My top five is constantly changing when it comes to travel. This not because I waiver in my want to see the world, it is joyfully, because I am able to see places and quickly move others up.
Current top 5
Greek Islands, Morocco, Cuba, Lima, Dubai
I had read a book, some fluff easy read in which the main character goes to Turkey for some party yatta-yatta. It sparked my interested with her description and then to find ten pages of the country in my 501 Must See Places. It had moved into my top ten. While in BCN and meeting my Turkish friend, he suggested I move Turkey up as Barcelona had just fallen out. I agreed and as of purchasing my Lonely Planet book at Powells, I was set to go.
With a bag of cupcakes in hand from Crumbs, I set off to JFK. I was so excited to be going on holiday, it was great, no fuss, everything was lined out, it was perfect. Being unassuming, I brought eyeshades, a blanket, and a Xanex for the 11-hour flight. Much to my surprise, I was put in Business Elite and let me tell you, it was wonderful! Granted I spent the first hour of the experience comparing it to our service to the travel agent who sat next to me, but after dinner and a movie (27 Dresses, thanks for the recommend Nichole) my down blanket and I were fast asleep.
It is my habit to take a nap upon arriving in a foreign city just to reward my body for making it there. I ended up sleeping a little too long but according to my new friend, introduced on facebook, it was a good thing. Atinc had me meet him in front of a hotel in non-tourist side of Istanbul. My hotel manager decided to escort me all the way there just make sure I got there okay and I think he was excited about having a hotel guest under the age of 50. I met my new friend and we immediately hit it off. He had lived with Mehmet in NYC previously and had heard about the bodyguard story in Spain. We took a quick tour of the streets watching the vendors and people before stopping in for a drink at a restaurant his friend owned. A few meters later we walked into the club Angelic where we danced the night away on the edge of the Bosphurous. It was a fantastic open air club and the owners loved me for some reason.
The next day, I slept in to recover from our 0500 end to the evening and decided to check out my area of town, Sultamaytah. I walked around in awe of the gorgeous buildings, the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sophia, and spent the evening wandering the welcoming streets. It was that moment that you love when you travel and realize that you are on the other side of the world…just hanging out!
Day three, it’s about damn time I am back to normal if you consider normal waking at 0330. I dinked around my hotel until 0600 watching the sunrise from my roof top terrace before I made my way down to the city. The temples were untouched by people and tourist at that hour and it was the perfect time to reflect on the long history that lay before me. I sat for a cup of Turkish tea and toast before wandering on some more. My favorite thing to do is to get lost in a city and that I did. It took two hours to get to the water; I wound in and out of streets with the company of a dog from the Aya Sophia. I finally bought my pooch breakfast and some water before crossing the Golden Horn. I walked and walked stopping for a coffee or water, taking pictures and walking towards the Bosphurous Bridge where I had been prior. Now the great unique thing about this bridge it that is connects Europe with Asia, This was a detail of this city which thrilled me to death. As I walked, I saw a billboard for Sex and the City. Disappointed not to go to either the premier or the opening, I stepped in to find out if it was playing in English. I set my clock to return for the matinee. So onward, I went checking out life in Turkey. I must tell you this is a beautiful population of people so it made my people watching even more enjoyable. I finally made it to the bridge and the harbor below to find a movie being filmed. I took the necessary photos and grabbed a stuffed potato and laid in the sunshine near the water. My movie and an hour more of walking lead me to the public transport back to my side of town. A quick nap and then I met my fellas for a cocktail and some chatting on the terrace overlooking the Bosphorous.
The next day I went out to buy the remaining souvenirs and see what else I had maybe missed in my journey. I finally ended up purchasing a ring from all the catcalls and toughed up enough to stop being nice and start being my NY self in defense. I met Atinc at another secret local, I felt like I was given Mission Impossible journeys all week with him, and this time we boarded a boat to a man made island. He had been invited to a jewelry line launch fashion show and party. Now this is what I call living! We watched the show, sipped on wine, and mingled with the elite of Istanbul social scene before we were on another boat headed to Reina. This gorgeous nightclub was also open air and was the perfect way to end my holiday.
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