Travel is usually about sights, sounds, and food. But this trip to Turkey (Nov 21–28, 2024) taught us that it can also be about finding your own rhythm, doing things your way — rain or shine, steep climbs or shortcuts, missing grown-up kids or remembering parents.
Turkey, the meeting point of the world, gave us history, flavor, and hospitality in ways we hadn’t imagined. From Istanbul’s mosques and bazaars to Izmir’s seaside calm and Cappadocia’s dreamlike landscapes, here’s how our journey unfolded.
First Impressions – Istanbul Airport & Hospitality
Flying Turkish Airlines set the tone right away. Their Business Class Lounge at Istanbul Airport (IST) felt like stepping into a cultural experience in itself — wood-paneled interiors, live cooking counters serving gözleme (Turkish flatbread) and simit (sesame bagel bread), endless çay (tea) poured into tulip-shaped glasses, and quiet nooks to nap after a long flight. It wasn’t just luxury — it was Turkish hospitality, warm and generous.
Once outside the terminal, we remembered our first lesson: don’t follow the crowd. While most passengers rushed toward transfer gates for U.S. flights, we looked for signs pointing to Pasaport Kontrol and baggage claim. That choice saved us from wandering aimlessly in the giant new airport.
Our Airbnb in Sultanahmet, Fatih was perfectly placed: one side looked out to the Marmara Denizi (Sea of Marmara), the other to the glowing domes of the Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque). Grocery shops nearby stocked everything from yogurt to ayran (buttermilk) — proof that comfort food follows you, even halfway across the world.
Istanbul – The Historic Heart
Day 1 – Mosques, Markets, and the Bosphorus
We began at Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque), a building that has been a church, a mosque, and now both history and faith intertwined. Arriving before 9:00 AM, let us skip the queues. Inside, we could only stand in awe at the mosaic work and domes. The museum nearby added depth — with English audio guides and hauntingly beautiful video projections.
Just steps away, we visited the Sultans’ Türbeleri (Tombs of the Ottoman Sultans) and then walked into the Blue Mosque. Though partly closed during prayer, its interior was breathtaking — the soft blue İznik tiles glowing even on a gray morning.
A short walk led us to a hidden gem: the rooftop café of Panorama Hotel, where we sipped strong Türk kahvesi (Turkish coffee) served with a cube of lokum (Turkish delight). From the terrace, Istanbul unfolded — minarets piercing the sky, ferries slicing the Bosphorus.
By afternoon, we were in the Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar) — an endless labyrinth of gold jewelry, spices, carpets, and lamps. It felt like a cross between Dubai’s Gold Souk and Delhi’s Palika Bazaar, only more refined. On the way, we stumbled into Hafız Mustafa 1864, the legendary dessert shop. They offered us a free sample of lokum, and we left with boxes of baklava dripping with pistachios — the kind that melts into sweetness with every bite.
The day ended with a Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on the Mega Lüfer ferry, booked through GetYourGuide. Wrapped in scarves against the November chill, we sipped endless cups of çay as the boat glided past Dolmabahçe Palace, Bosphorus Bridge, and Ortaköy Mosque. Sitting on the sol taraf (left side) gave us uninterrupted views. Watching the skyline light up as Europe blended into Asia was a reminder of Istanbul’s magic: two continents in one glance.
Day 2 – Rain, Rasam, and Reflections
The next morning came with heavy rain and winds — but that didn’t stop us. We made rasam and rice at the Airbnb (because nothing beats South Indian comfort food on a cold day), then headed out when the drizzle eased.
At the Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), scarves were draped over heads, shoes removed, and my husband was handed blue plastic covers for his special cast/shoes. The moment we stepped in, the space hushed us. The symmetry, the chandeliers, the calligraphy — it felt less like sightseeing, more like entering a sacred rhythm.
From there, we descended into the Yerebatan Sarnıcı (Basilica Cistern). Built in the 3rd century as a water reservoir, its dimly lit columns reflected in shallow pools created an atmosphere we’d never experienced before. Walking on metal pathways above trickling water felt like stepping through a myth.
Later, over çay and crispy fries at Mersale Café, we watched raindrops blur the streets and thought: rainy travel days aren’t wasted; they’re different.
The evening brought us to Galata Kulesi (Galata Tower), after a steep climb through winding streets. The six-floor lift and final two-floor stair climb rewarded us with panoramic night views of Istanbul, sparkling against the Bosphorus. Coming down, we sneaked into Hafız Mustafa in Sirkeci, where we tried a berry pudding while I stuck with more baklava and tea. Sweet overload? Never in Istanbul.
We ended the night at the Hodjapasha Cultural Center, watching the “Rhythm of the Dance” show. The costumes, drums, and folk dances brought Ottoman history to life — though my heart still longed for the mystical Whirling Dervishes.
Izmir – Aegean Calm
A quick Pegasus flight (strict on the 15kg baggage rule — we left an extra bag in storage at IST) brought us to Adnan Menderes Havalimanı (ADB) in Izmir. Surprisingly modern and efficient, it put many larger airports to shame.
We stayed at the Marriott Izmir, right on the Kordon (seafront promenade). Walking along the Aegean Sea at sunset, with ferries pulling in and out, felt like slowing time down.
We rode the tram to the Asansör (Historic Elevator), which lifted us to panoramic views of the city, then ferried across to Karşıyaka — a vibrant, local shopping district where life buzzed without tourist filters. Fruit stalls, cafés selling börek (savory pastries), and endless chatter made it unforgettable. Izmir was slower, simpler, and exactly what we needed after Istanbul’s intensity.
Cappadocia – Dreamland of Balloons and Fairy Chimneys
From Izmir, we flew to Kayseri Erkilet Havalimanı (ASR) and drove to our stay at the Gamirasu Cave Hotel in Ayvali. Our suite was carved into rock, complete with a private hamam — a Turkish bath right in our bathroom.
The next morning began before sunrise, shivering in layers, waiting for what became the highlight of the trip: a hot air balloon ride with Atmosfer Balloons. As the burners roared and the balloon lifted, the valleys of Göreme, Uçhisar, and Avanos unfolded beneath us. Dozens of balloons floated like lanterns at dawn — a sight that words and photos can never fully capture.
We explored underground cities, bought local zultanite jewelry, watched pottery spin into shape in Avanos, and tasted Kocabağ wines. Cappadocia wasn’t just landscape — it was geology, history, and artistry woven into one.
Reflections – Redefining Travel
What Turkey gave us was more than landmarks. It was the tea breaks on rainy afternoons, the sweetness of pistachio baklava shared between us, the smile of a taxi driver who stopped smoking when we asked politely, the comfort of food made in an Airbnb kitchen, and the sense of disappointment when we got cheated by a local who grabbed my credit card with the pretext to help me and swipped his own in the tram system. Loads of community cats and dogs of all shades everywhere we looked were truly a unique sight.
We realized travel doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t matter if you skip a palace, if you nap instead of rushing, if you eat familiar food in a foreign city. What matters is being present, in your way.
Turkey — with its camis (mosques), çay, lokum, hamams, and hot air balloons — reminded us that travel is not about doing more. It’s about making it yours.
And this time, we truly did.
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