A day of beauty in Istanbul

This morning began with a call home to celebrate Karl’s 21st birthday. Everyone was gathered around at home and it was lovely to hear his voice and catch up, though it made us feel a little sad not to be there in person to celebrate such a special milestone. After our chat, we got ready for the day and set out into the heart of Istanbul.

Our first stop was the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s most famous marketplaces. We’d heard stories about how persistent the shopkeepers could be, and it’s true, you can’t walk more than a few steps without being encouraged to step inside. But rather than finding it overwhelming, we thought they were actually really friendly and often pretty funny.

Walking past the carpet stalls, I couldn’t help but think of Pop’s story about almost buying a flying carpet when he and Nan were here many years ago. That memory made me feel a little closer to them today. Being in the very same kind of place they once stood made me feel a little emotional as if a little piece of them was with me in that moment. I can already feel Nan shaking her head as she reads this but I found myself slipping into Pop’s shoes, drawn in by the friendly, talkative locals enticing us to come see their shop. I fell for it almost everytime, being enticed in and almost ready to make the same mistake he joked about for years. You can’t blame me though, they say they ship to New Zealand 🤷‍♀️ Meanwhile, Jayde played the role of Nan perfectly bringing the voice of common sense and reality and gently steering me out of that situation . It was such a small moment, but a memory I will forever treasure now. I can’t wait to tell our stories to you when we are home ❤️

We browsed for about an hour, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, but left without buying anything and decided it was time for lunch.
With full stomachs, we made our way to the Blue Mosque. The line looked daunting at first, but it moved quickly, and soon we were inside. The interior was breathtaking such a serene and peaceful place. There’s something truly special about being immersed in a culture that feels so different from home, yet so beautiful and welcoming.

Afterwards, we wandered over to the Hagia Sophia, admiring its grand presence from the outside while sipping on freshly pressed pomegranate juice a simple but delicious treat. Slowly making our way back to our accommodation, we passed through winding streets lined with small, charming shops. The locals have been so warm, often striking up conversations with us. They seem especially fond of Jayde’s moustache it never fails to earn a smile or comment. And whenever we say we’re from New Zealand, the response is always the same enthusiastic “Ahh, Kiwi!!!”

Before heading in for the evening, we stopped by a supermarket to grab a few supplies and then enjoyed a simple, easy dinner. Time seems to move so quickly here. There’s just so much beauty to take in around every corner and in every detail of daily life.

Tomorrow, we’re off to experience something truly iconic, the Turkish Bath. We can’t wait to see what that brings!Læs mere