It was June and my best friend, Melissa was trying to put together a girl’s trip to Turkey and Greece.  She had spent last summer there and wanted to bring a group of us to experience these amazing countries with the friends she had made there.

At the last minute, I learned that I would have to leave early because of an FDA audit, but I was so excited to meet up with our friends, old and new, for an opportunity of a lifetime.

From left to right:  Shawna, Amye, Melissa, Trish, Me and Maria

Since each of us lived in different states, we met together in Newark enjoying drinks and snacks at the United Club’s lounge.  Most of us had arrived early, so it was a long day of waiting but so much fun catching up and getting to know each other.

We decided to have dinner at the airport before our flight and agreed upon Vino Volo.

Our flight was scheduled for an evening departure the flight but was continuously delayed until we learned that the pilot bringing in the flight had too many hours and therefore, the Istanbul flight was cancelled.

We found a local hotel for the evening and would be back the next day in hopes of catching the next flight out.

We woke early the next morning only to learn that there had been a shooting at the hotel so we were sequestered in the lobby until they could finish their investigation.  About an hour later, we called a taxi and began our quest for reaching Istanbul the next day.

We were able to board a flight to Frankfurt instead of the direct flight we had attempted the night before.  At least we would be closer to our destination and have more opportunities in the event there were more flight cancellations.

Our flight from Frankfurt to Istanbul was a couple of hours away, so we found a corner to drop our bags and wait while Melissa took care of all of the details.  We had fun listening to music from Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, which became our trip’s theme songs.

As the time approached to check in, It was down to the wire. We were worried that we would be split up so that some of us could make the trip and the rest would follow.  Luckily, they had just enough seats for all of us and we were becoming more excited about our arrival into Turkey.

I had the perfect seat to watch us land into Istanbul.  The sun was shining and we could see the beautiful city and the Bosporus.

As soon as we had arrived, Melissa’s friend Timur had met us at the airport.  He had arranged a couple of cars to pick us up, provide a driving tour of the city.  We had a few minutes to stretch out while we were in the heart of Istanbul and I couldn’t get enough of this amazing city.

After strolling around for a couple of hours, we continued our carpool tour escaping near accidents with wild drivers and narrow tunnels.  The sound of car horns is prohibited adding to the charm of the Old Town and its cobblestone streets.

The traffic was in full force as we had arrived during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.  Locals filled the streets and vendors were selling their Turkish Taffy (Ottoman candy) and trinkets.  Restaurants were open as usual but hardly filled due to the fasting that is required of the Muslims during this time.  We found a cute little cafe for lunch, ordered pita bread with hummus and drank the local beer.

Timur was hosting a welcoming party so we decided to go back to his extravagant house along the Bosporus.  Timur is an art dealer and has done exceptionally well in the city.  He was so happy to host us, enjoy some time at his home and then go out on the town for the evening.  We were excited to have the opportunity to spend time with him and learn more about the customs of Istanbul and make plans for our afternoon in Istanbul the next day.

Have you had the opportunity to visit Istanbul?  Were you on a guided trip or had the pleasure of meeting one of the locals to take you around?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my first-ever visit to Istanbul and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Contact a Local Tour Guide to take you around the city!

Where to Stay:

Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel Istanbul
Alemdar, Ticarethane Sk. No. 10
Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey
Telephone:  +90 212 522 32 00

Where to Eat:

Cozy Pub and Restaurant
Alemdar, Divan Yolu Cd. No. 60
34110  Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey
Phone:  +90 212 520 09 90

Tip:  Take the elevator up to the rooftop for spectacular views of the Blue Mosque and surrounding area.

What to Eat: 

• Baklava:  made with puffed pastry, this dessert has chopped nuts (my favorite is pistachio), and is covered in honey.
• Gozleme is a type of bread that is shaped in a square and stuffed with various fillings such as meat, cheese, potatoes or vegetables and then cooked over a griddle.  The cheese and spinach reminds me of spanikopita.
• Iskender Kebab:  thinly sliced lamb is smothered in tomato sauce and served with traditional bread, then topped with yogurt and butter.
• Mezze is a sample of several small bites that may include yogurt with herbs, hummus, olives, dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), meatballs, eggplant, white cheese and warm bread.
• Simit is a fun street food bread that is similar to a pretzel.
• Turkish Apple Tea is absolutely amazing and was one of my favorite drinks while visiting Turkey.
• Turkish Delight:  a delicious dessert is made up of dates, pistachios, hazelnuts, which is pink in color.
• Turkish Ice Cream, also known as Dondurma, is a little thicker in consistency, but it will not melt.  A must try.
• Turkish Pizza is outstanding and tastes so fresh.  Made from Turkish Pide (a type of pastry), it is similar to a flatbread with a variety of toppings.
• Turkish Ravioli:  dumplings stuffed with beef or lamb served with yogurt.

What to Read: 

• Istanbul: Memories of a City, by Orhan Pamuk
• The Bastard of Istanbul, by Elif Shahak
• My Name is Red, by Orhan Pamuk
• Istanbul Passage, by Joseph Kanon

Photo Guide for Istanbul: 

• Galata Tower for views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus River
• The Blue Mosque for its amazing blue tiles
• The Rainbow Stairs at Sali Pazari Yokusu
• The Rooftop Terrace of Seven Hills Hotel for views of the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace AND the Hagia Sophia
• Rooftop Terrace of Cozy’s Restaurant for views of the Blue Mosque
• Inside the Hagia Sophia in the afternoon when the light shines in from the windows
• The Grand Bazaar
• Balat for colorful structures in the former Jewish neighborhood