Date: 30/05/24 🇹🇷
Our adventure in Istanbul began as we landed and went to our hotel, 10 Karakoy, nestled in the city's heart. The evening vibe was electric, even though fatigue from our travel meant we took it relatively easy on our first night.
Shortly after checking in, we explored the area around our hotel. The streets were lively, and we encountered a street game in which participants tried to shoot balloons with a clearly bent pellet gun-a challenging but amusing attempt that ended in no prizes being won.
Dinner was at a rooftop restaurant whose name escapes me, but the experience was memorable more for the steep prices than the food quality, which didn't quite meet our expectations.
Our stroll continued with a visit to Osmani Oud, where the rich aroma of Turkish Oud captivated us. I made a mental note to return, eventually purchasing some with my remaining Lira on our last day.
As we wandered, we stumbled upon iconic sights like the Galata Tower and caught a glimpse of the famous #SaltBae restaurant. Unfortunately, much of our evening exploration went unrecorded, but our memories vividly showed the highlights.
One memorable stop was at Coffy, where I enjoyed an exceptional mango drink-a refreshing treat I regretted not being able to revisit as our schedule and their closing times never quite aligned again.
We concluded our first day back at the hotel, where I succumbed to a well-deserved snooze, recharging for the days ahead in this mesmerizing city.
🎶 Soundtrack: "Where I’m From" by Margs & TE dness