✨ Falling in love with Turkey ✨ 7th - 17th of February ✨

✨ Falling in love with Turkey ✨ 7th – 17th of February ✨

How has 2022 been for you so far? It’s the 17th of February today and I’m in business class on a BA flight back to London. I’ve spent the past ten days in Turkey.

Back in London, before this holiday, I knew I needed to be inspired and fascinated, a refresh, a reset, to see new things and be surprised. Turkey gave me this and even more: I fell in love with it!

The story begins in 2010 in India where I met three people, two siblings from Russia, and a full blown traveler from South America. They were my travel companions for a while.

We didn’t meet since then and out of the blue back in November the plan was made to meet again in Istanbul in February 2022. Hey, don’t expect dirty details! I was a tame damsel on this trip…… or almost. I did go on a date in Cappadocia.

Who flew on the hot air balloons in Cappadocia? OMG! One of the best things I have done in my life and one of the most romantic ! There was a tall and handsome Turkish man with us who caught my attention, I loved his green eyes and dark hair, I really liked looking at his smile every time he laughed with his friends. Our eyes crossed several times and once we were high up in the air I decided to chat him up. I realized that up in the air hovering above this enchanted snowy land was so romantic. Oh wow, how romantic it was! To move closer pretending not to hear him, having a closer look at those green eyes, feeling his body, but without touching.

I needed to feel a man. I needed that first kiss (which I gave later in the day, standing in the middle of a bridge….), I needed to press myself against a man’s body, to lick his lips…… to unzip his top and kiss his neck….. all this I did, but I didn’t invite him back to my lovely cave hotel room. I didn’t feel that spark. That spark, yep. But still, I have clicked the box on everything else romantic and a lovely date it was.

Now,

Twelve years ago back in India, one of the two siblings was a fourteen years old boy and I remember that I felt attracted to his perfect lean body. I know, he was only fourteen but of course all I’m telling you took place at a purely platonic level….. (with only a little bit of frustration!) but my memories of him are these.

He also came to Istanbul.

He is twenty-six years old now and boy, I have to say that that special attraction is still there, what a lovely energy this young man has. I was so happy to see him again.

(This would have been a spark, if you know what I mean. This yes, would have been the spark.)

It reminds me of a movie I saw back in January, called “Licorice Pizza”. Watch it if you are curious 🙂 it’s one of the best movies I have seen so far with an exceptional story line and cinematography. It spoke of a love between a much older girl and a much younger guy, set in the 70s.

However much I felt good seeing him again and took pleasure in observing him (what a joy it was to catch up on him again twelve years later) I don’t know what exactly is my infatuation. Time would tell but time ran out, the next day I had a flight to catch, and all I can do is write about it now, flying, somewhere above Europe….

TBC

It’ll always be a dear pleasure to cross path with him. Who knows where next. And….. who knows…..

I’ve seen so many new and utterly fascinating things during my ten days stay in Turkey, I even went for a small hike along a river in a deep valley covered in snow south of Cappadocia, how enchanting it was! All this made me fall in love with Turkey, and how much am I in love with Istanbul. Sometimes, watching the never ending flood of people at any given time of day, I would say to myself ‘Where do all these people come from?’, ‘Where does this endless river disperse?’ When ever does it run out of steam?’ for I could never see the end of it.

What a sky high energy this town has. My South American friend told me: ‘Whoever said that New York is a city that never sleeps, has never visited Istanbul.’

I can’t wait to visit Turkey again, and make more friends. What I would also like to do…… is make it happen (let the games begin Elizabeth ) and write a naughty blog too.

Can’t deny I fantasised about the owner of the Airbnb where we stayed, or about every handsome Turkish man I saw. I’ve never seen so many blue and green eyes, thousands of years old trade routes brought every single physical trait into this one big city. It’s like looking at all the million routes from all over the world converging in this one spot - I needed to be fascinated 🙂 and oh so gratefully, I am!

I am back in London now and can officially say that I’m ready for 2022.

I hope all of you have been well, and have already seen new and beautiful things too this year.

See you soon

Much love still fresh from the Bosporus