Istanbul, day 2

Friday, June 20



We had seen so many sites our first day in Istanbul, that we couldn't believe we had only just scratched the surface on this magnificent city! We still had a jammed packed day of major sites to see!! On our list for Day 2 was: The Grand Bazaar, The Spice Market, A cruise of the Bosphorus, and the Turkish Bath. What a line up, right? 

To begin, what I loved about Istanbul is that it felt so real, so genuine. Yes, like any big city, there were a lot of tourists. But walking the streets in Istanbul was a pleasant reminder that daily life for the locals was happening all around us! You'll notice below that I snapped a lot of pictures of Turkish men and women just living life, shopping and smoking and eating side by side the tourists! It was great. 

Our first stop was the Grand Bazaar! Oh my stars, talk about instant stimulation that just doesn't stop! The colors! The merchandise! The shop keepers yelling at every tourist walking by! It was quite the scene, and I drank it in slowly. I literally saw about 100 things I wanted to buy, but fortunately knew if we bought anything this day, I'd have to carry it around with me the entire trip! So Kevin and I decided our shopping would all come at the end of the trip when we were back in IST. 

After the Grand Bazaar, we headed for the Spice Market. In my personal opinion, I actually loved the Spice Market more. It felt more authentic middle eastern! All sorts of spices, dried fruits, and baklava were tempting me to eat them! I'll have you know I picked up a lot of free samples, and as a treat bought some incredible dried fruit! 

Then came the scenic cruise along the Bosphorus!  The Bosphorus is essentially a straight that separates  Europe from Asia, and connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. We settled onto the top deck of the cruise, and took in the vivid colors of the water and lovely buildings lining the waters edge. (Rick Steve's has a bit of a cruise tour if you want to follow along while on the cruise!) 

After the cruise, we headed for our most curious event of the day…The Turkish Baths. I will be sharing more about these baths in another post, but let me just say, they will blow your mind. They are hands down one of the coolest cultural experiences i've ever had! Not to mention i've never been more relaxed!! 

To end the evening, Kevin and I found an amazing restaurant that had rooftop seating. We ate a most delicious meal while sipping wine, and staring out at the night time view of the Blue Mosque. Truly, a perfect way to end our day! 

As you can see, Istanbul has no lack of sights! More to come soon!! Happy weekend friends!




























































27 comments :

  1. Look amazing! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos.

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  2. Incredible!! The colors of that city, wow. I am feeling pretty jealous right now :) Istanbul has been a dream of mine for a while and your photos do not disappoint! Looks like you had just a wonderful day together exploring. Days like that are my favorite. I hope you both are getting some rest and I am so happy to hear that your man is still on the mend! Praise God!

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  3. I was so excited when I saw this post! I wasn't able to see all these places when I was Istanbul, but all the reason to go back one day! I love how your photos capture such beautiful details of the all the life there. Can't wait for more! xo, gina

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  4. Istanbul's just magical. I can hardly believe it's been five years since I've been! I remember all the sights and smells so vividly. Thanks for the reminder :)

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  5. ...Those LANTERNS, though!!...I don't know how you could resist buying one IMMEDIATELY!!...

    Betty

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  6. Amazing! Every post about Turkey is making me want to go even more! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!

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  7. Wow! So beautiful! I'm so impressed you didn't buy anything. I saw so many things I wanted just in your pictures! And the pictures from the cruise are stunning. All those colors and the water...just amazing!

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  8. These pictures are beautiful and they continue to make me want to book a flight there ASAP!

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  9. I love the colors! So much fun!

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  10. sooo beautiful!!! turkey looks inviting!

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  11. Can we talk about how cute you look in all your pictures? I think you should write a post about how you pack for your travels. I tend to be overly practical (aka not very cute) but you ALWAYS look both cute and comfortable!

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  12. It looks beautiful! Your posts have really made me want to discover this city <3 xx

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  13. I have never been longing for going to Istanbul. I have always had a thought that it is crowdy and lots of people everywhere. But when I see your pictures I started to think....maybe.....
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  14. The colors! geeeze. So very beautiful!!! And you look adorable. This has made it on my list of places to go!

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  15. Truly stunning!! Love all of these pictures! Praise the Lord that God kept Kevin healthy and safe while you were there! Looks like an incredible trip. xox

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  16. I like how you dressed up to tour. Great example...I'm taking notes!

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  17. Istanbul looks like a lovely place to visit!

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  18. It looks beautiful, and so do you! Katie, you're shining! I hope Kevin's getting better! Hugs from Germany

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  19. Turkey is so special, it simply doesn't; look like any other place due to a spectacular blend of arab and european cultures!
    http://fashionpeekaboo.com

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  20. Were these all taken with your 85? They are beautiful photos!!

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    1. Oh! And side note... I mentioned you on my blog today! :)

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  21. wow I can't to go travel there myself! The sweets look delicious

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  22. Just Beautiful! (I think every one of my comments say the same thing about your pictures - lol - it's true though my friend!)

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  23. I absolutely love all your travel photos! Thank you so much for sharing!

    xoxo, Kerri

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  24. you're photographs are amazing. I've been to Istanbul and you definitely capture the essence of the city. I love what you're wearing, too!

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  25. out of all of these pictures i find myself thinking "how can she still look so chic while traveling?" i'm in like workout pants and a tshirt haha

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  26. From seeing all your food pictures I'm pretty sure I would have gained 5-10 lbs. Glad you had such a fun time!

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