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By Nelson Alcantara eTurboNews On a recent venture to Istanbul, Turkey, I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it is of a destination. I will be the first to admit that I was not particularly enthralled by this assignment. The thought of traveling from Los Angeles to Istanbul was enough of a deterrent. Little did I know what was in store for me. There were pleasant surprises and wonderful lessons about life, culture and perception.
One can focus on the fact that Turkey bridges the continents Asia and Europe. On this advantage alone, Turkey has a lot to be thankful for in tourism terms. Just the thought of reaching a different continent in a matter of minutes is enough bait for certain niche markets--the sentimental traveler, the geo-conscious traveler, cruise travelers, the adventurer, to name just a few. Where else can you take a special someone on a boat cruise at night and be such in close proximity with continents Asia and Europe? A cruise on the Bosporus does just that.
Apart from its geographical advantage, its real beauty lies among its people. One can sit in one of the shops in Taksim square and be awed by the throngs of people that pass by. Or be daring enough to be part of a horde via a visit to the Grand Bazaar, where honking cars, cart-pushing workers, dogs, humans and other beings vie for one very simple thingâ€â€space!
In a city that is comprised of 23 million people, space is something that is somewhat of confusing, if not enigmatic.
As far as aesthetic is concerned, Istanbul has the markings of a city in transition. Older buildings mingling with newer ones. The old wall, while still very visible, its decay is palpable. There are soccer stadiums here and there, bridges that connect Asia and Europe, and a few globalization staplesâ€â€yes, Starbucks has addresses in Turkey, too. But other than unforgiving hotels chains tampering with the otherwise flat skyline, there are really no high-rises in Istanbul, which is a blessing in itself because the many mosques that parade along the city are enough eye candy for the curious eye.
On a lazy afternoon, one can take a nice walk along the Arnavutkoy coast starting from Bosporus Bridge to Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. While at it, have a delicious fish sandwich along the way. I particularly enjoyed Alesta’s (a restaurant boat) version that I found myself going back everyday for the duration of my trip. Thanks to a wonderful guide named Tolga Dirican (typical Turkish) for introducing me to this local favorite. As certain as I am that I will someday go back to Istanbul is how sure I am that I will have Alesta’s fish sandwich again someday. Definitely, typical Turkish.
If one has the money to spend for a nice dinner, a definite stop is the world-famous Lacivert Restaurant. Located underneath the Fatih Sultan Mahmet Bridge, guests from the European side are whisked to the restaurant by boat. Ever had a dish called blue fish? Unless you have been to Istanbul, you most likely have not. I particularly found mine sumptuous which I devoured with another local favoriteâ€â€raki drinks. Typical Turkish.
In general, one does not have to spend too much money dining in Istanbul. One can cross the Bosporus from the European side to enjoy local favorites on the Asian side. The food is as varied as they come, with influences from its diverse surrounding areas-- Asia, the Middle East and Europeâ€â€and the pricing is just right.
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