Day 1: Istanbul – A Snowy Start

Weather Update: 🌧️ Rain & Snow | 🌡️ High: 2°C

Elevation Above Sea Level: ⛰️ 40 Metres

A Flight to Remember

I boarded the plane knowing I was seated toward the rear—usually a packed section. To my surprise, the flight wasn’t as crowded as expected. Most of the airlines I’ve flown over the years operate "Airbus Neo's" but this was my first experience on a brand-new Boeing 737 Max 8.

Interior Design:

The interior design was impressive, clearly built with passenger comfort in mind. Even with the seat in front of me reclined, I still had plenty of legroom. It was one of the rare flights where I managed to sleep. When we landed, I initially thought we were still in the air—until I looked out the window and saw the ground. What I thought was turbulence gave me a brief shock, but overall, it was an enjoyable flight.

Navigating Istanbul’s Transport System

Istanbul has an extensive rail network, including underground and metro systems. Navigating a new country always comes with challenges, and I had to take three different underground trains before finally reaching Taksim Square.

At one point, I asked a security guard for directions. She told me:

➡️ “Go left, go up, go up, and go up the hill.”

I turned left, but to my confusion, I was still on flat ground—something didn’t feel right.

A Much-Needed Break: Beer, Pizza & WiFi

With no WiFi and unclear directions, I decided to stop for a beer. While I was there, I figured it was the perfect time for dinner—pizza it was! In hindsight, this stop was a great decision because the snow outside had become much heavier. Once I found my route and stepped outside, the weather disrupted my signal, and I got turned around—heading in the complete opposite direction! After another search for WiFi, I finally got back on track. By the time I reached my hostel, I was soaked through from the sleet. But at least I was out of the cold!

Rooftop Bar Encounters

After settling in, I headed upstairs to the hostel’s rooftop bar. There, I met an American who had left California years ago and now lives in Denmark. Tomorrow, he’s flying to New York to visit family. We chatted about New Zealand and his desire to visit one day and I asked him about Denmark, his main comment the sky is always grey. Later in the evening, we were unexpectedly given free drinks—though not quite the wild scene experienced in Thailand when people lost their lives. The hostel had planned a pub crawl, open to both younger and older travellers, but due to the snow, they switched plans to a karaoke night instead. I stayed until about 11 PM before calling it a night—beauty sleep first! No idea what time the others wrapped up, but I’m sure they had a blast