The Republic of Us: our year of leprechauns over logic: Istanbul

After a heartbreaking holiday back in Canada, it was with mixed feelings that we returned to Europe to continue our travels. I lost my mom whom I loved so dearly, and part of me wanted to stay in my bedroom in my parents' house and mope. Luckily we already had a flight to Istanbul booked, so this wasn't an option. Even luckier, my dad and his three buddies were meeting us in Istanbul on their way to volunteer in a boys orphanage in India. Scott and I had a day in the city before them, and became the unofficial tour guides. With my red hat forever shielding me from the wind, everyone said it was easy to follow me and joked I should open Red Hat Tours Company. I just hope I was helpful, not bossy!

Not only did the six of us have more fun than I ever imagined, but this trip has also been incredibly healing as I remember my mom and the fact that she would want me out seeing the world, not huddled in bed eating cereal straight out of the box.

Anyone who knows Scott and I will know that we are cheaper than cheap, especially when travelling. We were the cheapest of all is Istanbul. We got ripped off on a terrible exchange rate in Pearson airport and I was determined not to change any more money but to make the equivalent of $100CAN last us the entire five days in Istanbul. Our hotel included a fabulous breakfast and we had a inexpensive and delicious kebab place across the street, so we were able to succeed easily.

Most things of the amazing sights of Istanbul can be seen for free - the spice market (where the sights, smells, and towers of spices and dried fruit are displayed so beautifully you'd swear that food, not islam, is their religion), the grand bazaar, and a walk along the Bosphorus Straight and Galata Bridge. Being in this city where Europe and Asia meet, literally and figuratively, is an experience in itself. Commerce is emotional, not transactional, as merchants beckon you in from all angles as you walk by. We had one young entrepreneur wait for us for over an hour to lead us to his shop. At the time this seemed annoying, but now that we are back to the land of traditional shopkeeping, buying things seem boring.

Yet, Istanbul remains a city I love to visit, not live. The lack of women shopkeepers and the separate (and second class) prayer areas for women in mosques are examples of the separation and disparity of genders I'm not sure I could ever get used to.