Fashioned By Me: Travel Diary: Istanbul

Istanbul has easily made its way to the top of my list of favourite cities and if you've been there I'm sure you feel the same way. From the beautiful scenery to the mouth - watering delicacies, there's something for everyone.

After a long and tiring plane ride from Saudi Arabia all I wanted to do was get to my hotel and hit the bed but unfortunately that wasn't possible. Passport control at the Istanbul airport was a nightmare, I must've waited for about 3 hours in the queue but it felt like 3 months! Anyway, we eventually made it to the hotel and settled in just in time for dinner and being the typical Durbanites that we are, we searched for an Indian restaurant hoping to satisfy our craving for home food. We managed to find a little Indian restaurant called Taj Mahal which is situated in a small alley off Istiklal Street. Four dishes and 45 minutes later we were ready to see Istanbul by night. The atmosphere is amazing, no matter what the time, there's always someone on the street!

I'm not much of a history enthusiast but I do enjoy the odd tour, I didn't get to see all the sights that I had planned to see but honestly I was so exhausted (and bored sometimes) I don't regret not visiting every sight in the guidebook. I did however manage to see the Eyub Sultan Camii, Fatih Camii, Sulemaniye Mosque, Ayah Sofia, the famous Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Museum. The architecture was astounding, it's mind boggling how they designed the intricate details and patterns. I took a few snaps, learnt a few facts and made my way to the famous Grand Bazaar. I don't think I've seen the whole Bazaar because it's huge but I didn't mind because I wanted everything I set my gaze on which left me broke by the time I left.

Lastly, the Turkish Hamam is a must-do! you cannot leave Istanbul without experiencing it. I wasn't sure what to expect as I heard that they scrub you until you're raw and bathe you in boiling water which was so far from what I experienced. My bath was quite a pleasure actually, they placed me on a hot marble slab, gave me a massage, scrubbed me down then poured hot and cold water to open and close my pores. By the end of it I wished to take one of the ladies home with me so I could get a weekly scrub down.

There's so much more I could say about this magnificent city but I'll cut it short. Here's a few of my favourites from the city -

The street food - roasted chestnuts, simit (bagels) with nutella, turkish ice cream, roasted corn.
The nightlife especially on Istiklal street and in Nisantasi
The Sahlep (hot drink made with goat's milk and cinnamon) at Mado
Mabel chocolate which I searched Istanbul to find
Apple tea and pomegranate turkish delight

Replicas of the Blue Mosque are all over the city

Building on Istiklal Street

Flower Market in Taksim

The Best Chocolate Ever

Roasted Chestnuts

Street Art

Fatih Camii

Drinking Natural Spring Water

Replica of the Blue Mosque

The city is full of cats!

They say you can see a man's character by the size of the tree that grows above his grave -
outside Eyup Sultan Mosque

Arabic Calligraphy on the door handle

Traditional lentil soup eaten before meals as a starter especially in winter with Lemonata (lemonade) and Ayran (made by diluting yoghurt with water and adding salt. Best served chilled, as an accompaniment to any meal or a refreshing drink in the summer time)