crowds.
Overall it was just so nice to finally be back in a place where it is safe for women to walk alone, to wear whatever I want, to stay out at night, and to basically, be free. I definitely have to go back to Turkey.
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