Jon and I took the kids to Istanbul back in pre-ISIS, pre-Arab Spring 2009. What we experienced was a energetic culture with a complicated past, great food and beautiful people. Not to mention gorgeous architecture: the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and Suleiman’s tomb, just for starters.
Lucky for me, the endless halls of the Grand Bazaar and the lively shops of the pedestrian street İstiklal Caddesi made for some serious shopping. I came home with some hand-woven rugs and my favorite thing, hand-painted china.
Maybe you’re thinking today’s not the day to fly into Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Put Istanbul on your bucket list anyway. The day will come. Humanity has a way of righting itself, I’ve noticed.
Another travel story at “The Poop on China — And the Pee.” More shopping at “Sue Johnson’s Lamps and Shades.”
Loved Turkey as well, Barbara! The food, people & the places in your photos—as well as our stay in a luxury cave hotel in the otherworldly Capadoccia!
Turkey is a really interesting place. My favorite site, actually, was the ancient — and pre-historic — ruins of Troy. Having read the Iliad so long ago and tried to visualize the setting.
Love your photos! We were there in 2014. It was one of our favorite trips.