Istanbul Through the Eyes of a Digital Nomad Who Forgot Her Charger
okay, so i landed in istanbul with zero plans and a dying laptop. the weather was doing that weird thing where it feels colder than it looks-like 5.98°c but my fingers said 0.45°c. i just checked and it's hovering around there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
i heard from a barista near galata tower that the best coffee in town is at a place called kronotrop. someone told me that if you don't try their cold brew, you're basically just visiting the airport. so i went, and yeah, it was good, but also i was still mad about my charger.
"you haven't seen istanbul until you've gotten lost in the grand bazaar," said a guy selling lamps who may or may not have been trying to upsell me on a mosaic lamp i didn't need.
if you get bored, *bursa and edirne are just a short drive away. locals kept mentioning them like they were the secret level of turkey. i didn't make it this time, but it's on the list for next time i forget something important.
i stayed in a little apartment in kadikoy because i heard it was less touristy and more "real istanbul." the rumor was true-cats everywhere, kids playing football in the streets, and a dude selling simit from a cart who looked like he'd been doing it since 1972.
i kept thinking i'd write something profound about the mix of old and new, but mostly i was just trying to find a plug. the wifi at santa cafe in cihangir was solid though, and the waiter didn't judge me for camping out with my laptop and a single tea for three hours.
for food, everyone said çiya sofrası* in kadikoy was the move. i heard that the chef there collects recipes from villagers all over turkey and brings them to the city. it felt like eating someone's grandmother's best-kept secrets. also, the lentil soup might have saved my life.
would i go back? absolutely. would i bring a spare charger? definitely. istanbul's the kind of place that makes you forget your problems until you remember them again in a beautiful, chaotic way.
if you're planning a trip, check out tripadvisor's istanbul guide or maybe just wander until you find a tea shop and let the city happen to you.
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