I'm in Istanbul airport. It was an 8 hours flight and I slept most of it yet I'm tired. I'm seriously in need for coffee as to compensate yesterdays' cup of coffee that I didn't drink. And yes! That's something to be grumpy about!
"Thank you mister for this coffee." Me to the waiter in the airport coffee shop. Now, where is the locker room in this place? I think I need to ask someone.
He told me where it is. I'm really wondering why are they hiding it? It's so out of the way! Anyway, I'll drop my bags, I'll try not to drop my coffee and be back with you.
Good morning guys. I'm alive now. It's about 6:30 AM here. I totally have no plan for today so let's figure it out, shall we?
OK, after scrolling the web pages for a while now, I can't find so many great options! They are heavily focus on what I visited a few days ago when I was here. I'm fully aware that I skipped couple of places like the grand bazaar, the Galata tower and some nooks and crannies, yet I'm not so eager to go back running to them. I'll keep scrolling some more, who know, maybe I'll find something.
As much as I can remember from a few days ago I read that Istanbul has a European side and more of a Middle East Islamic side. (By now I can't remember where that was!) Yet I'm not sure which is which or even where they were.
I'm really glad that airports have got WiFi. So,,, some other time has passed and I've found an article which let to another article which let to my scheduled for the day. (I hope, even though I think I'll change my mind like million times, but at least I have somewhere to start and we can have a chill day. I'm not up to anything crazy. I just don't want to spend 19 hours in the airport or a hotel room, that's all.) Did I tell you what I found? I guess not! OK, there is a place here. I think it's a district? Maybe? which is called 'Istanbul's hippest neighborhood' and I'm so up to try that. (This is the main article if you are interested. It's really nice and well written so I really want to give full credit to them.)
First of all as recommended I'll go to 'Karabatak cafe', which opens at 8:30 AM and what's the time now? Around 7:30 AM!!!! I've been searching for a whole hour! OK,,, see guys, time flew by! This day will come to an end soon, I know it. The cafe is about 45 minutes from here so I'll go grab my ride. Did I tell you where are we going? I guess I didn't. I really need to have a breakfast ASAP. Well, If I can pronounce it right, the district is called 'hip Karaköy'.
Here we are. This place has a kind of lowkey,cozy, rustic vibe to it. I can't put it right,,, It's giving me a really chill, slow pace feeling. The whole neighborhood actually. There are couple of coffee shops here, yet I like this place's vibe the most. So that's what they call hipster vibe? Can that be because it's still early? Anyway, It's still empty. Looks like I'm their first customer for the day. Let's see what they have.
I think I'll get my first cup of coffee for the day. (Please forget that I had anything at the airport.) 'kleiner brauner' is my choice. I just asked what is this before ordering and they told me that it's an unfiltered black coffee with a bit of milk and steamed like an espresso. For food 'Sigara Böreği' which is Turkish cheese rolls and 'Pişi' which is Turkish fried bread as they seem to be tempting. There is my foooood. The 'Pişi' is served with cheese, tomatoes, cucumber and olives slices.
That was delicious and filling. The place and the vibe are really nice. I really like this day starting than any other time I came to Istanbul even though the staff here aren't as friendly as I hoped, but maybe it's because it's early in the morning. I was so grumpy and completely intolerable couple of hours ago.
OK, I'm going through today's plan again and I have some changes to it... (I was expecting that but not that early in the morning tho.) I'll walk around for a while. since this place is quite famous, I wonder what else I might find.
I really like this place. It got so many nice cafes and street art. The alleys are so nice to walk in. There are some Churches and monasteries. Look!!!!! There are umbrellas up there! Wow this street is really cool. I wish I knew about this before breakfast I would have definitely ate here! Why don't you walk with me?
Enough walking around. Now I have one of two ways to go. (I'll visit them all. I just want a starting point.) I can start with 'The Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews' and work my way through or start with 'The Museum of Innocence'. So many decisions and so little time.....
I think I'll start with 'The Museum of Innocence' as the name is really weird. (I really like how I base my decisions on.) There is my ride.
OK,, WOW, that's an interesting looking building between normal looking one. To be fair I like its' boldness. Let's go inside.
NO, NO, NO. You are definitely not ready for that. This place is strange and brilliant! OK, I'll calm down and tell you cause I became so excited. This museum is based on a novel with the same name. 'Orhan Pamuk' (the writer and the museum owner) stated that he wrote his novel by looking at the objects he purchased. The arrangement of the objects is exhibited in the exact order of the book. For instance, there are 83 boxes in which objects are exhibited in here. These boxes represent 83 chapters in the novel and each box contains objects that belong to the same number of the chapter in the book. This place is a unity between it and the novel. The amazing thing is that this place contains a number of incidents and details about which the novel does not mention. Like, such a BRILLIANT IDEA!! I'm telling you! If I have to say,, this place is an amazing version of my room. unfortunately didn't read this novel (YET!), but the readers have a free ticket to the museum inside the book. You have to read the book to enter tho. I love this place so much. Why don't we wander around together?
I'm in lost for words! I'll never be over that, believe me. Now on to my next taxi to 'Arter'.
A very modern, futuristic and outstanding looking building is what I see!
I'm really surprised to see a building like this here in Istanbul. No offense of course.
Inside of here is some kinds of abstract arts, see! (If you are using a laptop, there are numbers from 1 to 6 to explore the building floors. If you are using a mobile then bear with the stairs to explore the whole building.) Well, it's kinda hard for me to describe it. It has some kind of 'the innocence museum' vibe but no story to it! It's what people call creative, out of the box art. (Exactly the type I don't particularly understand.) Yet, it's refreshing seeing these types of exhibitions. The building is an amazing work of art itself. It kinda reminding me of the 'Bibliotheca Alexandrina' we have here in Alexandria. Both of them are a non profit organization (I'm not sure of this information about our library tho). Both of them have got activities and workshops to participate in and both of them have gotten libraries of books too. (Yet ours is way bigger). I'm really enjoying my time today.
It's around 2 PM now. I may go to one more place before searching for lunch. Change of plans I'm going for lunch. Don't judge,, I'm suddenly feeling hungry. I decided to get of the taxi a couple of streets earlier as the BBQ smell is mouthwatering.
The smell is coming from this restaurant. It's called 'Kevok Ocakbaşı'. The inside is really nice and cozy. The smell is to die for! Thank you!!! The menu is really simple. I've never been as thankful as right now for any place for having fewer options and a simple menu. Can you believe that I already decided on what I'm ordering? I'll get 'Kuzu sis' which is a lamb shish kebab and some side dishes. I'll pair it with 'yeni raki' aka 'Lion's milk. (which is alcohol if you didn't get that by now.) I'll see you after lunch then.
That was scrumptious. No other words to describe it. Now I'm on my way to 'Pera Museum'.
The building looks nice and elegant from the outside. This is a painting, ceramics and modern art museum so I feel that I'll see some similar art all the day. Let's go in.
OK, I like the paintings. It's from the Islamic era. I also like that each room has it's own color and vibe. That's a really nice touch. The ceramic artworks are really nice. It's seriously nice to see some Islamic era pieces that are well done. These kinds of things aren't really common through my travels. WOW, there are some christian pieces here too. Ceramics I mean. There is a room with some old tools here. Not sure what all of them are for but here it's written for having a perpendicular wall and this looks like a protractor. There are scales here along with measuring cups. Why are you standing there, come look for yourself. I think I had my sweet time. Oh, I forgot to tell you that there is a good sized cafeteria and a gift shop here.
I think I can fit another museum before the last one. It's on my way anyway. It's another modern art one. Very modern that it's called modem art museum 'istanbul modern sanat müzesi'. It's just around that corner there. Here it is.
OK, from what it's, I can definitely say that this is a contemporary art. Well, I don't understand it nor do I have any taste for it, yet I'm really enjoying it. Maybe I'll direct my interest to modern art from now on.
Well, I don't exactly get the art or hanging the things that aren't for hanging and call it a contemporary art or splashing paint everywhere and calling that a feelings expression nor the usage of weird stuff to make it a weird thing and call it an art but I like looking at it. Yes, even though I don't get it. They look unique and kind of an expression of the amount of complications and mixed feelings that we have to endure. Something like seeing the beauty in everything. Something out of the traditional wear. I can't describe the feeling exactly but it's complicated like everything in this life. Well, you can walk around that art yourself too.
Now, now, why don't we go back to the traditional with the Jewish art. let's hop onto our last museum stop. In my head at least.
I don't get to visit the Jewish culture in my visits that often, so this is one of few.
Well, I usually try to be as unbiased as possible. I'm visiting a culture and history not people but the outside of the building wasn't something that I felt so ,,,,,,,, excited about. I didn't have this feeling in my last trip to the Jewish district. Well, let's go and watch what this place holds. Nice architecture I guess. I still prefer the christian art. Those huge crystal chandeliers aren't my thing. Well, They are nice I have to say,,,,,, moving on. I like the cloth pieces. The female ones at least. I'm not exactly sure why there is a hall with chairs here. Is this a place of his worship not just a museum? Well I need to go. It's close time. I didn't have the intention to stay here any longer anyway. I'm kinda glad that I visited here after this great day so far.
Where to go from here. It's 6 o'clock. I can see the 'Galata Tower' form here. It's at the end of this street. Maybe I'll finally pass by and I might sit somewhere as I think I need to have a change of mood.
Wow, it really looks nice and I think there is a restaurant inside, yet I don't want to go in. I'll find something near by that have this tower as a view. Here on google, it says that there is a restaurant on the rooftop of that building there 'Galata Konak Cafe & Restaurant'. Why not try it?
That's a really nice siting. I feel better now. The tower looks nice in the background. The vibe here is very much different from this morning. It's soft and relaxing. I think I'll play safe with my order so it'll be caramel macchiato and a chocolate souffle. They look and smell amazing. GOD!! The way to my heart is my stomach indeed!
I'll be here till 8 or something. I'll enjoy the view and the breath. See you later..
Many Many hours later...
Hey ho,, I lost track of time. I'm on my way to the airport now. I totally forgot to check with you, sorry. let me tell you a a brief summary of what happened, which is not a lot. When I felt well rested I decided to hit the road again. Just a small walk around before I get a taxi to the airport. I found another museum around the corner which is an Islamic one. The 'Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi' I think. It was way past closing time unfortunately. The streets had a lot of art on the walls. It was really nice walking around aimlessly. I really enjoyed window shopping. (Even though I was tempted to buy couple of things more than once.) But to be fair I still don't feel faraway from home here, apart from the street art and the unknown language I could mistake this place for a street in Alexandria. That's it. In a few hours I'll be home. And that's my friends how I ended my solo honeymoon. Word of advice, take someone with you to the Maldives next time. The prices there for couples are convenient. Till the next trip.
Stay safe and have fun. Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Comments