Istanbul marked the end of my European leg, and what a way to finish. The city sits between two continents and you can feel it - the blend of cultures, the call to prayer echoing across the skyline, the chaos of the bazaars.
I joined the walking tour on my first day with Juan from the hostel, then met up with a local friend in Taksim Square and walked to the Galata Tower for views across the city. Turkish food became an obsession - baklava, simit from Galata Simitci where the waiter brought out tea without me asking (mind reader), meze and raki dinners, and Turkish Delight from Haci Bekir that was so good I felt guilty and bought a packet to send home. I even had my fortune told through Turkish coffee - apparently good things are coming.
The big sights didn’t disappoint either. The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and Dolmabahce Palace were all spectacular. I spent time wandering the Egyptian and Grand Bazaars picking up souvenirs, and had some of the best coffee of the trip at Kronotrop, MOC and Petra. Walking along the Bosphorus one evening, freezing but mesmerised, I realised I could’ve spent another week here easily.