Day 4: New Challenges

Weather Update: Conditions: Snow & Sunny Periods

Temperature: High of 2°C

Elevation Above Sea Level: 40 Metres

A Morning of Uncertainty

I woke again to snowfall, and it seemed to stay here. The sky was dark and heavy, making it look like the day was doomed to be a washout. But just when I had accepted defeat, the skies began to clear—just like the day before. Seizing the moment, I grabbed my things and headed out, catching the Metro to the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque).

Change of Plans

A friend in Georgia, who lives in Istanbul, had given me a list of must-see places, and the Blue Mosque was at the top. However, my timing was off. When I arrived, I found out that it was prayer time, and the mosque wouldn’t reopen to visitors until 2 PM—almost two hours later. Rather than wait, I decided to move on.

My next stop was the Basilica Cistern, but upon arrival, I was met with an incredibly long queue. Not in the mood for standing around, I skipped it as well and wandered toward the Bosphorus River instead.

Crossing the Bosphorus

One of the several bridges spanning the Bosphorus stood out to me. This particular bridge had a metro line and roadway above, while underneath, restaurants and bars lined the waterfront. I had originally planned to take the metro across, but as I looked up, the Galata Tower stood high on the hill across the river, looking majestic as it overlooked the entire area. That was enough motivation for me—I decided to walk across the bridge instead. As I made my way across, something caught my attention. A group of around 20 men were huddled together around someone. My curiosity got the better of me, and I tried multiple times to get a glimpse of what was happening. Suddenly, the situation turned chaotic. All hell broke loose, and a ruckus ensued. Not sure what was going on, I moved along and continued my journey toward Galata Tower.

An Unwanted Encounter

By the time I reached the Galata district, I stumbled upon the Dublin Bar, where football was playing on the TV. It seemed like a good place to rest for a bit, so I went in, ordered a drink, and enjoyed the game. At one point, I left to use the restroom. When I returned, I caught a man going through my belongings in the bar. Instinct took over—I lost it. Without thinking, I shouted and swore at the top of my voice, startling him in the process. The man, who looked to be in his late 20s to early 30s, quickly fled the scene, scurrying out the door before anyone could stop him. He could have easily retaliated, but I wasn’t thinking about that—I was simply reacting to someone trying to steal from me.

Back to the Hostel

As if on cue, the snow returned just as I left the bar. It was time to call it a day, so I made my way back to the hostel. Looking back, a lot happened today, yet I didn’t accomplish much of what I had planned. It wasn’t a wasted day, but it certainly felt like one.

If I don’t go back to finish what I started, I know I’ll regret it. Now, it all depends on the weather. Stay tuned for Day 5! Will I finally get to visit the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern? Or will the unpredictable weather throw another curveball? Let’s see what tomorrow brings!