At the subway in Istanbul, Turkey, I learned about the transportation methods and what it means in a crowded, big city such as Istanbul.
I went towards the machine to pay and get a ticket to take the train towards Taksim Square and to Istiklal street, where all the action took place.
I asked a young college student about how to use the train. He explained that I need a transportation card, the card generally sold at the booth at the subway entrance, which I passed by on my way to the machine. The card was needed to pay for the train and the buses around the city. These machines were accessible in different spots around the subway and could recharge the card as required.
The young student asked, where do you want to go. I mentioned my wish to go to Taksim. He said I am going there too. So we went through paying by charging his card twice, once for me and once for him. I thanked him so much and offered cash. He refused, adding, you are my guest.
After the arrival, I went to the booth and bought a card as he recommended. This enabled me to use both trains and buses and saved me a lot of money since I no longer needed cabs.
It turned out to be cheaper and gave me more leverage to plan my trips around the city. It made my life much easier. The subway station and bus stops are steps from my hotel room, making my movement much affordable and accessible!
It was my first trip to Istanbul and cities around the city. I felt safe, and I enjoyed what the city has to offer. Food, music, and historical places.
On Istiklal Street, I found a travel agency that organizes trips to the city for a whole day and a meal for reasonable prices. I utilized it a couple of times to see few cities, like Bursa. It was fun and comfortable, and they delivered all that they promised.
Unfortunately, one month was not nearly enough to see all the sites in Istanbul simply while also allocating time to travel outside the city. The 2020 Pandemic changed all of our plans; unfortunately, my traveling plans included. I can not wait for the pandemic to go away and for the world to open up.
I miss you, Istanbul. Good people and good food!
Thank you for reading!
