Istanbul
Since there is now a direct flight from Iceland to Istanbul, my brother and I decided to hop over there for a week. Same plan as usual: walk around, take photos, find something nice to eat and drink.
I had been to Istanbul about 20 years ago as a relatively inexperienced traveler, and found it an amazing experience. It still is although, like everywhere, the main “attractions” are overflowing with tourists. Not to worry, there are plenty of other places in the city to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.
The city is special in a lot of ways. It’s huge, a bit rundown but still kind of clean, and feels remarkably safe. For me, the biggest attractions are the Bosphorus and the remarkable history of the city, which spans centuries.
Also of note is the amazing number of stray cats, which have the run of the place (even the Topkapi Palace) and which the locals take care to feed.
I highly recommend reading “Istanbul: Memories of a City” by Orhan Pamuk before going there. It’s a brilliant piece of writing that immerses the reader into the atmosphere of Istanbul.
