GUEST POST: Al, from "In With Both Feet(s)"

Hello all you gorgeous readers of Lacey in the City!

I'm Al, guilty of authoring In With Both Feet(s), and my first love - Traffic Jelly.

First of all, we already have something in common - an admiration for the darling girl behind this blog. Before I divulge some of the most interesting things I have discovered in my few months living abroad in Istanbul, I must say that Lacey is one of the most beautiful and caring friends a girl could have. Not only does she know how to pick you up after a bad day, but the depth of her loyalty and her compassion is rare indeed . If I have gained nothing else from being a part of this blog world - I can be happy that I have found a friend for life in Lace.

Ok, Istanbul, you say? Yeah, 3 months in and I'm still wondering the same thing. But, in a nutshell - after a complete disaster of a year, I met, fell in love with, and married the most amazing Turkish man. Because of green card complications, he was forced to return to Istanbul while we wait out the process - and I decided to join him.

It's been one heck of a ride. 

So, I present to you some of the most interesting and amazing things that I have discovered while living in Istanbul. And while I am an amateur when it comes to photography, I hope these photos do Istanbul some justice...

1. The  View

Seriously, the best part about Istanbul. This city doesn't have a bad view, I swear. Everywhere we go, everything we do, I am humbled by the grandeur of such an ancient civilization. 

2. The Food

I was under the impression that Americans knew how to eat. Not true. The Turkish are NEVER full, and the meals last for hours. Most impressive though is the Turkish spread - the million dishes that adorn the table at any given meal.

3. The Colors

The Turkish patterns and colors are some of the most radiant and brilliant I have ever seen. But my favorite sight here in Istanbul I captured one day when we went walking up to our favorite park...  

4. The People

Wherever I go, I am always fascinated by the faces of the people in Istanbul. Especially the old. In Istanbul, there are two crowds - the young, modern, hip crowd and the older, conservative crowd. The faces and body language of the elders here is absolutely mesmerizing.

5. The Markets

  6. The Evil EyeThe Evil Eye is a symbol in Turkish culture, and can be found EVERYWHERE. If you keep an evil eye in your home, car, or place of business, it is believed that it will absorb all of the negative and jealous thoughts and keep you safe. If you find your evil eye broken, it means it did its job and it has protected you from evil. The cool thing about living here is that you find the evil eye every place you look - including in the tile on the side of buildings. So cool.

And a random discovery, but...

7. Street Dogs

No kidding, dogs run around the city (or most often, lie around the city) at random. Stray dogs in America would be picked up at once - but here, the city actually tags them and tracks what dogs are allowed to roam free. It's not unusual to have dogs walking the sidewalk right along with everyone else. Tons of cats too, which I attempt to befriend on a daily basis. 

(don't worry - just sun bathing, I promise. I checked...)

Though I am heading back to the States soon, the time I have spent in Istanbul will undoubtedly remain one of the most amazing experiences of my life. A huge thanks to my darling Lacey for having me today, and take care of that elbow! Hope to see you all soon over on In With Both Feet(s), and for the events that led up to my great adventure in Turkey, check out Traffic Jelly: The Road to Home.