I am fortunate to work in a beautiful part of the city. It is just a 10 minute walk from Taksim (Istanbul’s touristic/shopping center) but also in and of itself a very artsy, quiet and subdued neighborhood. Cihangir (pronounced “Jee-hung-ear”) is fraught with vintage, second-hand shops and hole-in-the-wall restaurants and bars. During the day, the sunlight peaks through the surrounding, low-level buildings, revealing  shy corners and giving the air a sense of softness. In a city as busy and crowded and hectic and anxious as Istanbul, I love to spend my lunch breaks loitering the streets of Cihangir, where a street cat is a valid pedestrian, and just letting the “here” be the “there”, no rush.

I have my favorite bench, my favorite lighting for a half-assed tan, and then, of course, my daily refreshing smoothie to give me the mid-day hydration my body craves. It’s usually a parsley, cucumber, carrot juice combo mixed with greens and the fruit I’m feelin’ for the day, be it pineapple, apple, strawberries or banana.

After work, even more work usually awaits me. At least the view on the way there aint half bad 🙂

Hello moon

My computer, my coffee, and a whole lotta (unpictured) chocolate.

I’m not a huge coffee fan, but this place, called Kahve Dunyasi (Coffee World), does not serve tea, a rare moment for Turkey, and serves every beverage with a complementary chocolate spoon. Chocolate and coffee are just meant to make love.

xoxo

Aylin