Vacations are necessary—not just to recharge, but to expand the array of experiences in our lives. Every year, I try to take two trips: one to visit my mother in Colombia, and another to discover a corner of the world I haven’t yet explored. Last year it was Portugal. This year, it was Istanbul, Turkey.
I traveled with my best friend and business partner, Cheryl Williams. Together we run Dance Conmigo, so it was fitting that the idea for this trip came from dance itself. Some of our students decided to get married in Istanbul and invited us to the wedding. Our response was simple: “Why not?”
Arrival and First Impressions
Our journey started with a layover in Amsterdam via KLM. After a few hours exploring Schiphol Airport, we continued to Istanbul, where one of Cheryl’s ESL students warmly welcomed us.
From the start, Istanbul struck me as a city of immense scale and contrasts. With a population of 15.7 million people, it’s nearly three times larger than Montreal. Even more fascinating is its geography: the city straddles two continents, with a European side and an Asian side.
We stayed on the Asian side, in Kadıköy, at the charming Istanbul Life Hotel. The location was perfect—close to ferries, bustling streets, and endless cafes. Service was excellent, breakfast was included, though the internet was a bit slow.
And then there were the cats. Thousands of them roam Istanbul’s streets, cared for by no one and everyone at the same time. They became an unforgettable part of the city’s charm.
Exploring the City
Our favorite way to move around was by ferry. Affordable, efficient, and scenic, it gave us daily views of Istanbul’s skyline as we crossed between continents.
We went to a wedding which was in the outskirts of Istanbul. It was the wedding of two of our dance students. They were performing their first dance which Cheryl taught them. It was a black tie event, so we had to look elegant.
We visited Eminönü, walked through Gülhane Park, and marveled at the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. To honor Muslim traditions of modesty, Cheryl covered her hair with a scarf.
We wandered through Galataport, a sleek waterfront development full of stylish restaurants, bars, and shops with stunning sea views. Later, we climbed up to the Galata Tower for panoramic views of the city.
On another day, we took the ferry out to Burgazada Island, one of the lesser-known Princes’ Islands. It was a peaceful escape from the energy of the city.
What stood out was the mix of old and new: historic mosques and palaces coexisting with modern cafes (many with English names, unlike Quebec where that would trigger hefty fines).
Life, Culture, and Coffee
Since Cheryl is vegan, part of our adventure was a café treasure hunt. Plant-based lattes were rare, but we occasionally struck gold, usually at cafes with English names.
Coffee culture was everywhere. People sipped Turkish coffee or Turkish çay while smoking cigarettes, often sitting outdoors, watching the world pass by.
One quirky observation: jaywalking is the national sport. People cross busy streets in front of police officers without consequence.
Dancing in Istanbul
Dance found us everywhere. Cheryl and I are salsa lovers, so naturally we stopped twice to dance salsa in the streets. We also took a salsa class and discovered that the local style leans heavily toward Cuban Salsa. On our final night, we closed the trip with a milonga at Tango Nar, immersing ourselves in the city’s tango scene.
People and Impressions
We noticed an entrepreneurial spirit everywhere: people selling food, products, or services in the streets. But unlike many big cities, we saw almost no panhandling. The streets felt safe, clean, and alive.
Cheryl had a mild throat infection during the trip, which gave us an unexpected insight into Istanbul’s healthcare system. The service was fast, professional, and far beyond what we’re used to in Canada.
One thing I’ll always remember is how safe the city felt. No drug addicts in the streets, no one asking for change—just people going about their lives, sipping coffee, selling goods, and feeding cats.
Farewell
On our last day, after the milonga, we reluctantly packed our bags. We flew home via Air France, with a layover in Paris—a final touch of Europe before returning to Montreal.
Istanbul was more than just a vacation. It was a city of bridges—between continents, between tradition and modernity, between dance and daily life. It was a place of warmth, rhythm, and cats. Lots of cats.
And like every good trip, it left me hungry for the next one.
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