İstanbul had been a major milestone for this journey from the very beginning. We planned cycling here and then “somehow” continuing further. Back in August, in Sarajevo, we first asked our parents whether they could fly in to Istanbul and meet us. After negotiating dates we settled for early December. As our schedule changed, so did our route and we took a big detour via Greece instead and left the bicycles in Sofia in snow as it was just too cold to cycle this far up North. So here we are 4 months later, my parents flying in from Germany to Istanbul’s Asian side airport and Nastya’s parents coming from Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to Istanbul’s European side airport. Family reunion where the continents meet. We rented an apartment in Sultanahmet via airbnb.com (where we also rent out our own) and explored the sites. Hagya Sophia, many mosques (but not the blue one), a visit to a Hamam (Turkish bath), the bazars, galleries, museums and of course Turkish restaurants! The weather has been a mix of few sunny days and lots of drizzle, copious amounts of Çay the Turkish black tea kept us moving and warm.
our neighbourhood
on the way to pick up Sascha’s parents from the airport
Sascha’s parents arrival
late dinner on Galata bridge
nice village breakfast
barber shop visit
before (it’s been a couple of months)
waxing
and after
reunited
Nastya’s parents arrival
Nastya’s parents arrival
on the boat
local musicial
checking the market
checking the market
having a serious talk 🙂
reunited
busy Istaklal
ping pong
busy Sunday
celebrating Nastya’s mom birthday
Spice bazar
the old trick of the dropped brush
Orient express station
Orient express station
leaving tenge
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
almost like the United Nation members
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
the Chinese guys were excited about Sascha’s dad height
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
Top kapi tour
difficult to resist
difficult to resist
the Grand bazar
the Grand bazar
so delicious!
loukum
Turkish breakfast is very filling
ceramics shop
Hagya Sofia
Hagya Sofia
Hagya Sofia
freshly squeezed pomegranate juice
a doze of vitamins
Ayran
lunch at a Kurdish restaurant
rice behind the curtain
rice behind the curtain
lamb cooked in a well
bazar shopping
the salesman at the bazar always have a story to share
bazar shopping
dessert time!
dessert time!
first Hamam experience
the biggest donoer spiz we have seen
the biggest doener spiz we have seen
getting some local music
on the way to pick up our Indian visas
indian embassy
Galata tower
levislev.com is am start
even at night they fish
waiting for the shuttle to the airport
next time we are in Istanbul, I will get it 🙂
next time we are in Istanbul, I will get it 🙂
Balik ekmek
Balik ekmek boat
our syrian neighbours
our syrian neighbours
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