I moved to my new place this morning, in the middle of Beyoğlu again. It’s only a short walk to the main shopping street, and all the side streets with bars and restaurants, but my street is totally quiet, no through traffic, and a police station at the end. Feels good.

I unpacked again and my host took me on a quick tour, where to do my laundry, supermarkets, etc…

In the afternoon, I strolled down the hill and discovered some great streets with restaurants, cafés, antique shops, cafés, libraries, markets, cafés, little craft shops… did I mention cafés? My sister and I will eat our way through it all.

The perfect hamam

This part is cute, and more silent, there are tourists, but it’s not totally overrun with people. I made my way down to the foot of the hill to Mums Café again. It’s a bit of a walk, but I think I’ll make it my headquarters.

In the evening I strolled though the area again, but went home rather early, cooked some pasta and discovered I have German television on cable – with one of its classics, a show to present unresolved crime cases.

It’s still as cheesy and pseudo-scary as it used to be in the 70s and 80s, but you just can’t zap away… It think it is even the same voice doing the explanations…

Until Saturday when my sister arrives, there won’t be any sightseeing.

I’m just hanging out!