Istanbul – the 5th largest city in the world, the largest urban agglomeration in Europe.

What at first we found unpleasant (the non-stop traffic, no parks whatsoever, a city so crammed and polluted, no parking spaces, the traffic of people around you and the sounds of the mosques delivered several times during the day, starting at 5 o’clock in the morning) the next day won us over completely.

Istanbul is not what it seems: hidden beneath all the crammed buildings and the agglomeration of people is a vibrant and colorful city, full of history (and I mean a lot of history), traditions and warm people. What you can find at every corner, every hour of the day, is their very cheap food that wins you over (the Doner Kebab, the Ezogelin Soup, the rice pudding desert, the Ayran Turkish Drink, the famous Turkish Tea – just to name a few of their traditional foods). It is true what they say, that you can never die of hunger in Istanbul. It is the healthiest city I have ever been to, with Vitamin Shops (fresh juices on the spot) all over town and the selling of nuts, fruits, seashells, rice and meats on the streets. Continue Reading…