I have a lot of love for Istanbul and even more for the area just north of the Golden Horn known as Beyoğlu. To use a clichéd term, it is the beating heart of Istanbul and where all the action happens. Istikal Cadessi (Independance Avenue) is the 1.5km main street that runs right through the middle and we were staying on an adjacent street and spent most of our time here and in and around the alleyways between.
If you like cats then this is the city to visit, they are everywhere and are well looked after from biscuits and water being left out to scrapings of chicken from the kebab vendor. Some streets and parks even have cat houses. So for a cat lover like Tash this was heaven and had made the trip worthy in itself. It also made for very slow progress when venturing anywhere as you couldn’t go 5 metres without having to stop for a pat or a photo. One was given the name Fritty on a night out (friend who is a kitty), there were numerous return visits to say hello. Fritty also liked icecream.
Delicious meals from street vendors all the way through to a fine dining rooftop degustation as well as shopping, wandering and hanging out on our hotel’s rooftop made for a superb week. I even had a stint dj’ing at a mate’s mini club. Plans to return again next month prove just how much of a pull this city and it’s charms have.
J
Catstantinople
Cats! Everywhere! Living like kings and queens, having become accustomed to the life they deserve, adored by all, eating copious amounts of food and claiming anywhere and everywhere as their own territory and a place to nap.
For this reason alone, I will return again and again to this great city.
T
don't give away the end 