May 10th – 15th, 2017

This would be my second visit to Istanbul, my last visit being over a decade ago. Man time flies.  It is tough to find friends interested in going to Turkey due to the perceived lack of “safety”, which I do not agree with (especially after visiting twice now). It’s not any less safe than any of the other countries in the world I’ve visited. Make smart choices and just know that there is always a risk when you travel – off my soap box now. When Brandon asked if I wanted to go I jumped at the chance.  So I extended my original European city hopping trip to include two more destinations – Turkey and Jordan.  Turkey is one of my favorite places. The people are so friendly, the food freakishly fantastic and the historical sites stunning.

Basilica Cistern

Located in the underbelly of the city it provided a water filtration system for the buildings around it back in the day. The ceiling is held up by 336 marble columns. Two of which have images of medusa on them. Side note: If you haven’t seen the sequel to Davinci Code called Angels & Demons, you should. The last action scene occurs in the Basilica Cistern. The whole feel of the place has an eerie and magical vibe – dark and serene.

Hagi Sofia

This would be my second visit to this beautiful historical site. Both the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are located walking distance with each other. So both can be visited in one day. The Hagi Sofia is a true religious monument exemplifying the religous battles of the past. It was a church then turned into a mosque, you can see this conflict in the walls of this holy building almost as a sign of peace and beauty that religions can coincide and live in harmony. At least that’s the vision that I have in my head.

Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is an actively used mosque and a gorgeous place of worship. It is an impressive structure built between 1609 – 1616 designed by architect Sedefkar Mehmed Agha featuring six minarets and beautiful hand painted blue tiles lining the interior walls. Of Note: proper attire is required and the visiting hours are scheduled around the prayer times. They do provide some coverings, but for your own comfort try to come prepared. It is truly a tranquil place with active prayers occurring, needless to say, we made every attempt to be respectful.

Grand Bazaar

This market is so big it’s overwhelming. It has everything you could possibly think you might need or want. Numerous alleyways holding tons of trinkets and treasures. Markets are one of my favorite places to visit while traveling. The beautiful layouts and the colors always catch my interest.

Turkish Cuisine – I tried to include the food pics in the general Istanbul section, but there were too many that it was overwhelming, so I decided to make a separate section just to highlight the wonderful cuisine. There are tons of turkish things to try from turkish delights to turkish tea, the choices are endless.

Regie Ottoman Istanbul – one of the nicest hotels I’ve stayed at. Clean and modern. We truly felt pampered during this stay. They had great recommendations for food and outings. Moderately priced but worth it for location and comfort.

Cappadocia

A short local hopper flight and we were in Cappadocia. The home of the IG infamous hotair balloon pics posted by every travel blogger. We were determined to go. We stayed in the main town of Göreme. A city built into the famous “fairy chimneys” the area is known for. There are a few other sites to see and the area itself is beautiful.

We hiked to the top of the hill, weaving through the city. The views from the top were gorgeous.

Uçhisar Castle – we rented some motor power and decided to explore a nearby site. An easy short ride from Göreme city center. This is the highest point of the region with panoramic views from the top of the citadel.

Derinkuyu Yeralti Sehri (Underground City) – another local attraction that was a shortish cab ride away (40 minutes). This area was at one point inhabited by up to 20,000 people and was as deep as 18 storeys underneath Capadoccia. Now it’s a unique attraction that allows tourists to tour up to 8 floors down. Narrow caverns and rooms not for those with a hint of claustrophia. Highlight for me was the best meal in the area by a small food stand just outside the attraction suggested to us by our friendly cab driver. Had several items for the first time made special by the lovely woman handmaking our meal. She made us Manthi – a traditional turkish dumplings in a yogurt sauce and Gozleme – a turkish stuffed flat bread with spinach and feta. Absolutely delicious.

Sultan Cave Suites – known for hotels situated into the caves. This place was darling and a very authentic experience. The hospitality and service were excellent. The buffet breakfast was out of this world and the rooftop views were gorgeous at sunrise and sunset.

Göreme Hot Air Balloon Ride – Due to the popularity of this activity in the area, there are several companies vying for your dollar. It was slighlty overwhelming deciding which to go with. We went with the company that our hotel suggested. Butterfly Balloons – our experience was superb and truly an experience to remember. Important to note this experience is entirely weather/wind dependent so plan on being there a few days to ensure you get the opportunity.

If you have any inkling or desire to travel to Turkey, I highly recommend it. I have been twice and would definitley go back to see some other areas such as Pamukkale , Antanlya, Marmaris and Ephesus to name a few. Depending on what you are looking for (beaches, historical sites, outdoor activities, etc.) there is something for everyone. Put Turkey on your travel bucketlist.