Istanbul, Türkiye

In the summer of 1994, during the Football World Cup, we took a family holiday (uncle, aunt and grandma included) to Marmaris. We flew on a 747 operated by MartinAir. Mid flight, we were allowed to visit the cockpit! Those were different times.

My uncle and aunt who had been there before, I believe. Always looking for a sunny escapes, they had discovered Türkiye not long before and it had quickly become a favourite destination to them. So this time, our family and our grandmother came along.

One of those holidays I will never forget. I would have been six, only, but it made an everlasting impression. The Dondurmacılar ice cream men, the sweet Turkish tea served in leather shops, we took a multi-day sailing boat excursion, saw the Caunos graves carved in the mountain, mud baths and crossed from salt into fresh water at Turtle Beach. And not to forget, we visited this hot springs and white terraces of Palmukkala.

I went back ones or twice with my uncle and aunt. I do not know how it developed afterwards, but early 90s Türkiye was an amazing experience as a kid!

During the Interrail trip in 2007, Istanbul was our 'end' goal (sort of speak). It was the furthest we travelled East (coming in via Romenia) before heading back through the Balkans. And while I do remember the sights of the mosques near Sultanamet, I was happy to have another opportunity in 2024 to fully explore the city.