Taking a horse and carriage ride on the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul, Turkey.

Life list: #116 Take a horse and carriage ride.

Taking a horse and carriage ride on the Princes’ Islands of Istanbul, Turkey.

I had plans to meet up again with Gulender and Murat, who I met a few weeks ago, the last time I was staying in Istanbul. I had no idea what they had in store for me for the day.

We started with breakfast at a place along the Bosphorus. We had tomatoes and cucumbers, honey and cream, olives and cheese, bread and cherry jam, and eggs with peppers and tomatoes. And, of course, a little Turkish coffee.

Breakfast in Istanbul, Turkey.

Breakfast in Istanbul, Turkey.

Breakfast in Istanbul, Turkey.

Breakfast in Istanbul, Turkey.

And then we hopped on a long boat ride to one of the Princes’ Islands.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

Boat ride to Princes' Island in Istanbul, Turkey.

The island itself doesn’t allow cars outside of emergency vehicles. So the only options were to walk, rent a bike, or take a horse and carriage. We opted for the two-horsepower option.


Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

And then we walked up a hill to visit a cute little church and see some amazing views and drink some tea.

Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

And then we took another horse and carriage ride back down the island.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Taking a horse and carriage ride in Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

We were all hungry again so we walked along the waterfront restaurants, bargained for a giant ugly fish and ate that and octopus and calamari and drank raki and some reddrink that tasted like pickle juice.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

Seafood dinner at Princes' Island, Istanbul, Turkey.

And then we took the chilly boat back, watching three boys outside our window being boys, watching devastating news of the earthquake that had hit Turkey that day…

 

“Take a horse and carriage ride” was number 116 on my bucket list, and something I unexpectedly crossed off that day.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


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Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.

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2 Comments
  • Andrew
    October 27, 2011at4:04 pm

    Ok. That is one really creepy fish head on the line. Made creepier by the red shining through the eye-socket. Took me a bit to realize that it was the thing hanging behind it.

    Great pics as always.

  • Ali
    November 1, 2011at7:33 am

    Val, you look really good in these pictures, really relaxed and happy. I think RTW is treating you well. Congrats on another bucket list item!

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