The Real Istanbul with Burak

There is something deeply ironic about being outblogged by Carrie on this trip thus far. I think I’ve created a monster. But, if it wasn’t for her, there wouldn’t be much to read.

When I last left off I had posted some pictures from our fabulous hotel in Sultanhamet, Istanbul. It was kind of like having a view of the French Riviera, the Eiffel Tower and the Vatican rolled into one. While it was nice to experience these wonders of Turkey, it was pretty awesome when my buddy Burak and his cousin Emrah whisked us away to where the fun is: Taksim.

Taksim has a huge street that is closed to traffic and is rife with shops, bistros, bars and street vendors. You see these streets in most major cities in Europe and they’re awesome. Just a mass of people moving enjoying some shopping, food and nargile (hookah) at a human pace.

After some walking, we settled down to eat some authentic Turkish cuisine at a really nice restaurant next to the Galata Tower. Burak and Emrah ordered a bunch of mezes to share, and we enjoyed every bite. Wrapping things in grape leaves was a great idea.

Now things get fun. Burak suggests we go check out the One Love Festival, a weekend music fest featuring electronica. We pile into Emrah’s Mini and he takes off like a bat out of hell. A few near-death experiences later and he’s paying some guy to move a trash bin so that we can park on the street next to the festival. A few Lira later and we’re just in time to catch the headliners: Royskop! It was a cool show: not too crowded, close to the stage, and just long enough to satiate my curiosity in electronic music.

Afterwards, we headed over to Emrah’s for some drinks. Carrie and I had whiskey, a delicious 12-year variety. It was nice to get away from the bars and just chill-out. Emrah’s flat was right in Taksim and was great. 3 bedrooms, high ceilings and a long balcony for something like $1200/month. Good deal!

Anyway, here’s to Burak and Emrah. Turkish hospitality at its finest!