Last morning in Istanbul: packing and reflections

It's a quiet Saturday morning in Istanbul. My bags are mostly packed, and I'm sitting at the window of my hotel room watching the city come to life. The sun is breaking through scattered clouds, promising a pleasant day with temperatures around 13°C according to the weather app. Perfect for my final few hours here.

I woke up early, as usual, and had already finished most of my packing by 7:30. Mehmet brought me one last Turkish coffee while I was organizing my backpack. We chatted about my journey so far, and he seemed genuinely interested in my impressions of his city. When I mentioned I was heading to the airport later today, he offered to arrange transportation, which I gratefully accepted.

"You must come back to Istanbul," he said. "Five days is not enough to see everything."

He's right, of course. I've barely scratched the surface of what this fascinating city has to offer. The past few days have been a whirlwind of experiences - from the architectural wonder of Hagia Sophia to haggling in the Grand Bazaar, from the magnificent Topkapi Palace to that memorable ferry ride across the Bosphorus. Each experience has left me wanting more.

The journey so far

As I sit here on day 165 of my 500-day journey, I find myself in a reflective mood. I'm exactly one-third of the way through this sabbatical, and Istanbul feels like an appropriate milestone. This city that straddles two continents seems like the perfect metaphor for where I am in my journey - caught between what was and what will be.

I came to Istanbul with a list of things I wanted to see and do, and I've checked off most of them. The Hagia Sophia was even more impressive than I had imagined. The Grand Bazaar taught me lessons about negotiation and human connection that I hadn't expected. The Topkapi Palace, even in the rain, was magnificent. And crossing the Bosphorus was a physical manifestation of the boundary-crossing that this entire journey represents.

But what I'll remember most are the people - Mehmet with his warm hospitality, Ahmet from the Grand Bazaar with his leather journals and family stories, and countless others who have shared brief moments of their lives with me.

Preparing for departure

I've laid out my remaining Turkish lira on the bed, calculating what I'll need for lunch and transportation to the airport. I should arrive at the airport by 3:00 PM for my 5:30 PM flight - plenty of time to navigate security and find my gate.

I've decided to spend my final hours in Istanbul visiting the Basilica Cistern, the only major site on my list that I haven't seen yet. It opens at 9:00 AM, and I plan to be there when the doors open. After that, perhaps a final walk along the Bosphorus before heading back to collect my luggage and make my way to the airport.

What comes next

As I look ahead to the next phase of my journey, I feel a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Where will I be when I reach the halfway point? What will I have learned by then? Will I be any closer to understanding what I'm searching for?

I've been changing in ways I didn't anticipate. I've become more comfortable with uncertainty, more open to unplanned experiences, less rigid in my expectations. I find myself thinking less about work and technology, and more about history, culture, and human connection.

The sun is higher now, casting long shadows across the rooftops of Istanbul. I should finish my coffee and head out to make the most of these final hours. The Basilica Cistern awaits, and after that, who knows?

Until next time, Ruben

Day 165/500: Istanbul, Turkey