LOST IN ISTANBUL
The Uncertainty of Travel and How to Really Embrace the Experience
When I'm ready to book a trip, a few conflicted emotions always surface. First one always, there's the excitement that makes my stomach flutter and my heart race—thinking of all the new places I’m going to explore. Even if it’s an old, familiar destination, I relish the thought of deepening my connection to the culture, the people, and becoming more absorbed in the local lifestyle.
But then, there's the other side—the fleeting thoughts of "what if?" What if I can’t fully embrace the location? What if the weather is bad on the week of my retreat, or I feel like a lost tourist, unable to immerse myself in the culture of the country? And what if I get stranded in an unknown, unpredictable place?
After our last retreat in Greece this July, one of these fears materialized. Coming back to the United States due to an unfortunate flight delay, we missed our connecting flight and were stranded at Istanbul Airport for two days, unable to get a connection home.
I have to admit, I had a feeling something like this might happen due to our short connection and busy time of the year traveling. Subconsciously, I had been preparing both myself and Alex for it. As humans, we tend to resist the unknown, the unfamiliar, and change—and this situation was brimming with all three.
At the Turkish service counter, the scene was chaotic. Travelers were reacting in various ways—some angry, others eerily quiet. But Alex and I were already planning how we could make the most of our unexpected stay in this new city. Of course, it wasn’t all as smooth as it sounds. The exploration was incredible, but we had no extra clothes, and our hotel was 40 minutes away from downtown. The van ride out of the airport felt surreal, especially with police holding machine guns and a language barrier that made everything feel even more foreign.
But in my head all I could think of was, "How are we going to make the best of this?"
After settling in at our hotel, Alex had to work, so I did some research on what we could visit in the city. Despite the language barrier, our Uber driver was friendly, and navigating through different parts of the city was fascinating. At times, it felt like we were in two entirely different countries.
Alex taking a photo of the Bosporous views at the rooftop bar @Mikla Restaurant
We had dinner at a beautiful restaurant called Mikla, where the staff were incredibly kind. They invited us upstairs to their exclusive rooftop bar where we enjoyed the breathtaking views of the Bosporus before our meal. When we went downstairs to the restaurant we were incredibly grateful to find out that they had honored our last minute reservation request. Our dinner table was overlooking the most incredible sunset and the experience was nothing short of amazing.
The next day, we decided to do some sightseeing. We visited Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar—places that clearly resonated with Eastern culture in a predominantly Muslim country. The uniqueness of it all was striking. We even stopped for Turkish coffee at a local café. One thing that stood out to us was the absence of a sweet treat with our coffee, something we always receive in Greece. We were hoping for a loukoumi, but alas, none came!
As someone of Greek heritage, I could clearly see the influences that Turkish culture has had on our own. Given our shared history—being close neighbors and the long period of Ottoman occupation—it’s no surprise that many aspects of our traditions, cuisine, and even language overlap. Experiencing this firsthand in Istanbul was fascinating.
A koulouras as we call him in Greece walking around selling his koulouria in a local neighborhood.
Later that afternoon, I wanted to explore the more cosmopolitan side of Istanbul. These shopping areas were definitely influenced by Western culture, with big designer stores and trendy restaurants. But even there, local street vendors added an unmistakable local flavor.
One of the most unforgettable experiences we had was splurging on a Turkish bath and massage. Must do if you ever go to Istanbul it was by far our favorite activity in this trip. The Balinese therapists who pampered us were so kind, and the service was beyond amazing.
The next day, we had to wake up super early to catch our flight home. We were tired and had been wearing the same clothes for days, but we were in good spirits. This unexpected detour turned out to be a unique experience that brought Alex and me closer together. I’m so grateful to have him as my travel buddy and to share these moments with someone. I know it would have been a lot different if I were on my own.
Alex working overlooking Hagia Sophia and I am distracting him :)so we can go explore more.
With all my love …..till next month
Katerina
