Two continents, one city - the city of Istanbul


I love that I can sit outside in a cafe on an sunny day at the end of February and wear a light cardigan while sun heats up the corner where I'm sitting and brings freckles to my nose. 

Dynamic is the one word I'd describe the city I live in now - Istanbul. It's the end of February. Technically not even a spring time, but the feel of spring is all over the city. It's a bit chilly yet, but seeing the sun after the long and grey winter invites me to immediately step outside and go to my favorite area near the sea. It's not actually a sea, it's a waterway which connects the Black sea with the Sea of Marmara. It draws a line between two continents, separating the city into two - Asian and European side.

     Two continents, one city. It's the place I call home.
This is not the calm getaway destination with long beaches there's nothing to do at. This city is in a busy bee nest, always in a hurry. And there are loads of reasons I love this city as it is.

 Here are 5 a bit different reasons I love Istanbul for
  • It's place you share a bench with your fellow citizen, the place with loads of cars and yellow taxis.

It's a place you're never alone, and honestly you don't feel alone too. People are nice, sometimes too nice. Sometimes an older lady in a clothing store, or a young man waiting in a metro station starts a conversation with me. Sometimes they are curios, sometimes they just want to talk. It's something interesting and different (and weird).


  • Everything is Everywhere

One day I was making mashed potatoes at home. As I found out that there's no milk in the fridge, I went downstairs to a little market and came back along with a pack of milk few minutes later. The time I got back the potatoes still steam from the heat. 
This is something I haven't been used to before, but I'm enjoying it to the fullest right now. Weather you need a copy-center, hairdresser or grab a fast bite, everything you need is near by. There's lots of people here and they all need different kinds of products and services daily, therefore everything is available close by. 
  • What many people don't know about Istanbul. It's something I love about this place is, that although mostly the weather is sunny and warm and it rains rarely, there's still one thing many people don't know about Istanbul. It snows in winters in Istanbul. And when it does, it's magical.


  • Food - Meat is not the only option. 

Turkish food culture is rich, that's for sure. As probably everyone knows the famous kebab, Turkey is not only all about meat. Me as an non-meat eater am far more interested in dishes not consisted of meat. There's a wide variety of traditional foods made of fresh ingredients not consisting any meat, which makes me super happy! 

I love these little local food places with cheap prices and delicious dishes. One of my casual go-to places is a little food place 5 minutes from my home where I order one of my favorites - lental soup.
  • The cats of Istanbul

It's something worth mentioning. People love cats. 
If I say love them, I mean that maybe even more than people. Istanbulers are animal-friendly people, who  leave cat food and water into little containers all over the streets, even inside their shops for our furry friends to enjoy. Also all over the town it's visible little houses for street dogs and cats to sleep in. Sometimes these "houses" are made of cardboard boxes, covered with plastic to protect them from rain, sometimes they are made of wood and more permanent materials. This always makes me wander that there truly are people around, who actually build these shelters in their homes with the aim to give a street cat or dog a place safe from wind and rain to comfortably sleep in. That's just simply amazing.

 So, if a cat walks into a shop or an open cafe, they are mostly not thrown out, but warmly welcomed inside, to lay down in a sunny spot of their choosing.


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