My Life In Limbo: Istanbul, Turkey

July 11 - July 14, 2010

Fresh, salted corn cobs and juicy watermelon slices overflowed in street-side stalls. Lamb, houmous, yogurt and pide plates piled high in local Ottoman restaurants. Sweet paprika, sumac and Turkish saffron heaps piled in the Spice Bazaar. You now already know that you're in for a treat.

Situated on the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul is the world's only city to be located on two continents. On the border between Europe and Asia, Istanbul benefits greatly as the Bosphorus serves as a major international trade route, for both sea and land commerce alike. Being able to experience such an amazing destination, I did not mind having to watch the FIFA World Cup Final, Spain vs. Holland, on a Spanish-speaking channel featured on a Turkish television, whatsoever.

The Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet (created from what used to be a neoclassic Turkish prison) in Istanbul's Old Town could not have been a more convenient location to reside at when exploring the city. Let me advise you now; definitely opt to stay in the Old Town, rather than in Istanbul's commercial district, where you can embark on some fantastic walking tours with a local guide and delve into the fascinating history of Istanbul itself. Today, this part of the city is still very much inundated with striving culture and tradition. The Whirling Dervishes gracefully spinning on the rooftop terraces of our hotel were just the beginning to what we discovered.

Just two streets away, we were arriving to what is known as Sultanahmet Park, the center of the Old Town. It was impossible to miss - the park, adorned with luscious lawns, flowerbeds and a wonderful fountain, is embraced by two iconic mosques; the Hagia Sophia on one end, and directly opposite, on the other side of the park, the Blue Mosque. Also just off the square is the Tomb of Sultan Ahmet I, and down the street adjacent to the Hagia Sophia is the incredible Topkapi Palace and Harem. Just a short walk down a few further streets led you to the Basilica Cistern, too. So where do I begin?

The Hagia Sophia was initially constructed as a church by the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, and took five years to build, from 532 to 537. It stands today with four minarets, each built at a different point throughout its history. Acknowledged for its imposing dome, it has been as mosque since 1453 and was opened to the public as a museum in 1935. As for the Blue Mosque, this structure stands with six minarets and was built from 1609 to 1616 by Sultan Ahmed I. It was named for its blue, hand-painted tiles which ensconce its interior walls from floor to ceiling. Featuring over 200 stained glass windows, tablets erected high up on the walls portray verses from the Quran as well as the names of caliphs for those who still visit and pray in routine. When visiting either mosque, we entered shoeless and had our shoulders and knees covered out of respect towards the Islamic religion. The Topkapi Palace and Harem was in use from 1465 to 1856 by Ottoman Sultans and, at times, housed up to 4,000 people. Sprawled in grandeur along the Bosphorus, its hundreds of chambers are decorated with the Turkish porcelain tiles (every tile design holding a meaning), just as the mosques are. Its history was incredible to hear and fascinating tours have been held through both the palace and the harem since 1924. Don't miss exploring it for your life.

Another must-see in Istanbul are its markets, or bazaars. Small, local bazaars can be found tucked in crevices of the Old Town, such as the Arasta Bazaar, while some of Istanbul's main marketplaces are the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. Sipping apple tea while exploring the Grand Bazaar, I quickly realized that you could pick up anything and everything you wished for - from leather jackets to colourful glass lamps to shisha pipes. The Spice Bazaar definitely treated my nose to a variety of new and intriguing smells, no doubt.

We spent our last full day in Istanbul on a boat cruise on the Bosphorus, sailing up the European side and back along the Asian side. The weather couldn't have been more perfect as we caught glimpses of stunning villas and palaces right on the water's edge. Not to forget, the cherry on top of the day consisted of a delicious dinner at the Four Season Hotel on the Bosphorus sitting in the warm evening breeze watching the twinkling lights of the city across the strait. Truly magnificent, it was.

I made sure to live up every moment possible while in the beautiful city of Istanbul, awaking early on the day we were to say goodbye. I ventured out one last time to Sultanahmet park to meet and spend the morning with a new friend. Savannah was going to be attending the upcoming 7th session of the Global Young Leaders Conference in New York City and Washington D.C., just as I was. She had come to Istanbul from San Francisco, I, from London. We both realized we were in the same city just hours after a Facebook friend request had been made the previous day. That morning, we sat in the courtyard of the Blue Mosque and talked away, just like we were sisters. We ate corn from the street-stalls and talked away, just like we were sisters. We then met again just two weeks later, on an entirely different continent. This world is so beautifully small.

Take me back to Istanbul.