Vacationing with the family is always fun. But an element of caution and apprehension is added to it when you travel with a toddler. We had planned a week-long trip to Istanbul and the only thoughts crossing my mind were pertaining to my 23-month-old daughter — how she would cope with the long travel and the new weather. I made sure I packed all the essentials needed to engage the kid in the seven-hour-long flight. Apart from the regular baby feed, it is necessary to pack some light snacks that the child would relish, not just to satisfy hunger but also to distract during sudden tantrums. It is not only the long duration that annoys them but also the pressurised cabin, which adds to their irritation. The in-flight entertainment proved helpful and my little one had greater fun pressing the ‘call’ button and summoning the flight attendant for no reason (much to the attendant’s disappointment)! In tune with the kids of today, my daughter finds great comfort amidst gadgets and that’s why I brought a fully-charged phone and tablet with pre-installed apps to enthral her.
Contrary to our belief that the first week of February would be peak winter, Istanbul greeted us with a very pleasant weather. Cold, yes, but not chilly enough to restrain us from venturing out with the toddler. We were put up in the busy area of Levent, which had an enviable proximity to the three biggest malls of Istanbul. The most striking feature was not just the pleasing weather but also the pleasing nature of the people. Turkish is rampantly spoken and English is not understood by a majority here. Irrespective of the language barrier, the locals tried to help and that was well appreciated. Also, we found Istanbul to be a kid-friendly city. There were kids, strollers and toys everywhere and I was happy that my toddler found company in an unknown land. People do not hesitate to venture out with their children in strollers, be it shopping at malls or on the streets or even at the metro.
Going around the city involves a lot of walking and exploring, so make sure you step out when your toddler is in a cheerful mood. They would love to run, explore on their own and enjoy. Istiklal Street is worth exploring. It is an up-town market area, flooded with shops and eat-outs. You would have to walk through the length and breadth of Istiklal Street to enjoy its view completely. You could also hire the trams that run across the street. Taksim Square, which lies adjacent to Istiklal Street, is one of the busiest areas of the city. Restaurants, small eateries and sweet shops dot the area. Visit the place to take back some of the best Turkish Delights from Istanbul. There are so many varieties of Turkish Delights that it’ll leave you confused. In addition, do try out the Baklava, another famous Turkish sweet made of honey.
Ask any local in Istanbul and they would tell you instantly that road travel is something you could well avoid. We saw plenty of areas choked with cars and it would burn a hole in your wallet too. The best alternative is the metro rail. Neatly designed and easy to commute, it connects places in a jiffy and helps you save time.
We made it to most of the famous spots in the city, but — with a toddler in hand — we had to give some places a miss. Never plan an entire day outing with your little one, as that would end up tiring the kid and yourselves. Our visits to the very famous Hagia Sophia mosque and the Blue Mosque happened on the coldest day of the trip — the mercury dipped to well below 2 degrees.
Therefore, taking a stroll in those lush gardens outside the mosque was a tad difficult. We were completely blown away by the architectural marvel in those heritage sites.
Eat-outs, restaurants and coffee shops are aplenty in the city, but if you are a vegetarian like me, you may have limited choices. The lentil soup is famous here and finds its place in the menu everywhere. Bulgur Rice, a cereal made from durum wheat and tomato puree — is a total delight. Do try it! A trip to Turkey is never complete without bringing back some spices, tea and sweets. The Spice Bazaar (also known as Misir Carsisi) is the one-stop place for all these needs. A set of neatly lined, buzzing small shops house a large variety of spices and teas.
Fragrant tea flowers, tea bags and medicinal tea leaves fill the area with their aroma. We thought my daughter would not enjoy the crowd and all the hustle and bustle, but she actually had a blast and even collected some flavoured tea in her little hands. To sum it up, the trip was as sweet as Turkish delight.
