Istanbul

I have been in Istanbul for 2 days. This is a solo trip, my first since the last one 2 decades ago, a birthday treat for myself, and somewhat of a rite of passage as well.

Istanbul is infinitely beautiful. The historical, architectural and cultural attractions. The scenic beauty of the Bosphorus. The exotic food. Their tea drinking tradition. Turkish delights. The like-minded awe that fellow tourists delight in.

Of course, tourism comes with its downsides as well. The crowds. Aggressive carpet shop owners and pushy restaurant touts, a minority, but still a nuisance. The upsides definitely outweigh the downs though. I head off to other parts of the country for a couple of days. But am looking forward to returning to Istanbul for a day and a bit before flying home. There is still much to see and do here.

Photo of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.