Istanbul Up Close: A Brief Travel Review

Last month we were on a trip to the very unique city of Istanbul. Located in two continents separated by the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul represents a place like no other with its rich culture, nature beauty, diverse sights and, why of course, the seagulls. Despite our not-so-long stay, we tried to make the best of our time to better discover the city and experience what it can offer. 

Where We Stayed

Regarding the hotel, we stayed in Grand Hayatt Istanbul, which was an excellent choice, as it is located in a relatively quiet, uncrowded  area, while being only 600 meters away (approximately 7 minutes of walking) from Taksim, the very heart of the city.

We booked a room that overlooks the Bosphorus Strait. The room is very cosy, the service is satisfying, the staff is very friendly, and the breakfast is tasty and variant, too.

Taksim represents a perfect place for shopping and walking. It is way more crowded by night, so shopping is preferable in the late morning or during the day. 

View from the hotel room.

The Bosporus Cruise

Among the first things we carried out after arriving to the city was going on a Bosphorus cruise and sightseeing along the strait many notable features of the city, including Dolmabahçe Mosque, Küçüksu Palace, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (AKA the Second Bosphorus Bridge), and many more. The duration of the cruise was approximately 2 hours, which was enough of a time to enjoy the bank-side of the city and take many photos. 

Dolmabahçe Mosque.

Küçüksu Palace.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.

Princes’ Islands

Among the famous destinations to head to from Istanbul are Princes’ Islands, which are a cluster of nine islands located in the Marmara Sea. We got to visit the biggest two islands, Büyükada and Heybeliada. An interesting thing about these islands is the limited transportation methods, as there are no vehicles. Mostly, to be able to get around, people call for a phaeton (horse-drawn carriage), rent a bike, or simply walk.

Our first stop was Heybeliada, where we boarded on a phaeton (or fayton) and took a small tour around the island. We stopped in a lovely park to sit for a while and enjoy the splendour of the island. I call this place exactly photogenic and an appealingly instagrammble spot. 

A phaeton, Heybeliada.

A park, Heybeliada.

Once we were done with the small tour, we got on the ferry and set out for Büyükada to spend the day.

Possibly among the first sights you will come across in this Island is the Clock Tower, from which a number of main roads divert.

We headed to Sultan Ahmet Koftecisi restaurant and had Turkish kebab for lunch. The place was a little crowded, and the meal was okay. Nonetheless, the sea view was satisfying.

Afterwards, we took a walk in the markets, bought lovely souvenirs, and, as we should in the summer heat, treated ourselves with ice-cream from Mado. It’s a must-try! We thereafter chose a quiet café (Fayton Café and Restaurant) to relax and have a nice cup of tea by the seaside, where many of the beautiful seagulls gather around the place. 

Clock Tower, Büyükada.

View from Sultan Ahmet Koftecisi Restaurant.

Büyükada.

View from Fayton Café and Restaurant.

Sultanahmet

Our last visit was to Sultanahmet square, which is surrounded by a number of historical attractions, including the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) and Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya), which was once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum. The square is a beautifully-landscaped place to walk around and watch the world go by. We stopped in Derviş Cafe & Restaurant, which overlooks the Blue Mosque with its nearby location. Before leaving, we prayed in the Blue Mosque and took a round inside. Tourists are given plastic bags to keep their shoes and are requested to be dressed decently when going inside the mosque. 
As for means of transport, we used the metro from Taksim to Kabataş and finally Sultanahmet district. At first we had zero clue how to buy a ticket (or what is called a card), but after asking people here and there how to manage, things became easier and  the transportation method is exactly practical and convenient to wander the city. 

Hagia Sofia.

Interior ceiling, Blue Mosque. 

Hagia Sofia.

Sultanahmet Mosque.

Istanbul is exactly the destination that oozes with culture and profoundity. We stayed for only six days, and I know that that period of time is far from enough to enjoy and discover the beauty of the huge city. 

Simply put, Istanbul is an exceptional travel experience, and we definitely plan to visit again. 

Book Review: "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin

A couple of weeks ago I started my new semester in college. And as I was meeting up with my friend, she happened to recommend Gretchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project".

At first, it occurred to me that I wouldn't need to read a book that is three-hundred-and-so pages long about self-help or happiness when I was already blessed with many fundamentals of the latter. But then my friend insisted and I followed my old rule of reading; give any book that falls in hands a try.

On the contrary of what I had thought about it before actually reading it, this book is not exactly about trying to achieve happiness for someone who is completely unhappy or depressed, which could be a serious condition. Rather, it is more about pursuing a happier lifestyle and feeling more content about one’s life, which is what the author was trying to do, through setting up 12 resolutions and being committed to apply them for a whole year – one resolution a month.

Her “Make Time for Friends” resolution for June – which is among my favourites, really moved me as it reminded me of my own fault of never really getting in touch with a number of good friends ever since the last time I had seen them. Strangely enough, many of these friendships eventually fade away with no particular reason other than distance. In this same chapter, there is a section about “Cutting People Slack” as a form of generosity, and here I’ll quote Rubin’s neat explanation of the latter from the book:

“The ‘fundamental attribution error’ is a psychological phenomenon in which we tend to view other people’s actions as reflections of their characters and to overlook the power of situation to influence their actions, whereas with ourselves, we recognize the pressures of circumstance. When other people’s cell phones ring during a movie, it’s because they’re inconsiderate boors; if my cell phone rings during a movie, it’s because I need to be able to take a call from the babysitter.”

Rubin also adds, “I tried to remember not to judge people harshly, especially on the first or second encounter. Their actions might not reveal their enduring character but instead reflect some situation they find themselves in. Forbearance is a form of generosity.”

To be able to “cut people slack” or simply give someone the benefit of the doubt has got to be among the most noble, yet challenging virtues to implement. So much easier said than done. But once one learns how to apply it in every-day life, it will become a major contributor to happiness.

In her July resolution “Buy Some Happiness” where she tries to correlate and understand the connection between money and happiness, Rubin thoughtfully explains, “Money doesn’t buy happiness the way good health doesn’t buy happiness. When money or health is a problem, you think of little else; when it’s not a problem, you don’t think much about it. Both money and health contribute to happiness mostly in the negative; the lack of them brings much more unhappiness than possessing them brings happiness.”

I think this conclusion is true in so many ways. The same day I read this paragraph and momentarily appreciated my well-being, I fell ill by night and was totally overwhelmed how much good health is taken for granted.

Somewhere near the end of the book, the writer also explains the difference between a goal and a resolution: “You hit a goal, you keep a resolution.” In other words, you reach a goal by finishing this book, but you keep a resolution of making time for friends, exercising better, keeping a gratitude notebook, or pursuing a passion. While reading about Rubin’s blog launching, I was so encouraged to check out my long-forgotten blog and write a post - which is this review – for the first time in more than three years.

I think I started to enjoy this book straight away. Why? Because it is light and relative to things that hang on my mind but never really express, not to mention that Rubin’s style is very engaging and unfailingly thrilling, sometimes even funny. What further enhances this book is the extensive research the writer displayed. The content is not earth-shattering literature, but it is considerably filled with profound truths and honest observations.

It was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend this book. 

(P.S.: I recommend reading the edition of the book - if available - that is updated with new material, as it contains a reading group guide at the end which could be very useful for a book club, and a number of schemes that summarize all the major concepts of the book.)

- Sara A.