My Impressions from the Trip to Istanbul Part 1 Taxis I arrived in Istanbul in the middle of the night, landing at the new international airport. Since I knew Uber operates in Turkey, I ordered a ride. But that’s where things took a strange turn. The driver messaged me, saying he couldn’t pick me up at my location and asked me to walk somewhere else. This was puzzling because there were plenty of cars and other taxis where I was standing. Why he wanted me to head to a different exit remains a mystery, but I agreed, figuring he knew something I didn’t. Soon, I found myself wandering through this massive airport, trying to locate the pickup spot. After what felt like a mini-marathon, I gave up on the Uber adventure and canceled the ride. I decided to take a regular taxi instead, which, surprisingly, wasn’t much more expensive. Apparently, they all work by the meter there, so if you don’t feel like chasing down your Uber driver, just grab the first cab you see. Vadistanbul We spent a couple of nights in one of Istanbul's upscale districts — Vadistanbul. Although it's on the outskirts, it feels like a perfect urban oasis. Beautiful parks, sleek new office buildings, fountains, and restaurants with prices high enough to give you a small heart attack (but only until you see the bill). There’s even the famous CZN BURAK restaurant there. Vadistanbul is clean, peaceful, and elegant, but just a few kilometers away, you’re already surrounded by forests. From my window, I even managed to snap a photo of a wild boar — a nice little bonus to the experience. This district is like Istanbul in miniature: beauty and wilderness, always side by side. 🔤Hackinator