Well, my days are winding down here in Istanbul but they remain no less exciting. Today dawned beautiful and clear and I decided it was therefore the perfect day to visit the Princes Islands. However, as I still have quite a bit left on my akbil I also decided to take a somewhat circuitous route. So I am sitting now in Kabatas at the local Starbuck’s enjoying my morning latte and waiting for the ferry to Andalar at 10:40am.
Left: the Starbucks in Kabatas. Right: my morning tradition.
Left: self-portrait at the SB. Right: the port in Kabatas.
I am excited to be visiting the islands today. Like the Mackinaw back in the states, private vehicular traffic is forbidden and the only ways around are by bicycle, rented horse and trap, or by the tried and true method with us for at least 3.5 million years, your own two feet. It is off-season now but I think this will make the day more pleasant. There will be no crowds to fight and the infamous Mediterranean sun has definitely been tempered. The islands are a popular escape destination for Istanbulers and for this day at least it is mine as well.
Left: my favorite ferry perch. Right: a view of the islands.
More island views...
Although I vehemently resisted them at first, the Starbucks here in Istanbul I have gotten used to and have even (obviously) grown to enjoy. Visiting the various Starbucks here has become something of a habit and I have been wondering lately if it might not make for an interesting vacation theme sometime in the future. Grab a latte and see the world! It’s certainly a vacation I know I would enjoy! Although Turkish tea and coffee are wonderful and are certainly two treats not to be missed, for those of us weaned on copious amounts of the drip variety, sometimes there is just no substitute for volume. Thus my morning lattes have become my own version of American comfort food. As for the more standard variety, it is the Burger Kings, McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chickens that still, even after nearly two months, seem hopelessly out of place to me. The food here is so fresh and so delicious and so cheap that their presence just seems a violation. Or perhaps it’s just my own sense of embarrassment at the quality of our American food exports.
Left: landing on the main island. Right and below: tooling around town.
Left and right and below left: some fabulous island architecture.
Below: park view.
Left and right: loose livestock. Yes, the horses and cows really do roam free here.
Left and right: the main transportation modes here...horse and trap, bicycle and donkey.
Day’s end...
It’s a little before 3pm and I am here at the islands waiting for the ferry to take me back to Kadikoy. Left and right: the port heading back to Kadikoy.
The Princes Islands were very nice but as with Sariyer I’m not sure I’ll feel the need to come back. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and this is certainly a fabulous place to hike and enjoy nature, but other than eating (which I have done far too much of here in Turkey!) there’s not a whole else lot to do. I guess I was expecting more shopping. I did find two very nice necklaces for 10 TYL each and was able to take some very nice photographs, but all in all, one day of the islands is enough for me.
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