We moved to İstanbul yesterday, and as @korayerimez says, started the next leg of our life adventure
I’ve been here twice before and remember two striking things about its geography: lots of water, and lots of hills (the walled city is built on 7 hills).
Istanbul has been the capital of empires, religions and trade for over 2,700 years. Filipina me with our short-term cultural memory can’t process that deep history just yet, and I’m really excited to feel it through everyday life here. Our stay this time is for a little over a month leading up to @leadiafestivals in October, after which we move on to the next land we shall explore as a family.
Life on the road is also still a landscape I’m getting to know, especially in my 40s with a family of my own. Wanderer me 20 years ago would’ve embraced this life without second thought–and the same goes for Koray who has lived in 10 countries. There’s something in us that seeks the road: the unknown is exciting and full of opportunities. With a 5yo though, life needs a rhythm, and we build it first and foremost by building a home. And so I’m framing it as such: our adventure now, our family’s lay of the land, is homebuilding.
On Red Day, look at the land where you are: What’s unique to it? What are its gifts (and burdens)? Then look at your own inner landscape: what are your own hills and waters?