Juniper
So much to explore on Istiklal Street
On the last day of the ikhlas.com 7D/5N Tour To Turkey, we were dropped off at Taksim Square which leads to famous shopping area, Istiklal Street. We were asked to take all our hand luggage from the bus as we would not be returning to this bus later when we would be taken to the airport for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur. I was much relieved that this was my last day there even though I would have loved to see more of Turkey, especially Istanbul but one more night with my never-ending snoring roommate and I would have needed medication for my mental stress. That was indeed the worst part of this trip, and I did have some severe form of PTSD every time I saw her face.
We had to kill time until after lunch which wasn’t provided as this was a free & easy day but no problem, we were in the heart of Istanbul where cafes and restaurants were everywhere we looked. Istiklal Street stretches 1.4km and some of the shops looked like they were from a bygone era, straight out of the Ottoman Empire. It was like going back in time. There’re more than just eateries on this street, you can find a church, mosque, museums, souvenir shops. This street is so interesting and fascinating. There were so many famous baclava and Turkish Delights shops. Not to mention cats, cats and more cats making themselves at home on shop entrances. They were not shy and well provided for with food provided near them. I adored every cat I saw and wished I could bring home one.
The red tram
The icon of Istanbul, the red tram runs along this street. It’s a wide pedestrianised street thronged by hundreds of thousands of visitors every day. Along this street is the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua built in 1725. The stained-glass windows are so beautiful, there is such a feeling of peace and serenity inside. It is visited by people of all faiths, creed and race. Istiklal Street is truly a must-visit for any visitor of Istanbul.
