Day 14 - First Day in the City of Istanbul

Pretty hungry, I made my way to my hostel to drop off my large backpack and get a kebab nearby. Feeling refreshed, I walked to the port and explored the area. My hostel was perfectly located in the middle of the old town, and from there I could discover all the major attractions.

In Sultanahmet Square, where the famous Blue Mosque is located, I sat down on a bench and watched the streams of tourists passing by. Occasionally, I was startled by the calls to prayer from the mosques coming from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

In the evening, my search for food led me to another neighborhood. Having crossed a long bridge, I assumed I was on the Asian side of Istanbul. However, after a quick glance at my phone, I realized that I had crossed not the Bosporus, but just a tributary. Thus, still in Europe, I found a small snack bar with a friendly owner, bought a kebab to go, and walked to a park situated on a small hill. From there, I had a wonderful view of the Turkish metropolis as the sun was setting.

Surprised and drenched by a heavy rain shower, I arrived back at the hostel late. Nevertheless, my two friendly roommates were sitting in front of the entrance, which allowed me to join them and get to know them better. They couldn't have been more different: a 35-year-old Russian family man, a professional truck driver, and a 26-year-old Australian who was unemployed and wanted to be free in life, traveling the world alone. As both fell into a deep conversation about the meaning of life, which gradually lost its content (as both felt a strong urge toward the whiskey bottle), I made my way to bed.