By William Coleman
Touring holidays do not stop once you’re parked and pitched. As I am sure many of you will agree the touring on foot is just as important as the vehicle side of your trip. After the slight hell that was towing through Istanbul it was decided that a trip into the city, on foot, was well deserved.
The issue we faced was how do we get into the heart of Istanbul without spending hours upon hours stuck in the car? The answer came from a small bit of googling and conversation with a Turkish team member. We breach the city by sea!
Camp Sahill is located about an hour and a half away from Istanbul so we would have to drive a part of the way. Once we arrived at the edge of Istanbul we found somewhere to park for the day. Luckily the parking was a very short walk from the edge of the Bosphorus and we boarded the ferry in no time at all. The cost for the ferry crossing was roughly £2, give or take the slight conversion rate difference. Add to that the all day parking fee, £5, you’ve gotten all the way to Istanbul very quickly, easily and without having spent a fortune.
The very short crossing lands you at the feet of the giant food bazaar where you can buy all manner to Turkish specialities from spices all the way up to locally produced cheese. The streets were alive with activity and buzz with a lot of locals buying the produce, which for me is a sign it’s authentic. The pace of life here is a lot more frantic than back in the UK yet everyone remains so calm. I’m not sure that I have ever seen so many people crammed into one place before. Despite that it was very easy to navigate through and not once were you sandwiched in between anyone.
Walking around and looking at the hundreds of different shops does work up a fierce appetite and food was very much needed half way through our stroll. Across the road from that Grand Bazaar was Burger King which was soon dismissed. When in Rome do as the Romans. We found an authentic kebab house that had a ginormous menu that catered for all tastes and a plentiful vegetarian menu. I opted for the mix meat platter that served 4, so naturally I shared. If you like your grilled meats and fresh veggies then traditional Turkish cuisine is for you. Very different from the kebab houses of the U.K.
The sights and sounds of Istanbul are absolutely brilliant. There is so much to do and see throughout the city. From the marvel of the world famous Blue Mosque to the Basilica Cistern. T
There are so many history rich attractions to visit. While you are there try the traditional Turkish tea, It’s so good I have purchased a kilo of it to bring back home.
Back at camp we arrived to a feast that was being cooked in the vans and the Cadac BBQ grill. Our resident chefs Marcus Leach and Master Chef finalist and cookbook author Dean Edwards were cooking up an absolute storm. This is first time I’ve had a meal prepared for me by a published master chef and it was every bit as good as I’d hoped.
It just goes to show you that not matter how hard the journey is to your destination the payoff is always worth it. If you’re having a nightmare drive do not let it stop as it makes you appreciate the good times so much more.
