After the Blue Mosque, a completely different kind of freedom awaited us, as we boarded a boat for an unforgettable Bosphorus tour. As the boat pulled out of the harbor and the fresh, salty sea breeze hit our faces, Istanbul showed us a whole new face.
Along the coast, there were one after another of the most impressive sights. We glided past the monumental white facade of the Dolmabahçe Palace, which looked even more majestic from the water. We also saw the small and large Ottoman-era wooden villas, the yalı, built right on the waterfront – it is enviable to live in such a fantastic place and sit on the terrace of the house with your morning coffee and watch the boats.
Soon, one of the most impressive buildings on the coast appeared, the Rumeli Hisarı. This is a huge fortress, built by Sultan Mehmed II before the siege of Constantinople. With its massive walls and huge towers reaching into the sky, it still commands authority over the strait.
Perhaps one of the most exciting moments was when we sailed under the first Bosphorus Bridge. This gigantic metal structure connects Europe and Asia. Only when viewed from below can you truly see its size and the special feeling of gliding across the border of two continents.
As the ship headed back, a flock of seagulls approached us. They flew right next to the ship, almost at arm’s length from us. Sometimes it seemed as if they were standing in midair, watching us with their eyes, waiting for us to throw them something to eat, but in the end they had to leave disappointed, unlike us, who thoroughly enjoyed this getaway before heading back to the hotel to pack our bags, as we left for the airport at dawn to begin the journey to Dubai, the next leg of our year-end trip.
