If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” Napoleon Bonaparte
Sometimes the best travel days are the ones that are completely unplanned and you end up just following the signs from the Universe.
Istanbul is mostly surrounded by water. That’s one of the many reasons I love this city so much. For those of you who don’t know, the city of Istanbul is divided by the Bosphorus Strait forming the continental boundaries between Asia and Europe. Crossing from one side to the other is fairly easy. The options consist of a water ferry, an underground subway, or by car across one of the several bridges.
Bear with me as all of this will tie together later.
One morning I set out without a plan. I purposely decided not to use a map, relying only on my intuition or suggestions from others to see where I would end up. You know like the “olden days” before Smartphones and GPS dictating our every move.
My expedition started with breakfast on a beautiful rooftop that was recommended by some random guy I met on the street…who turned out to not be so random. After exchanging pleasantries, I learned that Mehmet who is from Istanbul attended college and played soccer at CMSU in Warrensburg, MO only a few hours from where I grew up. So this “random guy” who currently owns a shop in Istanbul has been to Kansas City! The stars seem to be aligning nicely so far.
After a delicious breakfast and watching the seagulls fly above the buildings, I walked a few steps down the street and heard someone yell, “Hey Kansas!” I stopped to look around to see if the person was yelling at me (I mean the odds are kind of slim that someone else from Kansas would be walking near me on a tiny street in Istanbul but it could happen). I immediately recognized Ibrahim, one of Hamit’s (the man I purchased the Turkish rug from) friends waving me over. I had to laugh. We met briefly in the carpet store during one of my visits. I was shocked he remembered me.
Unbeknownst to me, Ibrahim owns a restaurant not far from my hotel. He invited me in for a cup of tea and a chat. Another thing I love about Turkey, the people are so friendly and welcoming.
The signs and synchronicity were taking shape…quickly.
I told Ibrahim my plan for the day and that I was letting the day unfold by itself. He gave me a fantastic suggestion…that I could take a walk along the shoreline of the Bosphorus over to the Golden Horn.
I’m originally from a landlocked state in the US so strolling along the edge of a beautiful body of water like the Bosphorus Strait is extremely enjoyable for me.
The walk was beautiful just like Ibrahim said it would be. I saw several cats hanging out and napping in between the rocks and a few fisherman casting lines in the water before stopping at the Sarayburnu Family Tea Garden for a cappuccino and to watch the boats.
As I continued on around the coastline, I was drawn to one of the more busy tourist attractions in the city. An iconic two-story bridge that doesn’t cross the Bosphorus but does cross the Golden Horn called the Galata Bridge.
This bridge stands out because its lower level is lined end-to-end with restaurants and cafes – a rare feature among bridges. Another fascinating aspect of this lively structure, with its spacious pedestrian walkways, is the daily presence of fishermen. From morning until night, they catch sardines, horse mackerel, and bluefish, to sell to the local restaurants.
A fisherman told me that many tourists mistakenly believe that crossing the bridge connects them from Asia to the European side (and vice versa) but in reality, it connects the Karaköy–Eminönü districts on the European side. So don’t make this mistake when you visit, otherwise the locals will tease you.
After I walked across the top of the bridge and watched the fisherman, I sat at a cafe below and drank another cup of coffee while enjoying the view and chatting with some locals.
It was an unexpected day that centered around water (and coffee). To cap off the afternoon, at the last minute I decided to take a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus. Vera had recommended it to me days earlier and I figured, since I’m already in the area, why not? I reserved my spot through the Get Your Guide app for a two and a half hour cruise that included an audio guide and all you can drink (non-alcoholic) for an off-season special of $7.35. It was a steal of a deal and too good to pass up!
The views were stunning, the sunset was brilliant, and it was a perfect way to sightsee and wrap up another beautiful day in Istanbul…without a Smartphone or GPS telling me where to go. It’s amazing what you notice when you look up.
Good Things List
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Sunsets 🧡
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Sipping coffee with a beautiful view
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Boat rides
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Napping cats
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Fresh sardines
Much love & gratitude. Namaste 🙏
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Perks of being a solo traveler: The Captain invited me into his (heated) office. He showed me how to operate the boat – they don’t use the steering wheel anymore, only a joystick. He’s been driving this vessel for 14 years and said he absolutely loves it and hopes to finish his career as a Captain on the Bosphorus.
A list of the highlights on the tour from the audio guide.
