Istanbul is the city where east meets west, where the Asian continent and European continent connect. It bridges the cultural gap and is a pleasant mix of both eastern a western cultures from it's beautiful mosque's, flower lined streets and ottoman charm to it's European-like efficiency and order. I found it to be a somewhat addicting city. I had planned to see the city in about five days going to two or three main sites per day, but I ended up just seeing one or, at the most, two sight per day as I found myself content to stay as long as I could in this charming and culturally diverse city. I made a many good friends during my two week stay here and was blessed by the friendship and hospitality of some new Turkish friends as well. I think Istanbul is a perfect city to glimpse a taste of Muslim society without the full on intensity and American resentment found in other parts of the Muslim world. I highly recommend visiting Turkey and Istanbul is a must stop, but be warned, the city an intoxicating charm that may cause some to spend longer than intended exploring it's culture, sights, smells and sounds.

Labels: Travel, World Tour