After our adventures in the Cappadocia and Aegean regions of Turkey, we returned to Istanbul. It was time for the wedding that brought us to Turkey in the first place, and there was much, much more of Istanbul to explore.
Travel Day
Istanbul Airport
The direct flight from Izmir to Istanbul was short. Our walk through the massive Istanbul airport seemed longer than the flight. We used EIGHT travelators (moving walkways), and it was well over a mile from the gate to the arrivals hall!
Casa Foscolo
This time we stayed in the New District, across the Golden Horn from the Old City (where we had stayed earlier in the month).
Our hotel, Casa Foscolo, was built in the late 19th century by a Venetian family of merchants. Its neoclassical style fit right into the neighborhood.
Our suite was small but comfortable. The kitchenette was nice, but we were more excited about the heated towel rack in the bathroom - perfect for drying our hand washed clothing!
Quiet Dinner
There were plenty of restaurants right near the hotel - including three Irish pubs! Steve found a neighborhood taverna with delicious chicken shiş kebabs. We sat on the secret upper level, where our window table had a nice view of the street below.
Day 1
We had a quiet day at “home” in the hotel, a needed break from all the sight-seeing. Steve practiced guitar, and I did some blogging.
Family Dinner
We met up with the Steve’s sister and family (the groom’s family) and took a scenic ferry ride on the Bosphorus.
We had a lovely dinner at a waterfront seafood restaurant, and enjoyed getting to know the bride’s family. Read more HERE.
Day 2
What luck! After several days of rain in Istanbul, Skye and Işil’s wedding day promised nothing but sunshine. We decided it was a good day to do touristy things in Beyoğlu (beh-yoh-loo), the neighborhood around our hotel.
Galata Tower
The historic tower was right nearby and offered spectacular views of the city. We also learned about two interesting figures in early Turkish aviation history. Read more HERE.
Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square
We explored Istanbul’s most famous street, which offered something for everyone. Read more HERE.
Skye & Işil’s Wedding
Our first Turkish wedding was a lot of fun! And what a beautiful setting - the Golden Horn. We’re normally carry-on travelers, but this event was worth checking a bag with our formal attire. Read more HERE.
Day 3
I would have loved to have a day of doing nothing at the hotel. But sometimes, good weather beckons.
Süleymaniye Mosque
We had already seen many impressive mosques in Istanbul, but there was one more on my list, a masterpiece on the other side of the Golden Horn. Read more HERE.
That evening, we returned to Tershane, the rooftop restaurant, to enjoy the sunset views with two other couples, Paul & Karen and Tom & Jen. They were friends of Sandy & Blair who had traveled from the USA to Istanbul for the wedding. They were all curious about our nomad lifestyle! We enjoyed hours of great conversation. All of Sandy & Blair’s kids are married now, so we’ll have to find another way to cross paths again.
Day 4
We had just three days left in Istanbul! And we had one day remaining with a private tour guide. With our guide Fatih, we explored parts of the Old City and the New District that we hadn’t seen before.
Chora Church
The late Byzantine frescoes and murals in this church-turned-mosque were exquisite. I enjoyed the apocryphal scenes featuring an infant Mary and her parents. Read more HERE.
Walls of Constantinople
We visited Tekfur Palace and stood atop the ancient walls that protected the capital city from siege for a thousand years. Even Attila the Hun dared not attack these walls! Read more HERE.
Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
I almost opted out of visiting yet another mosque. But this ended up being my favorite! Its interior was flooded with light from beautiful windows. And there was a romantic story behind it. Read more HERE.
New District Walk
We returned to the New District for a a phenomenal meal with Fatih. Then, enjoying the mild weather, we made our way home on foot. Even with public transit, we logged 20,000+ steps that day! Read more HERE.
Day 5
It rained most of the day, but after all the walking we did the day before, I was happy to stay home, relax, and do some blogging.
Day 6
Rain didn't stop us from taking a walking food tour on two continents! We had a terrific guide and a fun group of fellow foodies. My only regret is that we didn't do this at the start of our time in Turkey. Read more HERE.
Day 7
It was our last day in Istanbul! We decided to walk over to the Istanbul Modern. It’s an emerging tradition for us - after exploring all the antiquities, we like to soak in something new. Read more HERE.
After two stays and ten full days in Istanbul, we were hooked. We want to come back and stay at least a month. We’ve seen most of the major tourist attractions, we’ve learned how to ride the public transit, and we know we love the food. On our next visit, we’ll take it slow and discover how it feels to live in this fascinating city that straddles two continents.
