Tag Archives: Istanbul

Travel-lover

Instead of people, I fall in love with countries and cities. Japan, Istanbul, Cyprus, now it’s also Budapest – and who knows how many more wait for me in future. While new ones add to the list, my love to previous ones never fades. The unique charm of each place is alive in my heart.

It’s both different and similar with normal human romance.  The same anticipation before meeting – I am thrilled when I board a plane! It’s also a sensual pleasure, when a country surrounds me with its air, when I walk along its streets, taking in its sights, its smells, I can even taste a country…

And then there are memories, little things. I like to buy in my travels somehing I can wear – clothes, shoes, accessories. A skirt from Yokohama. Summer shoes from Hiratsuka (they don’t already exist, such a pity). A warm, soft baggy tunic that I found on Cyprus. A copper ring  from Istanbul, from those numerous stalls with handmade accessories. Rings and earrings are my favourite. As if I am engaged to each country with a ring…

And then it’s parting and separation. It can be also painful, it can hurt even to see photographs of the places where I’ve been. Especially with Japan, because I can’t return there so easily. How long I haven’t been there?…  Random things remind me about it, like some special color of the sky, or a smell on a car parking. I see dreams about Japan and other countries, even unknown countries, and I feel happy in these dreams. Is it bad? Is it addiction? I don’t think so. I prefer to call it love.

Istanbul

Last year I added Istanbul to my happy places. I spent there one whole month, taking a TEFL course (to become an English teacher). Actually these courses are everywhere. I chose the place for reasons of convenience: it was the closest and less expensive, and then Russian citizens don’t need a visa to enter Turkey.

For several first days I was a bit frustrated by the fact of my being there. How could it be, I am abroad but it’s not Japan? But with the time I got to love Istanbul. Now I miss it too. I walk along labyrinth-like streets of Istanbul in my dreams. Who knows what other countries I will discover in future and make my happy places as well… I hope there will be more!

Blue tram

Seaside cafe

Small street I walk every day

River with boats - sunny