avatarJillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages

Summary

The authors, two Canadian nomads, express their profound admiration for Istanbul, highlighting its accessible waterfront, numerous parks, and the well-cared-for stray cats, alongside the city's architectural beauty, vibrant nightlife, cultural diversity, and efficient transit system.

Abstract

In a heartfelt article, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages share their love for Istanbul, a city they've grown to consider as a potential home base. They marvel at the city's stunning mosques and the way the urban landscape is interwoven with green spaces and waterfront access, making it a haven for both residents and visitors. The diversity of Istanbul's population and the peaceful coexistence of different cultures are also noted with appreciation. The authors are particularly enchanted by the city's treatment of stray animals, especially cats, which are cared for by both residents and local veterinarians. They encourage others to visit Istanbul, assuring that its diversity, beauty, and offerings will not disappoint.

Opinions

  • The authors are captivated by Istanbul's architecture, noting the beauty of mosques and the city's overall aesthetic appeal.
  • They find the city's nightlife and the way it highlights certain structures to be particularly exciting and well-executed.
  • The cultural diversity and acceptance of different lifestyles in Istanbul are seen as remarkable, with a mix of people from various backgrounds coexisting harmoniously.
  • The transit system in Istanbul is praised for its comprehensiveness and affordability, making car ownership unnecessary.
  • Istanbul's waterfront is celebrated for being mostly public space, allowing everyone to enjoy the beaches and parks along the city's shores.
  • The parks in Istanbul are commended for their abundance, maintenance, and the amenities they offer to the public.
  • The authors express a special fondness for the city's stray cats, noting the community's efforts to care for them, including free veterinary services and the construction of shelters.
  • The cleanliness and upkeep of the city are acknowledged, with the authors observing city workers actively maintaining public spaces.
  • The food scene in Istanbul is described as a "foodie's heaven," with a variety of local and international flavors to explore.
  • The authors conclude that these aspects, among others, make Istanbul a city worth visiting and potentially living in.

TRAVEL | ISTANBUL | TURKEY

3 Big Things That We Love About Istanbul

And they all go hand in hand!

The sun sets over Istanbul 2020. Photo Credit: Author

Let me just start by saying that Istanbul is an incredible city and we are so excited to have returned here after being away for about a year and a half!

At the end of 2020, we spent 2.5 months living here, and we could have stayed for longer. However, it was getting cold, our visa was set to expire, and we were looking for some warmth. That was when we headed south to Egypt.

As two small-town Canadian kids, we were surprised by how much we fell in love with the city. With a population of more than 15 million people, we were sure that we would be scared off by the big city chaos. We figured that 3–4 days would be enough, then we would want to move out and go find quiet and solitude in the countryside.

But after only a few days, we realized that we were certainly not finished with it, and in fact, of all the places that we have been to so far, we have spoken the most about having a home base here.

It’s so difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that we love about it so much. When I try to come up with an answer to that question, my eyes glaze over and my tongue gets tied.

It’s too difficult of a question to answer somehow.

But let me try.

The architecture in Istanbul is extraordinary. Absolutely stunning mosques grace many corners of the city, and while I don’t necessarily agree with the ridiculous amounts of money that is spent on these structures, they are sure nice to look at.

One could spend days and days just wandering amongst the cool buildings that seem to exist around every adorable corner in the city.

Minarets from Mosques poke up around all corners of Istanbul. Photo Credit: Author

The excitement of the big city lights is nothing new for most cities. But Istanbul has bling somehow figured out on a different level. We love to see the city come alive at night, and are always amazed at the way they have highlighted certain structures to stand out amongst the rest.

One of the brightly lit bridges in Istanbul. Photo Credit: Author

We really love the diversity of the people that are here. There are representations of so many different races, religions, and cultures, all co-existing in peaceful harmony.

While on the train the other day, I took note of a couple of women in full burkhas, and standing just a couple feet away from them were a group of girls in short shorts and with their midriffs showing. Nobody bats an eye at the other, and all people are accepted for who they are.

From the straightest of straight religions to people walking around covered from head to toe in tattoos, anything goes in Istanbul, truly.

The transit system has certainly got to be one of the best in the world! There is really no need for a vehicle if you live in the city as trains, buses, boats, and trams ply into every nook and cranny. Plus, the transit is so cheap! You can get to most locations for just the equivalent of 50 cents!

People from all walks of life ride the transit in Istanbul. And it isn’t always this crowded. This was at rush hour! Photo Credit: Author

The food! Oh boy, don’t even get me started on the food. Around every corner is another delightful treat that is waiting to be sampled. From olives, cheese, meatballs, and even ice cream, Istanbul has all the flavors that you could ever want. And that’s just the Turkish food! I won’t even get into the fact that I think every flavor from around the world is represented at some location in the city.

It is truly a foodies heaven!

A Turkish Pide (pee-day) with cheese and spinach. Dried fruit, spices, and all manner of treats are available in Istanbul. Photo Credits: Author

The city is also incredibly clean and so well cared for. We see city workers picking up and collecting garbage all the time. Plus the sidewalks, roadways, and all public areas are maintained and kept in great shape.

A huge garbage vacuum at Taksim Square. Photo Credit: Author

But these reasons are just the tip of the iceberg, and I haven’t even gotten into the reasons why I have decided to write this article!

Waterfront Access

Today we left our hotel for a walk and instead of turning right as we have done all week, we decided to turn left. You can imagine our surprise when just about 200 m down, we came across a beach. And not just one beach, but a series of beaches many km long that were all connected by flat cement walkways that flanked large grass fields and many trees.

Below the walkway, the sand lead down to the water and was covered in beach blankets and people lounging about in the sun. Many people were swimming in the water and cooling off from the heat of the day.

A beautiful day for the beach! Photo Credit: Author

Above the walkway were large fields of green grass with many trees planted in them. The trees provided shade for thousands of people that were lying about, having picnics, and relaxing with their families. We saw tables set up, teapots brewing tea, and large amounts of food spread out.

People were riding bikes, scooters, rollerblades, mopeds, and many other wheeled contraptions along the flat and well-maintained cement surface of the walkway.

It is Sunday which means that it was busy!

Beach to the right, grass and trees to the left. Photo Credit: Author

But it wasn’t so busy that it was claustrophobic, and I think I know why.

Istanbul's entire waterfront is mostly public space!

Almost any place you go along the water has been made into parks and walkways for the public to enjoy. Of course, there are the occasional palaces, hotels, ferry docks, etc., but there are very few (if any) privately owned residences that hog the prime real estate in the city.

This means that no matter where you live in the city, you can access the waterfront and enjoy all that it has to offer.

You can see that there are a lot of waterfronts! Screenshot by Author of Googlemaps.com.

During our last stay here, we spent countless hours down by the water in many different parts of the city. It is where the true life of the city resides, and it is truly amazing that it is there for ALL to enjoy!

Parks

The parks in Istanbul are numerous! The city does an incredible job of fostering these green spaces and they are always complete with benches, play structures, toilets, garbage cans, and any other thing that you can think of to make them comfortable.

Many parks are equipped with fun and unique things for kids to play on. Photo Credit: Author

The parks aren’t just on the waterfront either. They are scattered throughout the city, and you never have to go far to find a place to sit in the shade and relax. From tiny one-block parks to sprawling lush and green oasis, Istanbul has this important aspect entirely figured out.

A man fishes off the breakwater at sunset. Not the ships in the background waiting their turn to go up the Bosphorous Strait and into the Black Sea. Photo Credit: Author

Cats

Okay, our absolute FAVORITE thing about Istanbul is the cats!

There is an agreement in Istanbul with the veterinarians that they will treat all stray animals for free. This means that if you see a sick cat or dog on the street, you just have to take it to the nearest vet clinic and they will fix its problems. They are then taken back to where they were found so that they can reintegrate into their neighborhood.

They also get spayed and neutered to keep the population down.

This means that there are no gnarly-looking cats that are suffering from any sorts of issues that will make them uncomfortable. It also means that it is safe to pet them, which we do, a lot.

Residents of Istanbul take it upon themselves to build little houses for the cats, and they also feed them and put water out.

No cat will be hungry in this city, that is for sure!

A little cat neighborhood built by the people living nearby. Photo Credit: Author

Citizens treat the cats as if they live in their houses, yet they don’t. We have watched people bring them their daily dose of food which always creates excitement. Plus restaurants will put out their leftovers to feed both the cats and dogs at the end of the day.

We have also seen residents feeding the seagulls and birds. It seems that the Istanbulians (don’t you love that word?) truly know how to treat animals! This is another layer of how the city seems to co-exist in such a peaceful and loving way.

A daily dose of cat food just put down for all to enjoy. Photo Credit: Author

In summary

So, you can see why we love Istanbul!

The fact that the waterfront is accessible to all, the parks at the waterfront and beyond are beautiful, well thought out, and clean, and that they are full of cute and (mostly) cuddly cats, are the main reasons that we love the city.

But, as laid out above, there are many other reasons too!

Some just love to snuggle. Photo Credit: Author

If you have ever thought about visiting Istanbul, I want to shout from the rooftops or the tops of the mosques,

COME! COME!

There is no way that anyone could ever be disappointed in this city. It is diverse, beautiful, and has so much to offer.

Happy traveling!

xo Jill

Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We paint FREE murals in exchange for accommodation. Consider tipping us on Ko-fi!

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Travel
Turkey
Istanbul
Digital Global Traveler
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