Turkiye is 🔥. History, culture, food, beauty, people, nightlife - all that. It is also hella hot, at least in August. Like sweat dripping down my legs hot. But wow, what a country!
On my way to Portugal, I decided to take advantage of Turkish Airlines’ stopover program to visit Turkiye. For those who may not know, a stopover is an extended layover that allows you to visit another country on your way to your final destination, usually for no additional ticket cost. Several airlines offer the option that can range from 24 hours to five days. I decided to spend more than five days in Turkiye, so I used another travel hack, a multi-city itinerary, to stay for six. A multi-city itinerary allows you to depart and return from cities. It’s an option found on most airline and aggregator websites, usually next to round trip and one-way.
Enough about travel hacks. I flew from Washington DC to Istanbul (9 hrs), and six days later, I flew from Istanbul to Lisbon. For that initial long flight, I chose to upgrade to business class which gave me access to the Turkish Airlines lounge at Dulles Airport. I had used that lounge before, so I knew they had pretty decent food and a nice bar, but I didn’t eat too much because I wanted to take full advantage of the onboard dining that Turkish Airlines is known for. In business class, the airline has a chef on board- white hat and all who takes your entree order; appetizers, sides and dessert are offered from a display cart for you to choose. I really enjoyed the dining experience on this airline.
Cappadocia
Once I landed in Istanbul, after a three–hour layover, I flew to Goreme, Cappadocia region to chase hot air balloons. Cappadocia (Kappa-duk-ya) is known for the daily launch of hundreds of balloons at dawn. The morning I went up more than 175 balloons were sent up - an amazing sight that I was privileged to witness and experience. Cappadocia is in a semi-arid region with other worldly topography of eroded rock formations, commonly referred to as fairy chimneys. The balloon offered a unique vantage point to appreciate this unique landscape.
Besides hot air balloons, the Cappadocia region is full of biblical history with many examples of early Christian churches built into the rock formations. These early Christian communities were built in caves to hide from Roman persecution. Ephesus and many other New Testament locations are in Turkiye. You could do a whole vacation touring them and many people do.
I spent two nights in Goreme at The Naif Hotel, a luxurious 11-room boutique bed and breakfast hotel with a minimalist vibe. The owners arranged airport transport, balloon reservations, tours and a visit to a hammam- I loved the service at Naif Hotel. I returned to Istanbul for a whirlwind four days. Istanbul or Constantinople as it was known, was the center of the world for many centuries and was home to Christians, Jews and Muslims who lived there in peace.
The Cappadocia region is full of biblical history.
Istanbul
My time was full of sightseeing during the morning and working afternoon into the night to be in sync with east coast time. Turkiye is seven hours ahead of the East Coast so that made for some LONG days, but it was worth it.
I stayed in the Sultanahmet area of the Old City at the Sadaret Hotel and Suites. I chose this place because it is a small, locally-owned establishment with outstanding reviews. Also it sits 350 ft. from the Blue Mosque. I chose the penthouse apartment that looked directly onto the Blue Mosque through one set of windows and views of the Marmara Sea from the other. I did Zoom calls while looking at the Blue Mosque. Epic. There was only one downside to this spectacular view - a walk up five flights of stairs, but it was so worth it. The hotel manager was so helpful, one evening he invited me to sit outside on the sidewalk patio to have apple tea, baklava and to talk. He had spent time in the U.S. so he was happy to practice his English which worked for me since I’m always on a mission to connect with local people and learn about their culture.
While in Istanbul I also achieved a professional goal - I got to do business in Asia. I had the opportunity to meet with officials from Kadem, an organization that supports women entrepreneurs. We exchanged ideas about approaches and resources to reinforce success for female entrepreneurs.
Because I was working during this trip, I decided to hire a private guide, Bumin Han, for my time in Istanbul and it was the best decision- he worked around my meeting schedules and took me to so many places that I wouldn’t have discovered on my own. I found him through a Facebook group for Istanbul.
Tip for Roaming
I find it helpful to join a Facebook group for the place(s) I plan to visit. I get tips on places to go, guide or hotel recommendations,excursions, exchange rates, etc.
We toured all the sites, most are on the European side: Topkapi Palace, former home of many Sultans and a showcase of Ottoman history. I was surprised by the references to the importance of the “Black Eunuchs” in the harem society on the info placards with mannequins of eunuchs prominently placed. The Ottoman Empire was a leader in the East African slave trade, and there is a vanishing group of Afro-Turks, descendants of slaves brought to the Ottoman Empire. But there’s little acknowledgement of them in Turkish history. Topkapi is now a museum that houses many treasures, including the sword of David and Moses’ staff. Mosques are at every turn but the 1500-year history and the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia was awe-inspiring. Another favorite was the lesser known Suleymaniye Mosque, named after Suleiman the Magnificent who ruled the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power.
The architecture and art in these historical and culturally significant buildings must be seen to be truly appreciated. Istanbul is not just history, it’s a modern city as well with excellent public transportation and shopping. Not to be outdone is the food and physical beauty of the city. The people are gracious and welcoming.
Istanbul is one of only five cities in the world that span two continents. If it's not on your bucket list of places, then add it.
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