By: WanderingTravelr
Turkey, ,

[Through the Lens] Turkish delights

Whether you’re on vacation or back home, it’s important to appreciate the simple things of life and to be grateful for every moment that we have.

Here are a few snapshots of moments that I was truly grateful for while walking through the streets of Istanbul and Edirne.

A photo of a fountain that has statues of people playing in the water and the head's of lions on it.
Birds bathing in a fountain, while people stroll around Edirne’s city center in the later hours of the afternoon.
A man sitting on a chair and holding around what I assume to be 40 helium balloons - of all different shapes, sizes, and colours - in Edirne, Turkey.
A man sits on a chair waiting to sell balloons. One question pops into my mind: how does he carry those balloons with him from home to here every day? Does he walk with them in his hand like that? What a sight to see!
A photograph of a road with small buildings on either sides of it. There are beautiful vines growing on one of the buildings, giving it a picturesque vibe. A group of men stand in front of another building - most likely conversing about how their day has been. A taxi is seen driving in the road.
The streets in each district of the city of Istanbul have their own vibe to them. This one was quite unique as you could get a sense of daily life with its grocery stores and its stores that sold hand-crafted goods, but were also reminded of the stark reality of refugees who had been given shelter by Turkey. Some were congregated outside of buildings with what seemed to be a suitcase of the life that they had brought over with them.
Multiple trees filled with orange plums - in Turkey
Delicious fruits waiting to be picked.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

Robert Brault
A photograph of the sea from one side of Istanbul with many buildings behind it.
Looking from one side of Istanbul to the other. The sea and the buildings make a stunning combination.
A photo of grapefruits, pomegranates, and oranges - their tops are cut off and you can see their insides. This was in Turkey.
Walking down Taksim and its side-roads, we stumbled upon a man making fresh pomegranate and grapefruit juice. Delicious!
Clothes are strung up from the window's of houses from one side of the road to the other so that they dry - in Turkey.
Turning towards one of the side-streets while walking to find a coffee shop in Istanbul, we stumbled upon the daily life of the city’s inhabitants. Clothes strung up from one side of the road to the other to be dried.

Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.

Laura Ingalls Wilder
Men are fishing with their fishing poles draped over a bridge in Turkey. People are passing them by.
Walking over a busy bridge, we came across a group of men fishing. I’m told there is a restaurant under the bridge that sells sandwiches with the fish that they have caught.
Two boys are swimming in the Mediterranean Sea (in Turkey). One of the boys has lost both of his shoes and they are floating away. The other boy is pointing to where those shoes are.
A young boy points out to his friend that his shoes are floating away.
A busy road with buildings on either side of it, but at the end you can see a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea - in Turkey.
Among the cacophony of sounds, we found solace in the view of the calm sea from between the buildings.

It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.

Paulo Coelho
A photo of a highway road with fluffy white and grey clouds scattered above it.
Driving from Istanbul to Edirne, we were welcomed by the beautiful clouds hovering above the road.
This photograph shows the business of Taksim street (Istanbul, Turkey), hundreds of people are walking up and down it. The street is lined with a multitude of stores and restaurants. There are red flags of some sort hung from one side of the road to the other, above the crowd.
Walking down the busy street of Taksim. People from all walks of life are out for a stroll, there are stalls selling food, shops enticing each person to walk in, and a vibe that makes the road feel like the heart of the city.
A photo of a table in a coffee shop with yellow and black metal chairs surrounding it. There is a bookshelf behind the table with frames, plants, and a series of books. A beautiful light fixture is also found above the table.
My kind of coffee shop vibes. Delicate, simple, and with a pop of colour. A place I could spend hours in.

What are some little things that you appreciate? What are you grateful for?

xx