Remix Wrap Up

 

Once the Zaza portion of the trip was over, I decided to get back into the tourist thing.  I didn’t think I’d sleep after what happened with him, but I still managed to get some rest.  Time to learn the tram system in Istanbul and see where it would take me. 

The T1 Tram route goes between the areas where most tourists stay to the big points of interest like Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar.  After bit of walking to get to the station, it cost 50 TL to buy a 1-day pass. I decided my first stop would be Dolmabahce Palace, a huge building with expansive grounds located along the coast on the Asian side of the city. 

You can’t take pictures inside the palace, which is a shame because there was a lot to see.  There’s a huge chandelier in the grand ballroom, all sparkly and gorgeous.  Harem rooms, sweeping staircases, meeting rooms, a Turkish bath, and everywhere there were ornately painted ceilings and gigantic rugs beneath expensive furniture.

The gardens also made for a nice place to hang out for anyone who’d paid their entrance fee.  There were benches and sitting areas all around as well as a couple of cafes.  Look!  More koi!

The palace’s paintings had been moved to their own separate gallery that you could visit on the same ticket (also no picture-taking).  There were multiple gates like this one, making great framing devices for the water.

After the palace, I, of course, found my way to another park along the tram line.  Gulhane Park is adjacent to Topkapi Palace and is a great shady area to take the family.  The interactive fountain was neat.

Looking around on Google Maps to see what else of interest was in the area, I found an actual living mall called Historia.  In Istanbul. I was so accustomed to the old city with its uneven cobblestone streets and the shops and restaurants being right next to or underneath apartments that it never occurred to me that there would be a modern mall anywhere near the city.  No dead stores that I could see, just the entire top floor left unoccupied.

As I mentioned earlier, I stayed in the Balat neighborhood, famous for its colorful buildings and abundance of shops and cafes.

There are murals all over the city and this neighborhood is no exception.  I loved hunting down as many of them as I could find.

The streets are always busy with both tourists and locals, and I loved staying there.  It was also very close to the water.  No official beach, but The Golden Horn is nearby along with a pier full of boats.  Walking along the water was one of my favorite ways to enjoy the hot and sunny weather I had for the entire trip.

On Sunday, my last full day in Istanbul, it seemed like every family in the neighborhood was out in the park barbequing.  Whole families with kids and dogs were just gathered in clusters around some smoking meat and it was heartwarming to see.  I love how important family is to the Turks as it makes for a safe environment for everyone.  I could hear children screaming in the streets at 10 at night.  I didn’t want to hear them, but it’s a testament to how no one has anything to fear even in such a densely populated city.  Well, other than the risk of getting clipped by a passing motorcycle or run over by a cab, but then everyone faces that same danger.

I headed back to the tram with the intention of seeing the Basilica Cistern, another tourist attraction.  The line to get in was too long to be standing in the hot, July sun so I went back to Gulhane Park to walk around.  I stopped by the same restaurant that I’d visited the day before for lunch.  The folks working there remembered me (I love that) and welcomed me back.  I was a little wary of being in this part of town as it wasn’t far from Zaza’s shop and hunting grounds.  The last thing I wanted was to run into him, not knowing what would be worse; being greeted with anger and outrage or more sweet talk instead of the apology I deserved.  Turns out, I didn’t have to worry about seeing him in person. 

As I was eating lunch, I got a text from a number I didn’t recognize though I could tell it was from Türkiye.  That ‘hi’ was followed by ‘it’s Zaza.  Where are you?’ I hadn’t heard from him since blocking his number the previous Wednesday.  As I stared at the phone in shock, it started to ring.  Are you kidding me?  I honestly couldn’t believe he was trying to contact me.  Why?  Did he still think there was a chance he could shake me down for money?  I declined the call, but I didn’t block this number.  I had to admit to some curiosity as to what he might say next.  Wouldn’t change my mind about anything, but …

Despite the outcome of my fling, I still love Istanbul.  If my first trip didn’t cement it, the last two weeks did.  The place is in my heart now and you can’t pry it out of there with a crowbar.  There is a sense of magic to the city that is all its own and I don’t think you have to lose your virginity there to experience it.  Highly recommended.  Everyone should go.  Just be careful of the men.

Thus ends the second leg of my travel journey.  Well … I didn’t see ANY of that coming.  Two trips to a city I now adore, finding out that Thailand is really not a good fit for me, Amsterdam, Singapore, Bulgaria, … Zaza … sigh.

For multiple reasons, it’s time for me to go back to the states.  I don’t want to go, but the visa application for Portugal needs to be started on home soil, so I’m looking to start that process.  I am that rare creature; the homebody who loves to travel.  Being sick in that comfy apartment made me long for my own place.  Still want to travel, but I need someplace of my own now.