Yes, you read that right. This past weekend, my best friend and I made a quick stop in Istanbul, Turkey. It would have never crossed my mind to experience this wonderful place, but there are absolutely no regrets in going. The week leading up to the trip had been very stressful and trying. I had lost some of my excitement in the midst of the chaos, but touching down in Istanbul truly did turn my frown upside down.
Walking along the Bosphorus, visiting Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque were not how I had intended on spending my weekend, but some of the best memories have come out of sporadic decisions. I have seen a different world that has made me appreciate what I have here in London, but to also appreciate discomfort. The last time I couldn’t understand what was going on around me was when I moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic back in 2004. Looking out the window when we landed in Turkey and having no clue of the language, made my nerves spike. If I said that this was a defining problem of the trip, I’d be lying. Everyone we encountered made an effort to be hospitable, although there are a lot of people that spoke English.
I was blown away by the composition of old and new within Istanbul. There are deep roots of history with a twist of modern. By the time Sunday morning came around, I was not ready to leave. I know I will find any excuse to return, and till then, I will be anxiously waiting. 