Another neat old building amongst the many!
Really enjoying Istanbul. This is making it difficult for me to decide where to go next – either south to Ephesus and then Samo in Greece – or northward towards Bulgaria and Serejevo. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Today I am going for a workout at a hotel gym and then a Turkish Bath. Perhaps as I am being scrubbed clean I will be able to mull on this further. I have two more nights here and I am sure by then I will be ready to go. Just the where and by train, plane or ferry. Such a difficult life eh? :o) Ya, right!
The main pedestrian promenade from Taksim Square. Apparently 3 million people a day walk this - and I believe it. It is afterall a city of 20 million.
Did you know that Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents? Met a lovely German man, Jurgen, on my second day here. He was just heading back to Germany after 8 years away. He has suggested a town up north there that I must visit, so I think I might put that on my list! We had a good chat about lots of things. He is a landfill engineer which is interesting as I have often looked into the waste and recycling worlds and how they are handled.
Jurgen on the Galata Bridge
Turks love their ice cream. There are vendors everywhere you go. Also their cuisine agrees with me very well. You can buy a doner, one of my guilty pleasures, for only 1 lira which is like 60 cents. Also every couple of metres are stalls that make fresh juices – orange, apple, pomegranate – also for anywhere from 1 – 3 liras. So it is easy to get basic food requirements pretty cheaply. I had to buy some clothes though as some of mine are starting to wear and also bore me a bit. My shorts ripped down the front. I sewed them up as I really like them but I don’t know how much longer they will last.
Jurgen's picture of me and my soon to be deceased shorts
Taksim square and the associated pedestrian street is a pretty good hang. Lots of stores. Lots of restaurants and eateries, and lots and lots of people. It really is a constant flow of people. But then again, in a city of 20 million, you can expect that. Given that Mexico City is around the same population and is a dirty and polluted place, Turkey has done very well. There are lots of garbage collectors and I have seen very little litter. It is really clean. There are also lots and lots of police and military personel. They all have guns but you don’t feel at all intimidated by them. I guess it makes sense to have all that given their geographical location and size. But the city is safe and feels safe.
The view of Istanbul from my hostel rooftop. That is the Golden Horn river
K. Gotta go attend to my bod!
Hello, again.
I see you’ve met another German person.
So, what was the name of that German town you are supposed to visit? Could it be Rostock or Flensburg?
No the town is Hansestadt Lübeck. He said it is quite spectacular.
Yup! Lose the shorts!!!
Completely or do I get to put other ones on!!!
How can you digest all that you are seeing – my mind is boggled (is that a word) by it all. Mum
I try to take it all in stride. I love learning of course. And yup boggled is a word.
The “town” you are referring to is actually a city (since 1226) and I’m sure you know that Hansestadt means Hanseatic City.
So, please let me know when you are planning your European trip, because I would like to tag along since I’ve always wanted to visit Luebeck as it makes the best marzipan. 🙂
Hi Ines – that might be difficult as I often don’t know when I will be there until I am there – my travels are somewhat nebulous that way.