Istanbul

The vibrant colours of the spice markets, the sound of prayer at dawn and the delicious Turkish coffee were just a few of the highlights of our short, but sweet time in Istanbul, Turkey.

What was supposed to be simple layover turned into a lasting memory and a destination I wish we had spent more time exploring. We decided to stay in Galata just meters from the historic Galata tower. Our apartment was down a cobblestone alleyway just off the bustling Galata square. From our balcony you could hear the chatter from the restaurants and shops and the music from the buskers below.

During our 24-hour whirlwind tour, we covered a lot of ground by foot, including the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.

While we certainly needed more time in this beautiful city, the short amount of time we spent in Galata, strolling over the bridge chatting to the fisherman and taking in the mosques' spectacular colours and sights was worth every moment.