Gule Gule, Guzellik!

Ecstatic, Loved, Grateful, Anticipation, Sadness, Fear & not wanting to Let go; some of the many feelings I felt on my last day in Turkey.

A bag of mixed feelings is absolutely normal to have is what I explained to myself & all I needed to do was to embrace it. To know that it is never the end, It is always just the beginning of a New Story, a New Life.

I put up like 20 something alarms to get my sore ass off bed, rushing to enjoy my delicious breakfast with my dearest chef. She definitely was the one person I looked forward to seeing every morning. I entered the breakfast room, with her usual greeting ‘What do you need today?’.
I went all out and asked her if she could make me some Menemen (an authentic Turkish omlet with tomatoes, peppers & spices prepared at restaurants). It didnt take her more than a minute to throw those eggs onto the pan and get cooking. Getting a little bit emotional here, wondering how people can be so kind and selfless to a new girl in the city. There were always only YESSES that I heard to anything I asked ❤
I burped away finishing my last bite of the mouth-watering Menemen. Got all ready and took off into the city as I had a couple of more things to tick off my bucket list. I ain’t going home without that, I said to myself :’)

Cicek Pasaji, this gorgeous breath-taking passage of restaurants & cafes with a rooftop open to sky. The light seeping in with different shapes, angles and shades just blew my mind away. I could sit there all day and never get enough. There are umpteen number of gullies like this in the city of Istanbul. This was just one, I had the privilege to witness!
Took a seat by one of the restaurants, ordered some bread with Moutabel & Acli Ezme (Eggplant & Chilli Tomato) Mezze & gazed away. I imagined myself in an Audrey Hepburn movie and felt like the Main Character who everyone had their eyes own. After all, only a beautiful setup like this could transform me back to an era like that.

I then switched on my google maps as I was all set to tick off my last item on the list. On the way capturing some photos, reliving some memories, listening to my most favourite track and climbing up hills to get to a Turkish Hamam (the traditional Turkish bath) which is aaaaah, so relaxing! The maps led to me to many wrong but beautiful streets that I happened to stumble upon. That is when I noted down, I am determined to come back to this city. It was a never ending Pandora’s box of beautiful sights!!
Finally ended up at the right place, but couldn’t make it on time. Weirdly, I didn’t feel disheartened at all as I had explored the city on my own in a very different kind of a way in the process.
Last day well spent is all that ran in my mind! I felt Blessed & Content as I rushed back to my hotel, packed my bags and was ready to get into my taxi taking me to the airport.

Bidding Farewell to the friends I made in the people I never knew once upon a time was the hardest part I must say. I gazed at this beauty of a city one last time through my window as I whispered to myself;

‘It was not a Goodbye, I’ll just Miss You until we Meet Again’