I arrived in Istanbul in a snow storm. The airport was almost shutdown
but I made it in after a 3 hour delay in Frankfurt. It is completely
different since the last time I was here. Before I was a 20 year old
kid who had just finished a year in University in England, and
embarking on my first big multi month trip through the Mediterranean. Now
I am 25 years old, working for an international non-profit website, and
have traveled a fair amount in the past few years. Last time I arrived
in May when it was starting to get hot, now it is the coldest time of
year with a somewhat unusual amount of snow on the ground. But it is as
magical a place as it was last time.
Now I live in a 6 bedroom apartment with 10 other people, all
of whom work for CouchSurfing. We have an amazing apartment that over looks the
Asian side of Istanbul, the Bosporus River and the Bosporus Bridge.
From my desk and my bed you can see ferries crossing back and forth,
and cargo ships heading to sea. We have a sun porch that has the best
view of this with a couch and a heat lamp, both mornings that I have
been here I have sat and drank tea in the morning and watch new city
begin the day.
It hasn't snowed since my first night but the snow has
managed to stick to the roof tops still. Every morning so far I have
been woken up by the call to prayer, I like in some ways, the reminder
of other peoples commitment to religion. While I am not a part of it, I
still find it fascinating.
