Black Girl in Istanbul

Call to Prayer

Now that I was on my own again I had no idea what to expect from Istanbul. I was already having some shady experiences in Athens and now I was going to a city where there is a lot of civil unrest. So I made sure to mentally prepare myself, plan the days and pick up a bottle of wine at the airport to calm my nerves. Being extra careful because of the terrorist attack that occurred the previous day.

 

I had the hostel set up my transportation from the Airport. As soon as I got to the airport arrival lobby there were tons of people with signs just yelling out names. I had to walk back and forth 3 times before I recognized mine. I waited for the car to pull up and it just so happened to be a Mercedes Passenger Van. Umm, Helllllo Istanbul! I was already feeling like VIP, hanging in my van solo and checking out the sites along the way. I got up to the hostel called Repunzel and the staff was super friendly and accommodating. Things were looking up!

Bosphorus

Yet I was exhausted. I poured a glass of wine and went to the roof top. I met some hostel mates and then decided to take my famous siesta. Gotta love those siestas! Later I went out to experience some Turkish food, alot of yogurt, alot of meat and alot of Baklava!!!! I walked through Galata in Beyoglu which is a downtown modern shopping area. The streets were live with performers, music, and kebabs cooking. I enjoyed the ambience and then headed in early to get ready for the next day.

In front of the Hagia Sophia

The next day I got up early and made my way to the The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar. The weather was nice so I decided to walk into town.  I stopped and marveled at The Sophia such a massive structure, bigger than the Blue Mosque. I then began to walk up to the Blue Mosque, I stopped to read the sign outside about the dress code. A good looking young Turkish man began to talk to me, I was honestly not open to the conversation. He began to tell me that the Mosque was not open because they were praying inside. Again information that I didn’t ask for. At this point I wasn’t trying to be rude but I mean, Stranger Danger!

So walk  into the Mosque walls and he continued to ask questions like “where are you from?... Let me show you to the entrance for guest, follow me…” Because I began not to respond and felt uncomfortable he began to raise his voice. Now he was irately questioning “Why do you act like you’re from New York, Like you don’t you trust people! Why do you trust people!” By now the Turkish Muslim men who were washing their feet so they could pray in the Mosque, had all eyes on us! I could not get away faster. I sped to the help desk station, in which the attendant let me know that the Mosque was actually open to the public. I don’t know what the guy deal was, but my Mother did not raise a fool over here.

Blue Mosque

Nonetheless, I proceeded to the Blue Mosque. I had to place a head scarf on, making sure my shoulders and legs were covered, with no shoes. It was beautiful, just being in the Mosque created a since of serenity. As I was there 2 Muslim girls in full dress came up to me to ask to take a picture, in which I thought they wanted me to take a picture of them. But No, they wanted to take a picture with me.

So this opened the subject of race in Istanbul for me. Black People are a rarity there. Throughout my stay, I had people wanting to take pictures with me and the staring! Turkish men would just stare into my eyeballs, they would tell their friends in Turkish to turn and look at me. It was overwhelming. And they have no problem coming up to you asking you where you are from or are you married? I guess this was their way to flirt or just maybe pure curiosity, but it was a bit aggressive and intimidating. I was getting so annoyed by being stared at, I wanted to just be invisible sometimes. But I couldn’t hide my skin and not that I ever want to. But I really just wanted to explore Istanbul in a safe way and being stared at 24/7 on a solo trip was not the move.

I proceeded to the Grand Bazaar, and it is huge! Just a big ole shopping center, where you can barter for just about anything. People are calling you into their shops left and right. I was called Beyoncé, Chocolate and Where you from? from shopkeepers trying to get me in their shop. I didn’t purchase anything because I didn’t know where to start and where to end, too many selections. I was starved by now so I sat at a little side kabab place and the guys there were refreshingly sweet. They were curious but polite and courteous about it. As the heat started to get to me, I began to walk back to my Hostel. I literally thought I was going to pass out from the heat and the terrain of hills and stairs there. It is very hot there!




Kabab!!!

For my last day I woke up early and enjoyed the 360 view at the top of the Galata tower which use to be a prison. I finally got to do my souvenir shopping, and let me tell you the shopping is so affordable there. Handmade goods for the cheap and I love to bargain. I just spent the whole last day shopping and walking around town. During the evening I hooked up with some Hostel mates drank some Turkish wine, ate kababs and baklava. Nothing but laughs, girl talk, 2 shooting stars sightings and chatting about our travels.

Galata Tower by night

Istanbul is a lively youthful and cultural city. I haven’t been anywhere else in which I can compare it too. There is so much more to explore in Turkey, and I only got a taste of it.  But like Dorothy proclaims, There’s no place like home! And I was ready to go home. I packed up, waited for my flight and couldn't get back to my friends and family, so I can tell them about all I had experienced.

My double decker plane

I'm a Grown Woman!