The two-hour time difference was especially palpable the morning after our arrival in Turkey. Whether it was due to the residual effects of a feeble jetlag or one too many shots to commemorate Germany’s victory the previous night, neither of us could say. Although brunch was set modestly at noon, the café was located in Bebek, an area not particularly well connected via public transport, and so it was deemed sensible to allow ourselves more time to get there. Eager to take advantage of the magnificent weather and seascape, I was delighted when Google Maps pinpointed Mangerie right on the coast.

 

 

The Istanbul metro is not nearly as expansive as such a large city would require, and there is indeed a learning curve regarding its use. Aside from a sorrowful lack of maps displayed before paid entrance into the network, the most ludicrous part of the system is the different ticketing schemes for the metro and Marmaray line, despite the identical fares. Of course, these grievances stem from several years of living in London, where the public transportation is streamlined and comprehensive. I did get a kick out of our local metro station’s resemblance to a Star Wars hangar, however.

 

Having taken the metro to Levent, for which there are two stops, confusingly, we were still in need of a taxi. Based on the handful of rides we took in Istanbul, it became increasingly clear that tourists are served on a golden platter every time they hail a cab. Eventually we developed a procedure for dealing with cabbies, which simply involved whipping out the GPS on an iPhone to show our current location and desired destination. This maneuver allowed us to sidestep having to pronounce the name in a foreign accent and made the driver aware that we were tracking the journey. It wasn’t failproof, however; we were still taken on a wild ride once by a cabbie who feigned no knowledge of English or basic map reading, and so we jumped ship.

 

Driving through Bebek offered us a glimpse of what seemed like a very posh borough of Istanbul—no dilapidated buildings here. Instead, the hilly streets were lined with beautiful, palatial villas, cute boutiques and cafés, or even large centers for shopping and health services. My friends chose a restaurant that was difficult to find, but I knew I could trust in their decision with every staircase that we ascended to the rooftop terrace.

 

 

The deck offered magnificent views of the bay sheltered by the last remaining green spaces in Istanbul, but no view could compare to the sight of Bala and Ipek, two schoolmates of mine whom I haven’t seen in at least a year. It’s always comforting to see familiar faces in an unknown environment. My smoked salmon brunch and white wine sangria steeped in engaging conversation was a delightful way to open our sojourn in Turkey.