Turkey
Turkey
In today's post we are going to discuss Turkey, and NO, not a bird that you eat for thanksgiving, a COUNTRY placed in between the Middle East and Europe.
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A little bit before we jump into discussion let me introduce you to the country itself.
Turkey surrounded with Mediterranean sea and Black Sea, 302,455 sq mi in total area. Official language is Turkish, Currency Turkish Lira, population 84,680,273, and religious belief is Muslim.
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Hagia Sophia |
My last trip last year during August was Turkey, and probably one of the most memorable trips ever, and for that reason I wanted to let everyone know how amazing and underrated Turkey really is! I spend almost a whole month in Turkey all by MYSELF as a single FEMALE. Before going I got a lot of worried comments, and warning from people, and from my family, which I understand of course! Travel in general risk itself of new and unexplored but without taking it you would never know right? I always have been positive for taking risk rather than sit home and regret later, there shouldn't be risk if you well collected and educated person. I am not bragging but also depends on your LUCK! 😂 ("knock on the wood emoji inserted"). I planned this trip considerably last minute (like a month and a half) I was originally planning visit my family back in Kazakhstan but there were personal reasons for my last change...
Either way I was glad I went with Turkey! I always wanted to go there but was waiting for right time considering with my distance relationships that ended prior that year. FYI never let relationship stop you from doing something you like or want. I was afraid going alone but had nobody to go with so I just went with it. I booked ahead airbnbs and airplane tickets around the Turkey. In total I planned 3 stops across Turkey. First is the New York City of the Turkey-Istanbul, second one is the Easiest side of Anatolian side of Turkey-Erzurum, and last one is the beach and paradise of Turkey-Antalya. One mistake I slipped is that I didn't really planned what I would do for entertainment in Turkey. But that was okay mistake since Turkey really planned everything else for me for the entertainment. I met cool people and have been going around seeing things and just letting the events unroll itself. I also acted like I lived there and just wondered around but not in a touristy way.
After Arrival I right away took the bus and asked around people who looked "not so lost, I speak English" people and they explained how to get tickets and where I need to get off for my airbnb. The price for bus comparing to taxi definitely cheaper. Unless you aren't on a budget and couldn't care less for 20-30$ for taxi but I would rather pay that for food or when I am leaving to the airport in a rush. Bus took me straight to the Taksim which is like downtown area of Istanbul plus the area where my airbnb located. I walked around 5-10 min to my airbnb and kinda was tired and exhausted because of the ups and downs of the city, I didn't consider that Istanbul elevated, like there is a lot of steps and bumpy roads. I was kinda glad I had to carry only one small luggage but it was summer and very sweaty walk. I could have taken taxi but I heard a lot about taxi scams in Turkey and also wanted to take a look at the living area to memorize where can I grab food or etc. After having problems with finding my airbnb I had to contact my host and seek his help, because google maps brought me to the wrong place so I had to go back and forth between streets. When I arrived I am not going to lie I was very dissatisfied with my choice of airbnb because it was dirty and without AC in one of the humid and hottest days. Looking back I would strongly suggest getting some what of a good airbnb or hotel. My airbnb had a broken and dirty shower conditions and looked overall sketchy, like the door wouldn't lock even in the bathroom, and shared with a host who was also a MAN 😅 Spoiler Alert, I was fine, and he was the sweetest host ever, and very respectful. I even gifted him after my stay Starbucks coffee that I brought from my job grinder in Turkish setting.
My first day I was very lost and overly excited so I spend time walking around, met some Russian folks. They told me their story of coming to Turkey and shared tips of where to go and what to do over a dinner at the restaurant we have found together. The second day I met this group of girls from Germany who are Turkish who completely stole my heart! I was just asking them for direction and they saw that I was lost and asked me I am all alone to which I answered "yes" and they got worried and invited me to join them for breakfast! They paid for our breakfast and introduced me to the "typical Turkish way of breakfast". They didn't speak English the best but the language of love and hand gestures did it for us! They showed me around, took me to the most famous Turkish football (soccer) stadium and told me a lot about themselves and their culture. We had such an amazing time together and got so much along like we knew each other for years! I still till this day talk to these girls and they will always be my great memory and highlight about Turkey!!! We also smoked hookah and drank tea together! hehe couldn't forget that! They did so much for me I will never forget that...They helped me set up local SIM card for my phone so I can have internet to contact my family and etc. They also helped me get a health QR code that was in need during covid to enter any public building! One thing I loved about Turkish people is that They will always help and never leave you alone! Very welcoming people!
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| July 22, 2021 Me & My Girl |
We all visited also a mosques like Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet, and took pictures in Ottoman Empire style with traditional clothes. I ate some bomb a%& food and let me tell you this...I was stunned to speak! 5$ is approximately how much I paid in a good restaurant for good meal! I literally would spend a day like good solid 20$ and be full for the rest of my life! That's why before going to Turkey I knew how greasy food is and meaty that I lost weight so I can enjoy all of it! (not even joking, but also bikini photos needed to look amazing!). After spending more time in cool places around Taksim, and the other side of the Istanbul, I have literally walked across the whole city with my own two feet and have seen a lot and experienced full good and bad glory of it. I stumbled across bad neighborhoods and was glad that nobody mugged me or followed me. I walked across the famous bridge across and walked back because I forgot to visit Sultan Suleiman Mosque where he was buried with his red head wife. Don't ask me how I know this...I watched this Turkish Tv show about Ottoman Empire so it was like a fan of Harry Potter seeing that train station thing! After my last "Supper" in Istanbul I was well prepared for my next destination within Turkey. Can't believe that was just a tip of my Turkey Trip!
I woke up, said bye to the host, and was out walking back to the same place where I was dropped out in the first day by the bus from the airport. I left Istanbul around 12 pm to Erzurum across the whole Turkey. Let me tell you this I have seen so much mountains and rivers, and lakes and etc. All beautiful sides of natural Turkey!
Here is a snippet of one of the fascinating views I had...
When I arrived there I was greeted by my friend Who by the way invited me for this visit because how in the world would I have known about this DARN random place in Turkey?! Me and They went to check me in my hotel and hotel had a problem with me bringing my friend with me so they kicked me out...I had to find a new place and pay extra for that which was for sure not something I was PLANNED and PREPARED for...Apparently on the east side Turkey is more religious and conservative than Istanbul. People here like in a Deep South side of U.S very conservative and like it keep it to themselves. They didn't like cocky, flashy touristy and simply were shocked by my presence in their random small city. It is like if a touristy in U.S visited State College. Like there is not much to see and it isn't known for much but here I am walking among them and already getting my first steps done!
Me and my friend visited this so called Historical cafe. Pretty much it was a museum but a cafe. I found it very cool idea that we had to walk through each room, learn and drink Turkish coffee, which by the way wasn't my recommendation if you hate strong coffee (it is similar to espresso shot). My friend also invited their friends and showed me the skiing resort because apparently their town well known for skiing season and winter stuff. It was very cool and almost reminded me of our Tussey Mountain resort.
Here is a snippet of that Mountain resort...
I had food poisoning and was laying in bed for the rest of my 2 days staying in there...I had a weakness and it was one of my WORST times ever! I recommend bring some sort of medicine for food poisoning just in case...because I was stuck without food in a hotel, can't leave or walk anywhere just throwing up all day without any water...I had to suck it up, and careful ran to the nearest store to get water and some basic mild non triggering snacks...My friend was in the hospital too by the way...
I was also followed by some guy. when I was recovering from my poisoning, I decided to go to the mall. I felt weak, so I walked back home but noticed someone started to follow me and getting very close... I pretended to be on the phone and got into the nearest taxi and went to hotel. Next day I flew out to Antalya and never wanted to look back to those days again.
Here I am arrived to the tropics of Turkey!!! Oh my god such a refreshing beginning after that Erzurum poisoning...😖But anyways I already know the drill...Took a bus and here I am in the neighborhood but it is extremely hot (pardon me I am Siberian type of person) So in this case I got a taxi and I even tipped him cause YOLO 😜 Yep, I was lost and couldn't find my airbnb...because my host put wrong address 😡 Therefor some random Grandma witnessed me desperately going back and forth in this hot sun, and try to help me find my airbnb. Turns out the HOST hidden the address in one of the messages in what's app...
So here I am hugging her off and thanking her in a body language and plus I picked up some greetings and polite words to thank her. After I arrived I was STUNNED, SPEECHLESS! WHY? The airbnb was so COOL!!! It had all I needed: AC, clean shower and bathroom with bidet, and clean room with comfy bed!
I rushed and got into my swimming suit to hit the beach! Right away I have met these guys 👀 They were staying near my apartment and noticed me walking in front of them...I asked them if they were going to the Beach, which I knew they were because *ehm* their outfits said it all...don't worry nothing 18+ they are like teens and were wholesome to introduce me to their family and we all hanged around and talked! they are also Turkish from Germany and were vacationing.
My Antalya time wasn't so productive I was so exhausted by the heat and humidity that all I did is stay inside with the AC or swimmer. I met couple Turkish girls here and there, girl from Serbia and Girl from Russia that I quickly made friendships with and had a great time with like eating out, swimming, and shopping. in less than a week I came back to Istanbul because I am flying out of Istanbul back to States.
Overall trip thoughts :
￫Affordability: 9.5/10
I feel like anyone could afford this trip even better quality (more entertainment and quality hotel, food, etc) I spend over 1,500$ around 1000$+200$ for staying and 300$ spendings. I would always to have more just in case of a bad scenario so around 2000$ should do it. But that was spendings for long stay like mine.
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