Postcard from Istanbul

The Blue Mosque

I just returned from Istanbul where East meets West. I had high hopes for this colourful city rich with history and culture and excited to be spending time with two of my best travel friends from Helsinki, Finland - yes, Laura and Riikka, that's you :-) It took me a little while  to get "under the skin" of Istanbul but once I did the city enchanted me and certainly delivered what I'd hoped for.   

When we visited the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar the smell of spices combined with burned coal from the street stalls selling roasted chestnuts and corn stopped me in my tracks several times as I immediately was transported back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.* It actually moved me and made me smile because I've come such a long way since then. I highly recommend anyone to follow their dreams even if it means stepping out of their comfort zone. The rewards are tenfold, trust me :-) 

Anyway, Istanbul reminded me of this and that's what I love about traveling. You are challenged, reminded, educated and enriched at the same time. I will post pictures in random order to give you an idea of the city's diversity and total charming craziness - and honestly, the nicest people I've met in a long time. Enjoy - and oh...!**

*Part of a longer journey I embarked on three years ago as a way of leaving something old behind in the hope of building something new.

** Just a little word on food. We tried a lot but a few things especially caught my attention: 
AYRAN, a cold yogurt beverage mixed with salt. The Turks consider it their national drink - and I'm totally with them on that one :-) 
KUMPIR, a huge baked potato cut open, the white interior flesh smothered with condiments like butter, cheese and salt and then mixed with various fillings you choose yourself (olives, corn, meat, smoked aubergine etc.) 
LOKUM, maybe better known as Turkish Delight (I have a thing with the rose scented kind) and brought home kilos whereas BAKLAVA is way too sweet for me. 
CAY, Turkish tea, (pronounced Chai) 
TURKISH COFFEE, although I am a huge coffee drinker it was too strong for me and became too sweet when adding sugar so I preferred their "Cay" without sugar or a regular cup of black coffee. But it's still worth trying. If you're into coffee I highly recommend buying a bag (or three) of whole beans from MEHMET EFENDI, a veery popular coffee shop located right by the Spice Bazaar. Don't be scared off by the looong line of people waiting because the staff is so efficient that the queue moves faster than any I've ever stood in. Wish it was the same way in airports ;-)