Farewell Istanbul

Saying goodbye to our accommodation, we wandered back into town and hopped on the T1 tram heading towards the harbour.

As we waited for our boat tour along the Bosphorus, the smell of freshly grilled fish wraps drifted through the air from the nearby food stalls … instantly making us wonder if we should have planned second breakfast 😂

Behind us the bridge was alive with activity, lined with fishermen patiently casting their lines into the water below, hoping to catch the fish that would likely end up in the restaurants along the dock later that day.

A light mist hung over the water as we boarded the boat. It looked like we might not see very far, but somehow that made the whole thing feel even more atmospheric. Either way, it promised to be a relaxing start to what would be a long travel day.

As the boat gently puttered along the Bosphorus, the mist slowly began to lift. We listened to the audio guide describing the palaces, mosques and neighbourhoods along the shoreline with quiet moments in between just enjoying the view.

Seagulls glided alongside the boat, occasionally swooping close enough to feel part of the journey.

It felt like the perfect farewell to Istanbul … a city that is diverse, historic, chaotic and fascinating all at once.

Once known as Constantinople, and often considered the western end of the Silk Road, it felt like a fitting place to close this chapter of our adventure.

Next stop…

Tashkent 🇺🇿Read more