Istanbul: just with my backpack
After a long flight I arrived in Istanbul, Turkey. Seventeen hours of wakefulness imagining what I would find. I left Buenos Aires behind, my family, friends and customs to start this expedition that would have ancient Constantinople as the first stop. Very cold? Yes, on this side of the world it was still winter.
I trembled and some fear gripped me for being alone
As soon as I put both feet in the airport I trembled and I got a little scared of being alone. I waited for my orange backpack and thought what I was doing with my life. Nothing routine, to go Monday to Friday to work or classes at the university. fulfilled my dream, what i really wanted to do with my time. I was scared, one, a bit, but the desire to make this trip overcame my doubts.
I grabbed my backpack and went straight to the station of the modern tram that should deposit me in Sultanahmet.. The signs were written in English and what I assumed was Turkish. Is Turkish spoken anywhere other than Turkey? There I met a couple of Uruguayans whom I helped to get the "tokens", red plastic coins needed to travel on said transport. That's crazy, the first thing i did was help another person when i was the one who needed to be helped. travel rarities.
The first thing I did was help another person when I was the one who needed to be helped.
They thought I lived in Istanbul and were surprised to find out that I was in the same situation. Is, we had flown on the same flight. I had seen them at some point. I thought they were Argentines, but not, they were neighbors.
Alone on Turkish soil. Just over fifteen thousand kilometers left me alone with Europe. All for me. As I head to my destination, I realize that the city is huge and that it was once walled. In Buenos Aires there are no walls, thought.
I arrive in Sultanahmet and collide with two mosques that are also very large and illuminated.. That made me think that in Buenos Aires there is only one, or at least i know that. The scene was shocking. I walked alone through the streets without really knowing the right way. It was Istanbul midnight. There was no one in the streets. Only Turkish taxi drivers who offered to take you to the hostel.
I walked alone through the streets without really knowing the right way
I arrive at the hostel and I realize that I need to brush up on my English quickly because it was difficult for me to interact with the receptionist. The night passed very slowly. My mind kept thinking and rethinking while the time difference played its game, five hours apart was too much.
The sun rose and my expedition through the old continent began.
