Every morning, a man pushes his fish cart through the streets, pausing not for profit but for paws. The cats gather, tails high and eyes hopeful, and he feeds them first — without ceremony, without expectation. What remains he sells to the public, but what he gives away is far greater.🥰
I’ll admit it — I’ve been living in a bit of a bubble here in Turkey. No news broadcasts, no doom scrolling, just daily life and wonderfully warm people. In that bubble, I may have even romanticised the calmness and kindness that seems to flow so naturally through Turkish society. Yesterday, curiosity got the better
During my second week in Bursa, Nisa and Demet took me to visit one of the city’s large mosques. Nisa, in particular, is quietly passionate about her Muslim faith—more so than her friends—but you’d barely notice unless you were paying attention. Aside from the occasional heartfelt “Allah!” when a cat or kitten misbehaves, or her
I pack up and head south on Monday, officially escaping just in time — it’s forecast to be a brisk -2°C here, which feels like a very good cue to leave. Saying goodbye will be a little bittersweet, but the thought of my next adventure makes it easier — especially knowing it comes with dogs.
While other cats bring back the occasional leaf, Mustafa returns like a proud provider, delivering fish, chicken legs, and the odd “where on earth did that come from?” prize. We’re not running a restaurant… but apparently, apparently he is. 🐾😄
Another early start, another zero-degree morning, and I was off on the ferry to Kadıköy — often called the Asian side of Istanbul. Asian influence? I didn’t really see it. What I did see was Istanbul at its most lively and charming. The journey took just under three hours with a few stops along the
The morning began in spectacular fashion — the sky painted itself in oranges and yellows, as if it knew it had an audience. Absolutely breathtaking. A perfect start to the day… visually, at least. Temperature-wise, it’s a brisk 5 degrees outside. We’re promised a generous high of 12 degrees today, though only between the very
The evening had settled into a peaceful hush when, out of nowhere, Demet, Karim and Ranyar appeared “just to say hello.” A few laughs in, the lights suddenly went out. Next thing I knew, they reappeared with a cake, singing Happy Birthday. Completely unexpected, completely heart-melting. Such warm, generous souls — I felt incredibly lucky
This year, I spent my birthday in Turkey, not celebrating in the usual way, but giving thanks for the life I’ve been able to live. I visited tombs and graves, including those of former sultans. Standing there was a reminder that no matter how powerful, wealthy, or influential a person once was, life is finite.
Today started off feeling a lot like Groundhog Day. I hopped on a minibus, a friendly passenger assured me, “Yes, this one goes to the square,” and—poof!—before I knew it, I was right back where I started, with the driver looking mildly baffled at how I managed that. He patiently mapped out my new quest: