A poetic city, thousands of different feelings, all in one. You can read the historical side of this huge city from Wikipedia anytime. This time I want to tell you about the Istanbul that I know myself.
Over the centuries, many cultures have added their mark to this prized piece of land. Today, you can experience those influences firsthand by exploring Istanbul’s mahalles (neighborhoods). From the holy sites of Sultanahmet and the 19th-century European elegance of Beyoğlu to the high fashion of Nişantaşı, the vibrant café society of Kadıköy and the football-loving streets of Beşiktaş, it’s easy to see why travelers say that Istanbul isn’t just one city, but many cities within one.
Today, in this planet, where humanbeings play a big part, it is likely to comprehend the significance of seeing is believing.
Istanbul is a city which proves you wrong of what you know about big cities.
First thing first, Istanbul is at this geographically unique location, connecting Asia and Europe, two continents with its 3 enourmous bridges where average half million of people a day commute between continents to go their work in the morning and come back to their home in the evening. Yes the traffic! But with a breath taking view!
Day time, in Istanbul; every street corner, every sea side, every forest, every skyscaper, every ancient time ruins, every square, every mosque, church, temples and much more are photography value. It is never enough time to see fully how big and colourful this city is. I am not even talking about its islands yet.
Night time, city lights will talk for it. If you ever fly here try to take a night flight once, everytime I feel the city is jewellery shining so bright between two seas, Black and and the sea of Marmara mixing together thru Bosphorus.
Talking about flights, Istanbul now has world’s largest airport terminal built under the single roof since 2019. Turkey now has 6 aviation company on its own, operating from 3 different airports in Istanbul.
Very cosmopolitan needless to say, you can easily embrace the beauty of different ethnic groups, religion, color, culture, multi language speaking people living in this city with all peace. This makes me have my favourite thing for the city as it is a front coming thing about Istanbul.
It is a place where you can knock your neighboor’s door anytime. They will open the door with a smile face and lend you what you are asking for. Sometimes food, sometimes just a bottle opener or a chit chat ending with tea invitations 🙂
Hospitality! I can challange you on that, nowhere else can beat this one. Here people will make sure you get a good service and they offer you something of their own. Very common thing! You start to feel it is a normal daily thing. Can be in a restaurant, in a hotel or simply in a small shop, you order a tea, it will come with either cookies or chocolates with it. If it is your lucky day even with flowers on your tray 🙂
Actually in this city you might start liking the tea, if you don’t already. After a meal, they will offer you the black tea or the Turkish coffee! For Free! I always ask for baklava too 🙂
If I start talking about food, this will become another heads up. I might need to open a new blog just on that. So will keep it short, you can easily find any kind of food you looking for in Istanbul. Fresh fruits and vegetables in every corner market.
Please try the local country food and local restaurants and send me virtual hugs when you realize kebap is only a tiny part of our kitchen which tastes much better than what you used to have outside.
This dish makes Italians jealous, they said. 
City has large amount of textile production factories as well, so for clothes and jewellery shopping the variety and the quality is incredible. If you are looking to shop quality without breaking the bank, you are, my friend, in the right place.
Over 15 million people, it would not be wrong calling it a quite clean city. Not only people though, millions of stray dogs and cats together are the true owners of Istanbul. Honestly, people and strays are living in an harmony here. Volunteers and municipality daily feed and provide care for them.
Cats are everywhere! If you love cats, it is impossible not to share a meal with them outside. They will come to you, sit on your lap and give all the love in the world.
The dog you pet the other day will company you in your street walking to your apartment every night waving their tail happily, this feeling, loyalty, that they provide for the world, highly felt in the streets of Istanbul.
Don’t get me wrong please, Istanbul is not a pretty city, Istanbul is a city like art, and art never supposed to be nice, it is supposed to make you feel something.
“If the world was only one country, Istanbul would be its capital” Napoleon
sdcardfull.com 