The much awaited trip to turkey finally happened in May 2018,
after cancelling it thrice previously because of some unforeseen reason or the
other. Every time I would make the itinerary, source all the details and
finalize the plan but an uneventful debacle would happen and roll down the plan
under some corner of my mind.
Finally this year in February’18, I decided to take the
plunge and book my air tickets to Istanbul. Enthusiasm was high and fingers
were crossed. Things were falling in place and I began to book hotels and
historical tours one by one.
What I really like about travel is looking for both touristy
and offbeat places. Zeroing down on which cities to visit, where to stay, what
experiences to soak in and about the local cuisine (food is very important to
me be it in hometown or while on a holiday). It gives me a kick!
Finally bags were packed, excitement was at its peak and on
May 17th I fluttered my wings and reached Istanbul!
Istanbul is a city with rich History and Culture. The
unjustified media attention to safety in Istanbul is definitely overrated and
the city is very safe and welcoming. The people are warm, friendly and helpful.
On the first day as I arrived at the Ataturk Airport, I
immediately sourced a local number from Turkcell. Apparently they have the best
network coverage and affordable tourist sim cards. I paid 130 Turkish Liras for
6 GB of data and unlimited local calling. Booked my cab effortlessly via
BiTaksi and reached Nowy Efendi, my abode in Istanbul during my entire visit.
What else can soothe a tired body than an upgrade to the family
suite room? Nowy Efendi was definitely one of the best choices during my trip
to Istanbul. It’s right behind the buzzing Sultanhemet and connects you to all
the major attractions in few minutes. It’s a lively locality and has some
amazing cafes, shops and points of interest around.
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| Welcome tea |
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| Nowy Efendi |
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| Nowy Efendi |
A quick nap and revitalized to take the day ahead I headed to
Sultanhemet and brought the Istanbul Kart from a nearby shop. The IstanbulKart
can be sourced from the vending machines as well. The first stop was Pierre
Loti hill nestled in Eyup and gives you panaromic view of the golden horn from
Eyup to Eminonu. To reach there simply hop on the tram to go to Eminonu, walk a
little and from the under the bridge, right opposite TurYol, you will see the
Bus Station (Otogar). Catch Bus no. 99 and get off at Teleferik Pierre Loti
stop. Cross the road and the gigantic cable car center can’t be missed. For
2.60 TL a ride one way, you reach the top of the hill.
There are lovely cafes with exquisite views where you can sit
and soak in the sunset over a cup of coffee. I had some lip-smacking chocolate
donduruma (Icecream) for 4TL at Kahvehanesi Café. The food at the café is
inexpensive and definitely worth a visit.
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| take the steps to visit the cafe |
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| Cable Car ride |
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| on the way to the hill |
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| this is where you need to get off |
After spending some time at the café I headed back the same
way and reached Eminonu to enjoy a lazy cruise over the Bosphorus! TurYol is
the company I went for and for a meagre 15 TL you sail on the Bosphorus for 90
minutes. It’s a very appeasing ride and you get to witness major landmarks in
Istanbul as you cruise. The commentary on the deck is quite a useless and you
can shut your ears to it completely.
Bosphorus is a narrow strait but of great importance as it
separates the Asian side of Istanbul from the European side. It connects the
Black sea to the Sea of Marmara. In Turkey it’s known as Bogazici, which means
Inner Strait!
I dined at Pasha Café close to my Hotel and enjoyed some
warm, refreshing apple tea, pesto pasta and Pide. It was time to rest and get myself ready for
the next day as I had an early morning flight to Kayseri to reach Cappadocia –
Land of beautiful white horses! Keep reading there is lots coming up!
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| Hagia Sophia from the Bosphorus |
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| lovely cafe by the Bosphorus |
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| Fly High |
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| soaking in the vibe |
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| TurYol |
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| Ortakoy |
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| Sunset |
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| Beautiful houses |
