We find Turkish women to be very beautiful. Meera thinks that the reason may be because they combine the best features of a South Asian woman and a European one.
The same logic may be applicable to both of us finding Istanbul to be a lovely city. It combines the efficiency of a European city with the charm and intrigue of a city in Asia.
The arrival is very European. The new Istanbul Airport is huge, beautiful and efficient. It is located quite far from the city but an inexpensive bus service allows the incoming or outgoing passengers a reasonable option. The moment you enter the city, the Asian flavor takes over. It is crowded and filled with non-European sights, the most amazing being its giant mosques and bazars.
Our hotel was in the Sultanahmet section of the city. Just as was the case with Plaka and Athens, this location allowed us to jus walk over to some of the most important places, such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Basilica Cisterns and the Istanbul Archeological Museum. Also, it was close to a trolley station and a major ferry terminal was only a ten-minute walk.
Istanbul is an enormous city spread around both sides of the Bosporus Strait. On the Northern shore is the European part of the city, the other side is in Asia. The streets are filled with buses, trolleys, cars, and two wheelers. Pedestrians make their way through he mayhem. However, by and large, the traffic laws are obeyed, unlike in India.
The public transportation system in Istanbul needs an award. It is integrated, with one card valid on all modes…buses, trolleys, ferries and even a funicular. 6 Liras (about a dollar) will get you the basic card, which can then be loaded with whatever amount you want. There are vending machines, and helpful people, at every station. Each ride, irrespective of its distance is about 50 cent. For that amount we could have taken a two-hour ferry ride connecting all of the islands in Marmara Sea. We loaded up the card with about 13$ worth of Liras and we used it for five days.
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