DAYS 14-28, SUN FEBRUARY 14TH TO SUN FEBRUARY 28TH 2021 – Winter comes to a quiet city

 It started to snow and temperature dropped from about 20 closer to zero. We had snow for almost a week and everything slowed down. Maybe that was the reason I also stopped writing the blog, waiting for the warm weather to return

The view from our window is not happy, the early flowers of the tree died

I really miss my wool socks and hat. On windy days is has been pretty cold and nights it is worse. We visited some friends for beers in Kadiköy and walked through the empty streets later back. On the way back there is a spot where the police is asking for ID:s, but as foreigners we do not need to worry. So far we have had few parties between the other students. As the curfew does not apply to foreigners we are free to move even at late hour as long as we have our passports with us. 

Empty streets of Istanbul at night

The parties have been really fun and it is interesting to hang out with people from so many different countries. During the weekend the locals can not go out exept to work or to visit a shop and the shops close at 5PM. Alcohol is pretty expesive but not as expensive as in Finland. You now just can't buy it during the weekend at the moment so have to remember to stock pile on fridays. 

Sliding back home from friends

I think this will be the longest time without sauna in my life. At least in Germany we visited spa every now and then. I really wish they open up places in March as the rumors are saying, but who knows. Hot sauna would be awesome right now.  I also miss some foods and bread. We tested again differend foods and I did like some, the pizza style Pide and Lahmacun are ok with different fillings.

Pide with meat

Lahmacun

Pide with cheese and mushroom was better

I am not the biggest fan of the meat they use on Lahmacun and Pide, but the version with cheese and mushrooms was fine. As I started to miss tasty bread I had to bake it myself. This is also good practice for summer when we hopefully have a pizzaoven in use in Germany

Kitchen and the minioven are not ideal for baking, but I managed something

Our area Beşiktaş is littered with small grosery shops. Almost every block has one and it is pretty cool. There is only one larger shop nearby. Also there are endles other small shops, each selling something special from light bulbs to lingerie. Cafes and kebab places are also numerous, but sadly Corona prevents us to stay in them.

Beşiktaş is full of small shops, this one selling fruits

Weather got a bit warmer and snow melted after a week or so and we activated more. Going out on weekends is still interesting as the city in empty. Walking around are mostly only the foreigners. Policed is checking some ID:s and stopping cars.

Walking around the piers where the ferries leave from Besiktas. Police asking ID in the background

On weekend we went to see other part of the city past the hagia Sofia and then walked back to the bridge and almost everything was closed. It was like a ghost town in some parts.

Train route

This time we first took a bus, but it really did not take us far. Seems most busses are not running on weekends due the curfew. After bus we took the local train that worked fine and took us all the way where we wanted to go, but just to find all shops and bazaars closed and empty

Not many people out even if weather was nice

All shops and businesses were closed

This time we took the train back

Last night Pedro was taking shower and the heater started to make a lound noise, hopefully it does not break and we can keep warm water. The heater is on the balcony outside and I am surpriced the neighbours did not start yealling or banging the walls as it was around midnight and the sound was pretty loud. That reminds me the shower in our place is a challenge, at one moment it is burning hot and the next almost frozen. It is like dancing there, trying not to burn or freeze and hit water only between those two states.We also experienced our first power shortage and  was told this can happen every Month or so and at maximum last for up to 8 hours. Luckily for us it only lasted for an hour or so.

Home delivery sushi is still quite ok

Rest of the days went by fast. We ordred food and kept our fingers crossed the Corona restrictions would be lifted. I baked more bread and got better in the process, but I do miss our own kitchen and equipment.

Self made Pot bread is getting better

We prepared our first Turkish breakfast and I really liked it, though I am waiting for a real restaurant.

Turkish breakfast

Tomorrow we hopefully hear what the Corona restrictions will be like and if we get into restaurants or not. Temperature should also get warmer as it is still lower than before the snow came. We also started to make plans to visit other parts of Turkey and maybe Georgia and other neighboring countries.