Intercontinental trip for $1

You can find lots of straits on the map of the world, but I think that only Bosporus is so very symbolic – it clearly marks the border between Europe and Asia. I don’t know if there is another place anywhere else where moving from one continent to another is as spectacular as in is on Bosporus. All you have to do is to board a ferry at Eminonu terminal at the European side of Istanbul and 15 minutes later you find yourself in Uskudar, in Asia.

I love Istanbul ferries and I could easily spend hours travelling from one shore of Bosporus to another. Istanbul looks stunning from the water and it’s hard to imagine this city without it. It is what gives the city its character and charm. Ferry trip is a ‘must do’ for every visitor and I recommend doing it at least a couple of time, ideally in the morning, when the views are best. And it costs just $1!

Five days in Istanbul

Istanbul! What a city! I had the best time during my short stay there. I loved the stunning mosques with huge domes and high minarets, I loved the narrow back streets full of tiny shops selling everything imaginable, I loved the ferry trips to the Asian side of the city, I loved the traditional tea and the stuffed eggplant, I loved the sunsets viewed from the famous Galata bridge.

Istanbul has got something magical about it and I think the magic comes from the mixture of the east and the west. Being spread between Asia and Europe, the city is both very traditional and very modern. There you can see women with their heads covered with scarves and women dressed in what is now in fashion in Western Europe. Traditional markets and huge, shinning shopping malls. Small kebab shops and international fast food restaurants.

I’ve brought lots of photos from Istanbul and today I am sharing just a few of them, hoping they will give you an idea of what Istanbul is like. But I will have many more. Stay tuned!