And so it begins... with a little travel hack!

I normally make good use of my vacation time, but this year was coming to an end with more than half of my vacation days unspent. So entering vacations in Christmas Eve gave the holidays a whole new spirit. And to top it up... nothing like getting into a plane and flying away!

The day started early, waaaaay early than it should! Getting your ass out of bed at 3 am isn't fun, but it had to be.

Especially since I'll only arrive at the final destination tomorrow! But since I'm having a long commute, might as well make the most of it! First stop is a country I've visited before (curiously, it was exactly in this time of the year!), but one I have very fond memories of.

First stop: Istambul!

I'm traveling with a friend that had never been in Turkey, so the plan was to hop into the city for a few hours of sightseeing. But turkish airways topped it up: for commutes longer than 6 hours, they have a plan called tourIstambul, where they organize tours to the city with a guide, and bring you back to the airport in time of your connecting flight. And the cherry on top? It's free!!!! How cool is that??

The tour depends on your flight schedules and time of day, and just look what I got:

So off we went, and it was great to see some of the amazing buildings Istanbul has to show.

The obelist in an area that used to be a hypodrome, right next to one of the most amazing mosques I visited, the blue mosque.

Even the timing was right, the golden hour made the place even more magical. And going with a guide comes with its perks: as much as I don't enjoy not being able to do stuff at my own pace, the amount of knowledge we gain by going with a good guide is amazing. We learn about the little details that would go unnoticed, such as the small solar watch on the right! Can you spot it? I know I had no idea about it first time I visited.

We had time for some exploring before moving on.

After the most, more explanations about nearby baths, the different empires, and even a nearby bazaar.

We even had dinner included!

After a couple more explanations, we had some time to roam around before gathering at the rendez vous point. Time enough to enjoy how cool these ancient buildings look at night.

The only downside? Istambul was freezing!! Not even the roasted chestnuts helped!

Nevertheless, a commute day very well spent. Thinking of it, despite the sleep deprivation, it was a great travel start. And now while relaxing in the airport lounge, waiting for the next flight, just crossing fingers that the remaining vacations bring even more great surprises!

Can't wait to add another country to the list. So close! 😉

Ps. If you use turkish airlines and have a long commute, just go the tourIstambul counter and check the available tours. You can find it after exiting the passport control, turning right. Then you walk to the meeting point 4.

The counter is near the hotel counter, on your right.

I had some trouble finding it, so hope this helps. You do have to go all the way to the exit. Have fun!