I was really looking forward to being in Istanbul to recover from the last few weeks of hitting the road hard. I was beyond grateful that my cousin Erich and his wife Betul came through with a free place to stay in Üsküdar. It was a place I called home for the next 19 days.
The first week, my main priority was getting healthy, so as much as I wanted to go exploring in the city of two continents and over 20 million people, by far the largest city I've been to, I had to pace myself.
I needed to get better if I was going to continue to travel. I knew from my time on my bike that small issues can quickly become larger ones that ultimately stop you in your tracks completely, so I went to a local physician who prescribed antibiotics for me to help kill my sinus infection. As much as I was worried about how a doctor's visit would be in a foreign country, it was all very simple. I paid cash (299 TL = $100), and they treated me. I have traveler's insurance but I have to file a claim in order to be reimbursed (Doh! That reminds me I still have to do it). My antibiotics eventually ended up working, although I still have a little fluid buildup in my right ear. Hopefully it goes away soon.
While on the mend, I decided that if I couldn't tour the entire city, I would at least get to know my neighborhood (Üsküdar). Üsküdar lies on the Asian side of Istanbul, which is by far the more conservative side, specifically in Üsküdar. A couple of examples are that there are very few bars and many women wearing headscarves. Although I probably favored the European side for all the historical sites and energy, I loved coming back to Üsküdar where I felt less stressed by all the people and was much more at home.
During my stay, I was pleased to hear the New York Times had just written an article on the Asian side. If you'd like to read it, click here.
Walking into Üsküdar center. It took me about 20 minutes to get from my apartment to the ferries.
Ferry ride on the Bosphorus from Üsküdar to Eminönü. The ferries are one of many ways to get around this large city. Others include: marmaray (underground metro Asia/Europe), metro, light rail, metro bus, bus, dolmus, taxi.