Hello everyone! For a long time, I really wanted to make this video to share my thoughts about
Istanbul, or, in general, Turkey actually about the things that I like and why not also dislike about
the country and I don't know for a long time I was thinking about it but I didn't have
the chance for making this video and finally today I'm gonna give you my opinions about the country
and I know, nobody asked but I really want to share my experience. In case you don't know I'm
a Mexican living in Turkey for the past 7 years in Istanbul I've been living for
6 years and before I was living in another little city in the Black Sea region, it is
called Ordu a very small and lovely city which by the way, if you haven't visited, I recommend
you to go because you will love it, small but you will love it. Remember that these are my thoughts,
these are my opinions and probably some of you might not agree with what I'm saying but of
course we are all different probably something that I dislike you might like and that's okay
but this video is about my experience so just feel free to comment below and what are your thoughts
about this video, I'd love to read you all. So first, let's start with the most beautiful part
the things I like about Istanbul and Turkey in general. Number 1. This will be the mixture of
cultures, and yes, in case that you haven't visited Istanbul yet, let me tell you that in this city you
will have everything that you're looking for because this is a city that is literally laid
on two continents Asia and Europe and here it is where West meets the East and here basically we
can have diversity and you will see also, not only mosques, but also you will find many synagogues,
churches, orthodox churches, catholic churches, and many other things that are quite interesting and
that makes this city very unique. So for example, there are some neighborhoods in Istanbul that
really show you how diverse the culture in this city is, for example, if you visit Balat in
the European side or even Kuzguncuk on the Asian side, then you will realize that it's very multicultural
and this is something fascinating which I love. Number 2. Stunning views from every single point
and yes, Istanbul is one of those cities that you are lucky because doesn't matter where you are, for
sure, you will have a beautiful view especially here during the sunsets, this is something that
I enjoy and I feel delighted every time I'm out because more likely you will have the experience
to see a beautiful sunset so it doesn't matter if you are on the seaside or if you are on a rooftop
or terrace, you will have an excellent view from everywhere even if you are staying on an Airbnb
and you have a balcony just go to the balcony I'm pretty sure you will have a great view.
Number 3. Local markets. And just tell me, who doesn't love the local markets?
Just going there everywhere is crowded and the vendors trying to get your attention in a very
unique way this is something that I truly love from Turkish people and from people in here
it's just lovely and you can find everything you're looking for in every local market. If you
really want to experience the local life and what Turkish culture is, I suggest you go visit any
local markets don't go to the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar, go to the real local markets, then you
will understand what I'm talking about. Number 4. Cats and doggies everywhere you go in Istanbul.
This is something that I really like because as a Mexican and that I can tell you that in my country
you will see a lot of stray especially stray dogs more than cats and they are in a very poor
condition like people as a Mexican, I need to admit that most of people don't really have
the culture of taking care of our stray animals and even you will see them walking almost as
skeletons and they don't really feed them and it's a very sad situation for stray animals in my
country but here in Turkey it's totally different this is something that I really love because you
will see a lot of stray cats and dogs as well they will be very well fed, they are in
a really good shape and this is something that I love, they are so friendly you will find them
everywhere and especially if you are a cat lover, then this is the place to be, here you will
not have any problem, they are so friendly and you can take photos with them as well. Number 5.
And yes this is one of my favorite things in Istanbul especially the sunsets and if you are
following me on Instagram you will also realize that I post very often photos or even reels about
sunsets especially from the ferry. I don't know why but this city has something special that mostly
every evening we can experience a beautiful sunset and the best ones are when you are on a ferry from
the Asian side to the European side or vice versa because those are some of the longest
ferries it's between 20 to 25 minutes so for sure you will get to experience a beautiful sunset with
amazing views. Number 6. Istanbul is located on two continents, this is something that is very
fascinating and also a bit exotic for people just to know that maybe you're living on the Asian
side but you have to go to work in the European side and it's very interesting that you can be
on the other continent within minutes, you just take a ferry or you can take an underground train
that goes under the Bosphorus "the Marmaray" and you're just in Europe or in Asia within minutes
so this is quite cool like to say "oh, now I'm going to Asia for a coffee" or whatever so
this is something that at the beginning I was like "I cannot believe it", "I'm going to Asia", "Now
i'm in Europe, I'm sitting in Europe but I can see Asia" it is just something very interesting.
Number 7. Vibrant nightlife. Many people think that because maybe in Turkey or in Istanbul
the majority of inhabitants are muslims and that maybe they might follow certain rules
but in reality here people they go out a lot they have fun with their friends they also like going
out they have some beers or some drinks even raki which is a traditional beverage of Turkey
and that is something that I really like that if I want to go out with my husband or with my
friends I can easily go and we can find great places for that so yes, we can have fun as well
and some other things or if you want a coffee or a beer or whatever you also for sure will have fun
in Istanbul. Number 8. If you're somebody who loves taking photos let me tell you that Istanbul
is the perfect place for that because every place you go to it is so photogenic you will find very
modern places and more like historical places and that is a beautiful mixture that makes
the city unique and of course the beautiful views that we can have from every point so if
you're coming to Istanbul make sure to have your phone or your camera ready with you because for
sure you will want to snap lots of photos. Number 9. Istanbul has a great transportation system
and as somebody who was living in a very small city in Mexico that our transportation system
wasn't as good as in bigger cities in Mexico I was all the time driving my car but when I moved to
Istanbul of course I didn't have a car so I had to use the public transportation
probably for the first time in my life but I love it really, here in Istanbul is so easy
finding your way by public transportation you will not have any trouble and you have
a lot of things not only metro or buses, you also have ferries, the funiculars, even
cable cars, and that train that goes under the Bosphorus and takes you within minutes from one
side to the other side of the city, well, the transportation here is super convenient. Number
10. Of course the food. I consider myself a big foodie, I love eating everything, I cannot
tell you something that I dislike because I just like everything so here in Istanbul and in general
the Turkish cuisine it's unique, I just love it from desserts, from drinks, from kebabs, from any
any type of food, so here in Turkey in Istanbul you will find a lot of it I never get bored but
also of course as somebody living here sometimes you would like to try different things like more
international cuisine or just something different from Turkish cuisine so also here in this city you
will find a lot of options especially because there are many foreign people also living here
who have also opened restaurants, for example, you can find Lebanese restaurants,
Indian, Pakistanis, Mexican, you can find many cuisines here and which are really good as well.
Number 11. I never get bored and yes, probably you will say "how come you never get bored!"
Well, Istanbul is a huge city it's just enormous and you will find many things, new
things and new places to visit and things to do so this is why I really never get bored,
of course, I don't go out as much as before when I was new in the city but still, if we want to
go out on a weekend and say "okay, where we haven't been yet?" we can easily choose places because there
are so many places that you can visit here so I can tell you that I have never get bored, I
don't know somebody else probably might get bored but in my case, I just love the city it
is so diverse there are so many activities and it is very easy to entertain yourself.
And number 12. Of course I cannot miss this one and this is the Turkish hospitality.
Generally, Turkish people love welcoming new people especially when I was living in Ordu
I really had my best experiences there especially with my neighbors because they were all the time
taking care of me even though they didn't speak any English and I didn't speak any Turkish by then
either only "Merhaba" was the only word that I knew back then they were all the time inviting me
to their place to have dinner and we were just trying to communicate with our body language
but mostly everybody was so welcoming also in Istanbul but in Istanbul or in any other bigger
cities in the country they are already more used to having foreign people so
they are like "okay, just another foreign person" but in smaller cities trust me, you will
experience what I'm trying to say that Turkish people are very welcoming. So these were the
things that I liked about Turkey and Istanbul and feel free to comment below what are your thoughts
and even if you visited Turkey just as a tourist or if you are already living here, please
feel free to comment below what are the things that you like maybe that way we can all share our
experience and also have fun, and before we finish with the video once again I would love to thank
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