Istanbul: Drumsticks, Tea, and a Few Too Many Cats

so here i am, sitting in a tiny cafe in istanbul, nursing a third cup of turkish tea, trying to remember how i ended up here. the answer? a last-minute gig, a borrowed drum kit, and a 6am flight. classic touring drummer life.

it's 11.72°c right now, but feels like 11.11°c, so basically jacket weather with a side of unpredictable wind. humidity's at 83%, which means my hair's already staging a rebellion.

anyway, the gig was in kadikoy, on the asian side, and let me tell you-this place is a drummer's dream. tight venues, loud crowds, and zero judgment if you break a stick mid-song. overheard a local saying, "if you can play here, you can play anywhere," and honestly? felt like a compliment.

i just checked and it's 11.72°c there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

between soundcheck and the show, i wandered through the market. spices, tea, and enough baklava to make a dentist weep. someone told me the pistachios here are "illegal in other countries" because they're too good. not sure if that's true, but i'm choosing to believe it.

if you get bored, izmir and ankara are just a short drive away, though honestly, i'd rather stay here and hunt down more street cats. speaking of, there's a ginger one that keeps stealing my seat at this cafe. i've named him "soundcheck."

*pro tip: if you're ever in istanbul, skip the tourist traps and hit up zeytinburnu* for live music. locals say it's where the real vibe is. also, the tea is cheaper there. win-win.

"don't trust the guy selling carpets near the blue mosque. he's got a cousin who sells watches." - overheard in a taxi

and yeah, the weather's been... moody. one minute it's sunny, the next it's drizzling like the sky's got commitment issues. but that's istanbul for you-chaotic, beautiful, and always keeping you on your toes.

anyway, i'm off to find dinner. probably something with eggplant. or maybe just more tea. who knows. touring life, am i right?