Things I learned after our first day in Istanbul, Turkey…
You won’t be jet lagged if you get zero sleep on your redeye flight and wait to crash at an appropriate local time.
The reason why people travel in the summer (and why all the good travel deals are for the winter months). Brrrr!
If you think mosques are breathtakingly gorgeous from the outside…
…just wait until you see the inside.
I look nothing like my Mama.
Stray cats are everywhere! They’re the cutest and friendliest cats I’ve ever met. And I’m not a cat person.
The fruit here is as sweet as candy.
The pomegranates are the size of my head and the arils are deep, dark red.
Roasted chestnuts are without a doubt, the best street food in the world. Why can’t they be all over the streets in the US?
Everything is worth trying at least once. Even the mysterious foods!
Restaurant owners/hosts get incredibly aggressive/freak out when they see hungry tourists roaming the streets (ahhh!). We opted for a more casual joint where we saw locals dining.
Turkish flatbread is good, but it has nothing on naan.
If there’s ever a place to eat lamb, it’s in Turkey. Lamb kebabs and sea bass with bulgar pilaf, fries and veggies.
You should refrain from eating raw veggies because the water they use to wash them may upset your stomach.
However, have no fear if you [unknowingly] chugged a glass of water from the airport bathroom sink and SURVIVED (I didn’t know and I was so parched!!).
Oopsies.
If you are in the mood to shop, head to The Grand Bazaar. It is home to over 4,000 vendors.
Just be sure you have an escape route because you will get lost!
Turkish Delight is not so delightful if you’re allergic to pistachios and another random nuts. Sad.
The candyman might seem nice at first…
…but you never know what he’ll do when you’re not looking!
We had a fabulous first day in Istanbul. This doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we accomplished/saw though (I took 272 photos!!). Tomorrow we’re headed to Troy and then Canakkale. We’ll be back in Istanbul next week at the very end of our trip.
Catch ya later!
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny story – i took Turkish as my foreign language in college… no reason, really. Just wanted to take Turkish. I’m excited to see some Turkish in your posts and to test my memory!!
That restaurant menu, Gülen et Ve Balik, = Smiling or Laughing… meat & fish?? Something like that!
I love the reflection of the “authentic” Turkish McDonald’s in the window, in the picture with your mom in front of the Turkish Delights! lol. Have a fantastic time Allie!
So neat! Lovely photos!
amazing pictures! looks like you’re having the best time. i always try to stay up and just get immediately on the new time zone.
i get so sad when i see stray cats/dogs. i hope people are nice to them!
Gorgeous pics Allie! Makes me want to visit!!! I LOVE ROASTED CHESTNUTS! They are so incredible!
I absolutely love the roasted chestnut street cart! I wish we had fun street carts like that too. In Charleston, we have crépe cars, but other than that, it’s daggum hotdog carts. Boooo. Enjoy your vacation!
Sounds like a great time! I miss roasted chestnuts from my days abroad in Spain. I would get them every night in the winter on the walk from school home. So good
Sounds like your trip is off to a great start – I am still yet to try Turkish Delights!
you had me at roasted chestnuts…enough said!
My mom and I have been looking for pomegranates everywhere in the states and we can’t find any!!! Clearly we need to come to Turkey for them!
They’re usually out and about now (and cheap!), but I haven’t seen them around. Weird. I better enjoy them while I’m here.
Those mosques are gorgeous! I remember learning about the Hagia Sophia mosque in my Comparative Literature and Culture class… is that the one in these pictures?
Yep! The pinkish one is the Hagia Sophia.
Love all the vibrant colors! That mosque is gorgeous.
I don’t know that I’ve ever tried roasted chestnuts…I need to change that!
This is so cool!! Amazing pictures! Glad your having fun
It’s beautiful there! I love seeing photos of all of your travels!! Have fun!!!
Looks amazing, Allie!!
Awesome!! Where did you two stay in Istambul?
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!
Oh, how mosques make me swoon. I love how I feel when I am inside one, even though I am not of any particular religion…there’s just something so majestic and awe-inspiring about them. Thanks for sharing your photos and letting us travel along with you!
Wow! Turkey! How fun! Looks like you had a fabulous time!
Great photos–looks like you’re having a blast! Curious–what made you pick Turkey for your trip?
Oh my gosh, Allie… This just looks so a,amazing! I can’t wait to see your next set of photos! One of my friends took a trip to Istanbul a few years ago and still raves about it!
Wonderful photos – Istanbul looks simply beautiful! I’ve always wanted to travel to Turkey, though it’s very very far from New Zealand! Enjoy the rest of your trip – can’t wait to read all about it!
Omg the shops look amazing there! So colorful and fun!!
Allie, What gorgeous photos! Laura and I are admiring, esp., the kitties. They have such an exotic look to them!
Barbara
I’ve got even more cats to show you! There were so many roaming around the ruins at Ephesus today. I’m not a cat person, but these make my heart melt. They’re adorable!
I’ve been reading your blog for quite awhile. Right now, I’m going to university in Switzerland, but I just got back from a two-week trip to Turkey! It was funny to see some of the places I’ve just been on your blog. Hopefully you continue to enjoy the sights, history & food! Be careful to outsmart those tricky Turkish shop owners. It’ll be fun to read about the rest of your journey.
Cool!! Where did you go? All over? Haha don’t worry, my mom are so stingy these shop owners can’t even try to trick us!
Wow! You take beautiful photos! Makes me want to go to Turkey.
I feel like you bring me there with (not in a weird way).
Wish I will have the chance to travel like you.
This is awesome Allie!
Amazing!!! So many colors
And I looove the cat pictures, especially the little squinty orange guy.