We landed at Sabiha Gocken International airport at 1 pm. We were on the Asian side of Turkey.
I wasnt sure what to expect really. Reviews and writeups all raved about how stunning Istanbul was. But feedback about taxi drivers seemed to be consistent. I just hoped my first encounter would be a good one.
Emre couldnt speak much English but we managed to understand each other. I made sure I knew where the taxi meter was and watched it like a hawk. I was impressed with his driving skills whilst setting up google maps. I slowly eased up when he showed me the route and the travel time.
The surrounds gave me the impression of growth. A lot of constructions were underway. Lush green meadows gave signs of early Spring. But I could still feel the cold.
Emre was speeding at 120 kph and without his seat belt on... I was loving the speed...but not the instant breaks. Ive been warned about Istanbul driving. I just didnt know how it was compared to Manila.
As we approached the Old City, Sultanahmet.. i smiled. I could see the usual hustle and bustle of the city scapes. We passed through Galata Bridge.
I was mesmerized by the number of men with fishing rods. Emre tried to explain to me it was a Saturday. Not really the best time to drive around, so best to walk or tram it. Yes, we kind of understood each other. I had a pre downloaded app to learn a few Turkish words. And we agreed that Cumartesi (Saturdays) means traffic. He was happy when i learned how to count from 1 to 10 in Turkish.
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| S6 shot - Galata Bridge fishermen |
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| S6 shot - old city wall ruins |
I was received warmly by the front desk of Sultanahmet Inn Hotel (Akburçak Sk). He carried my bag to the 4th floor and I settled in. I was dead tired. But it was just 3 pm. I looked out of the window and could see the Küçük Ayasofya (little hagia sofia). I went up the rooftop and gazed around, sussed out the surrounds.
I unpacked a few things and decided to beat the jetlag by exploring.
