Let's go to Istanbul, the city where East meets West. It took about an hour and a half from Kayseri Airport in Cappadocia to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, which is on the Asian side of Istanbul. I walked out and the people looked busy. I miss the peaceful Cappadocia so much, but this is not the time to think about Cappadocia. I shook my head. This is the time for me to find a way to get to the European side of Istanbul. According to the information I read, there is a HAVATAS bus at the airport that goes to Taksim, which takes an hour and a half. But my hotel is not in Taksim. My hotel is near Eminonu. So I will get off at the Kadıköy pier to take a ferry to Eminonu. It doesn't take long to take a ferry across the sea and enjoy the view.

Tip: The airport is located on the Asian side, which is far away and prone to traffic jams. If you are flying out of this airport, make sure to allow plenty of time to avoid missing your flight. In Istanbul, I decided to slow down and enjoy life before returning to the real world. I took a boat and walked to my hotel according to the map. It was a small hotel that was easy to find. When I arrived at the hotel, I showed the receptionist my reservation. He asked me why I didn't book a room with a shared bathroom, which would be much cheaper and help me save money. I smiled and told him that the people here are so kind and want me to save money. But I said no, I'm traveling alone and I prefer to have a single room with a private bathroom. I often use the bathroom at night, and it wouldn't be convenient for me to use a shared bathroom. I also don't like dorm rooms because I have a lot of belongings, including my laptop, tablet, phone, and other things. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my things behind, and if I stayed in a dorm room, I would have to keep putting my things in storage. To be honest, I'm lazy. I've saved up money to travel for a long time, so I want to be comfortable for a while. That's my reason. I went to my room, took a shower, and rested for a bit. In the evening, I went for a walk around the Eminonu pier and walked to the Galata Bridge.

Note: The photos are from various cameras, so the quality may vary. I apologize if some of them are not good. Near the Galata Bridge is the famous fish sandwich. Some say it's delicious, while others say it's not. Today, I'm going to try it and find out for myself. I walked around looking at several shops. The shops with the most people were the ones closest to the bridge. I kept walking until I reached the last shop. I chose this shop because it wasn't crowded and there were still seats available. After making my decision, I ordered a fish sandwich and a can of Coke. They have pickled vegetables in red plastic cups here. I've read that they're very sour. I don't like sour food, and I don't want to risk getting an upset stomach, so I didn't order any.

The fish sandwich for us, it's bread stuffed with sardine (canned fish). There are lettuce and onions. The taste is like eating fish with bread. The bread is a hard baguette. Eat it to know, since you're already there.

After finishing my meal, I took a stroll to see what was being sold. Near the sandwich shop, there were many vendors selling their wares, much like a night market back home. I walked back down to the Galata Bridge, where there were many restaurants with handsome waiters inviting me to sit down. However, I was already full, so I just shook my head. Then I walked back up again, gazing absentmindedly at the view of the river from the bridge. I could see New Moscow and the Süleymaniye Mosque, which I planned to visit in the next few days.

This morning I woke up without rushing. I had breakfast at the hotel. Today I will go to the Blue Mosque, the mosque of my dreams that I have wanted to see for a long time. The first time I saw this mosque in National Geographic magazine, I always dreamed of seeing it with my own eyes. Today is the day I will finally see it. I am staying near Eminonu, which is only three tram stops away from the Sultanahmet district. When I got off the tram, I saw the Blue Mosque standing tall in front of me. I'm here, the Blue Mosque that I've always wanted to see.

The front of the mosque is a wide courtyard with flower gardens, fountains, and benches to sit on. The mosque is free to enter, but you can only enter when there is no prayer. Please bring a headscarf for women. Do not wear shorts or revealing clothing. However, if you do not have a headscarf, they will lend you one. I walked inside with a trembling heart, excited. It felt like I was about to meet something I had always wanted to meet in my life. It was grand and magnificent. I really don't know what words can replace all my feelings. I don't regret waiting so long to visit this place.

Content: The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmet I Mosque, is one of the iconic landmarks of Istanbul. Inspired by the desire to surpass the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia, this mosque boasts intricate blue-tiled walls and seven minarets. Leaving the mosque with a sense of wonder, I decided to take a stroll around its perimeter and rest. My steps led me to the Hippodrome, where I gazed upon the towering obelisk, imagining the ancient chariot races that once took place in this arena, which could accommodate up to 100,000 spectators. Three pillars stand tall in this square: the Obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose, brought from Karnak, Egypt, by Constantine the Great during the relocation of ancient monuments; the Serpentine Column, adorned with intertwined serpents, originally from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi; and the Column of Constantine VII, erected in 940 AD, its history shrouded in mystery. As I sat reading about these ancient wonders, I couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity of our ancestors.

Image: Hippodrome Square

I'm hungry. What should I eat? I thought, I don't want to sit in a restaurant yet because after this I have a plan to go to the Topkapi Palace. I saw a sandwich shop nearby, so I went to buy it to satisfy my hunger. When asked if it was delicious, I would say no. But... it made me feel full and gave me the energy to continue.

I have finished eating and now I have the energy to continue walking. My next destination is the Topkapi Palace, a palace that has housed treasures and served as the residence of sultans for over 3 centuries. At the front entrance, there are young guards standing guard with guns. I would love to take a picture with them, but I think it would be rude since I am alone and have no one to take the picture for me. So, I'll pass. I walk through the first gate and enter a large garden. I see young soldiers standing at various points. On the left is the Hagia Irene Church, the second largest Byzantine church after Hagia Sophia. Information indicates that excavations have revealed the remains of a building that connected the two churches. Later, some parts were demolished to build the palace walls, placing the Hagia Irene Church within the palace walls. This church has never been converted into a mosque. I decide to walk inside and have a look. The interior is still under renovation, and there is not much to see. I don't spend much time here and head towards the inner Topkapi Palace.

I headed straight through the vast garden, walking through the gate to another level. The palace here was not as luxurious as one might imagine, but rather consisted of separate buildings. It felt like a village within high walls. This part would have an inner part called the harem. The harem was the residence of the palace women, from the Queen Mother to the Sultan's concubines. The only men allowed to enter, besides the Sultan, were boys under the age of 13 and eunuchs. Most of the eunuchs came from Africa. I didn't buy a ticket to go in because, looking at my watch, I didn't think I would have enough time. I wanted to see the Sultan's treasures more.

I walked into the Sultan's treasury. Photography is prohibited in this section. According to the guide I read, the 86-carat diamond and the Topkapi dagger made of gold and adorned with three large emeralds are not to be missed. I walked in and stared at it for a long time. It was really big, but if you ask me, I don't know anything about expensive jewelry because I've never saved money to buy jewelry. I've always saved money to travel instead. After visiting the treasury, I walked around and the balcony at the back of the palace is a viewpoint that offers a view of the Istanbul cityscape. There is also a restaurant there for tourists to take a break.

Tip: Buy a museum pass for 85 TL to save time and avoid queuing to buy tickets at each attraction. This will save you a lot of time.

I walked out of the palace through a side door, not knowing where it would lead. I didn't care. I was here to explore, and getting lost was half the fun. I walked down the hill, seeing the ruins of buildings scattered along the way. As I continued walking, I realized it was a path leading to a museum. Inside the museum, there was a cafe where I could rest. The building had several floors showcasing various artifacts, especially Egyptian antiquities. I don't know why there were Egyptian artifacts, but I was very interested because I grew up watching the cartoon "The Mummy's Curse"...

The Greek antiquities, including the snake heads of the columns from the Hippodrome, are also here, remember?

It was already evening when I walked out of the museum. I walked along the path and came to Gülhane Park. Oh, I just realized that it's right next to each other. So I went in for a walk and sat down to think about things before walking back. It's not far from my hotel. I was very tired today, so I didn't want to go anywhere in the evening. I just found something to eat near the hotel and took a shower to sleep and gain strength for the next day.

I woke up early today. My first stop was the Hagia Sophia. I had seen it in photos for so long, and I was finally going to see it in person. I walked inside and was amazed by its beauty. The light and the gold of the mosaics, the grandeur, the history. I imagined what it must have been like in the past, and I soaked in the changes it had undergone from a church to a mosque. I stared at the ancient mosaics, marveling at the skill of the people who created them. The Hagia Sophia has two floors, and I spent three hours there.

Content: History has it that it was originally built as a Christian church, Orthodox by the Byzantine Empire. Then after being captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. The white plaster was used to cover the Christian mosaics. And further decorated with Islamic symbols instead. It is currently a museum, approximately 1500 years old. This picture is a diamond-encrusted dagger in the Topkapi Palace. But this picture is a replica on display in the Hagia Sophia.

Turkish baths, known as hamams, are public bathhouses with a rich history and cultural significance.

The tombs of the sultans and their families are located near the Hamam, on the way to Topkapi Palace. Admission is free, so if you have some time, it's worth a visit.

Before I came to Turkey, I did a lot of research. I made a list of places I wanted to visit in Istanbul, and one place I thought I absolutely had to see was the Basilica Cistern. The pictures I saw showed a giant Medusa head inside the cistern, and I knew I had to see it for myself!

The head of Medusa is as terrifying as its reputation. Inside, it is very, very dark. There are dim lights illuminating the path at intervals. If there were no people, I think the atmosphere here would be truly eerie.

The queue of people waiting to enter the underground reservoir

The police station opposite the entrance to the reservoir is very beautiful to me.

Emerging from the underground reservoir, I took the tram to Eminonu station to cruise the Bosphorus Strait. Back in high school, I had heard the name of this strait for ages, reading from books and memorizing that it was the natural border dividing Istanbul from Europe and Asia. It's a strait that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, marking the meeting point of the edges of Europe and Asia. But I didn't really know what it looked like until I saw it with my own eyes today. I walked to the waterfront near Eminonu, where someone called out, offering a boat tour of the strait. I boarded the boat. Finding a boat yourself is cheaper than buying from an agency, trust me. If we get on the boat early, we can choose good seats. I chose a seat on the left side. The view from up here is great. I could see the New Mosque from the boat. We sat on the boat until it was almost full before it departed. I felt a little dizzy because the boat was rocking all the time.

The boat started to leave the shore. The sea breeze was comfortable. I sat and watched the view, letting my mind wander. If you ask me if I would take a boat again if I went back to Istanbul, I think I would. Because it was a time when I felt like I could really let go of my emotions.

Dolmabahçe Mosque

Dolmabahçe Palace

Ciragan Palace was once a palace, but now it is a hotel.

GALATASARAY UNIVERSITY Istanbul University

Ortaköy Mosque (Ortaköy Camii)

The Bosphorus Bridge 2

Rumeli Fortress on the banks of the Bosphorus

Maiden's Tower

This is another palace, but I can't remember its name.

After finishing the boat trip, the sky was still very bright. I went in the summer, so the sun sets late. With time to spare before sunset, I thought I should visit the New Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque, as well as the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market.

New Mosque

Grand Bazaar

I wandered around in circles, lost, until I finally reached the Süleymaniye Mosque. I didn't spend much time there before walking back to the Spice Market. The goods on sale were similar to those in the Grand Bazaar, but cheaper.

Suleiman Mosque

Spice Market

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Turkish Delight

After walking for a while, I felt hungry. I saw some Turkish guys buying a white drink. I asked them what it was and they said it was yogurt. I was curious to try it, so I bought a cup. I have to say that I didn't like it at all because it was very salty and fishy. I continued walking and found a cute little shop, so I decided to take a break and order a kebab and some tea. When in Turkey, you have to have kebab and tea!

Today I moved hotels from the Old Town to a new area called Taksim. There's not much to it, I just wanted to change my sleeping arrangements. I booked the hotel from booking.com based on the pictures. The hotel is beautiful and the breakfast is good, but one thing I didn't know is that the hotel is on a very high hill. I have to walk up and down the hill from the hotel every day.

After settling the hotel matters, the place I'm going to today is not far from the hotel. That place is Dolmabahce Palace, a European-style palace. Photography is prohibited inside, but you can take pictures around it. This palace is located next to the Bosphorus Strait.

Next, we headed to the Galata Tower, a Byzantine-era structure standing tall at 62 meters. With a history spanning over seven centuries, the tower offers breathtaking views from its summit.

The ship we saw from the Bosphorus Strait

This angle offers a view of all three major landmarks: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque.

The walkway to the Galata Tower to enjoy the view

Leaving the tower, I walked down to the Tünel station and boarded the tram. I didn't go anywhere. I just sat down and then got up. I just wanted to try the old tram.^^

Exiting Tünel station, I walked along the shopping street called Istiklal Street, which is a bustling pedestrian shopping area.

If you walk to the end of the street, you will find Taksim Square, which is a 3 km route with a vintage tram running along it.

The sun has begun to set over Taksim Square.

There is a lot of food here. I tried many things. The orange juice in Turkey is very delicious, everyone should try it. Another thing you can't miss is the rice in the mussels, I don't know what it's called, but it's sold on the side of the road. Also, kebabs are everywhere.

Today is the last day. I woke up early in Istanbul and sat by the sea, had something to eat, and wrote a journal. If you ask me if I will come back to Turkey, I would say that if I have the chance, I will come again. I am impressed by many things here. It is a country that I feel is never boring. After I finished eating, it was time to go back to the airport. I took the tram from Kabatas and then the metro to the airport.

Our trip to Turkey has come to an end. It took a while to write, but since we found information here, we wanted to share it back. We traveled with Turkish Airlines, and the food was delicious. For anyone who has any questions, please send a private message. We're happy to answer. Goodbye.