Istanbul Travel Diary

AMIIN Founder, Ameena Bajar, shares an excerpt from her 2014 Istanbul travel diary

I've dreamt of visiting Istanbul for years. When I first heard of a city that borders both Europe and Asia, I was immediately fascinated. Coupled with the history of Turkey, images of grand mosques, bustling bazaars, clinking glasses of Turkish çay and relaxing hammams conjured in my mind. Istanbul is a perfect blend of East and West, and as someone who often describes themselves as, "one part East, one parts West", I knew my visit to Istanbul would be nothing short of an incredible experience.

For vegetarian foodies, it's important to note that Istanbul is not a place to feast. Despite the lack of proper lunch and dinner options, I found myself indulging in many sugary desserts from Hafiz Mustafa, such as pistachio and rose lokum (Turkish Delight), Turkish coffee, baked rice pudding and knafe. I also left Istanbul with a significantly heavier suitcase than what I arrived with. After a couple trips to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, I haggled well enough to become the owner of several traditional kitchen and home decor items.

Aside from the shops, sights and treats, the most memorable part my stay in Istanbul was the first day of Ramadan. Hundreds, even thousands, of people gathered in the grassy areas surrounding the Sultanahmet mosque before sunset to break their fast. Everyone who was fasting was provided with a boxed meal and there was a buzz throughout the whole area as local figureheads addressed the crowds and musicians played. The sense of community, culture and faith was undeniable and as the sun's last rays slipped behind the Sultanahmet's domes, I left the city feeling like I had caught a glimpse of the real Istanbul.