Sunday, October 4, 2015

(Istanbul) Merhaba

As has become our custom, we took a cheap - and thus meandering - path to Istanbul. But the weather, smiling faces and inviting shops and restaurants motivated us to set aside our jetlag and spend a little bit of time exploring our Beyoglu neighborhood.

Beyoglu is the hilly, eclectic, energetic, gritty and at times rebellious district in Istanbul. We are staying between Taksim Square and the Galatasaray Tower and have access to countless restaurants, bars and cafes. Our first restaurant was a straightforward vegan spot in Galatasaray, which immediately confirmed the two things we knew about Iatanbul. First, it can be cheap. Two 'falafel popper' wraps, two pomegranate juices and a vegan muffin were $11. And second, the hospitality and respect for visitors is unrivaled. The owner of the restaurant insisted that she prepare us wraps that weren't on the menu, was genuinely interested in our feedback and refused a modest tip, insisting that it was too much.

Beyond that dinner experience, it is hard to avoid noticing how happy people are here. No matter their sitsution, virtually everyone that you pass on the street is smiling or laughing. While our jetlag has done us in, we cannot wait to spend a full day on the town tomorrow.

No comments:

Post a Comment