Going to Istanbul was never part of my plan.
When I’d first conceived of going on a sabbatical, I had a short list of places I wanted to go. Portugal was at the top of my list as I wanted to scout it out as a new home once I left the states. Greece and Ireland had been on my go-to list since I was a child. I also wanted to visit Thailand as another possible new home. Beyond that, the plan was fluid as I wanted it to be.
While in Bulgaria planning my next move, I realized that most of the flights to SE Asia would route me through Istanbul. I had already been through the gigantic airport once during a layover from the U.S. to Amsterdam but had yet to see the city proper. As there was bus service from my location in Sunny Beach, I decided to spare myself another trip to Istanbul airport and just ride into the city.