After going through an hour-long customs check, getting a bus, and a not-so-good taxi experience, I finally got to my hotel at like 4am. Then I find out that the hotel is full for the night, or at least what was left of it. I was originally supposed to spend the night in the airport and then get to the hotel the next day, but after accidentally setting foot outside the airport, they would not let me back in. So I had to take the bus and then a taxi to get to my hotel, I was figuring it wouldn’t be a big deal to just book the place for another night. Well, when the hotel only has about 30 rooms or so, I should think twice.
So now, after going through an hour-long customs check, getting a bus, a not-so-good taxi ride, no hotel room and napping in the hotel lobby, I was finally in Istanbul. First impressions say a lot right?
So after this slight bump, getting a room and actually getting some rest I was able to explore Istanbul to the fullest. The Blue Mosques and the Hagia Sophia were definitely amongst the highlights of the trip. After all, these are 2 of the most frequented landmarks in all of Turkey. The waterfronts that Istanbul has to offer were quite unique and different, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. Istanbul is the only city in the world that is located on 2 different continents (Europe and Asia), that alone sets up an interesting and unique geographical relationship for the waterfront. You have the Bosphorous which runs NS from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and divides the 2 continents. Then you have the Golden Horn which further divides the European side into 2 distinct areas of it own. In addition, Istanbul is rich in its topography, its easy to see why this city was such an important stronghold for the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
Anyways, the waterfront itself was nothing more than green pockets and strips that seemed be arbitrarily placed with no particular rhythm or balance, at least that’s what it looks like on paper. The energy and the life that thrives in these haphazardly placed green spaces is amazing. People fishing everywhere, kids running around playing, families bbq'ing in a nice shaded area, old friends at it again playing backgammon, you would think that it was a holiday or something.
If Istanbul was like this, a city not particularly noted for its waterfront then I couldn’t wait to get to Izmir to see what that was going to be like!
The Blue Mosque.
Mixed-grill kebab...it was da bomb!!
The Bosphorus Bridge...remind you of anything?
The grand entrance to Topkappi Palace.
There was a tulip festival going on...they were all over the place.
Me in front of the Hagia Sophia.
The inside of the Hagia Sophia...it serisously puts Notre Dame to shame...at least on the inside.
Panorama of the Bosphorous from the top of Topkappi Palace.
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