Take the ferry to Kadıkoy..

I stand out with my turquoise colored coat in the crowd in the coffee shop. Most people prefer to wear black, dark black and gray. My phone rings, Sevil (a friend for 40 years) asks me to cross the bridge to the Antolian side. "Enough is enough" she says. I accept the invitation gleefully. It is a giddy feeling when you are wanted. I feel like a celebrity in Istanbul. After all, it is much more fun to be with friends.

I assure Şükran (Sevil's sister) and Sevil that I can take the ferry across, so they don't have to pick me up. I'll be there, I say.

I embark on a walk towards the Besiktaş ferry pier after I hang up the phone. I keep walking. I am familiar withe area but have not lived here before. Somehow I know I am in the right direction. I also get my groove back. I expertly maneuver around the other pedestrians. Right, left another right and I am ahead of everyone else. I walk steadily. My eyes travels around with the speed I walk. My hunting skills are in full gear. I kind of sniff my way to the right direction.

Throughout my walk, I think to myself that a lot has changed in the area, since the days and also nothing has changed in the area. It is the same Besiktaş market place it has always been with more neon lights, more stores selling electronics etc. combined with familiar smell of fish, bakeries, kebab houses, people and some trash mixed in. I feel better with the nostalgic familiarity.

I hurry towards the boats waiting by the pier. I buy a token for 2 TL and I jump in just before it takes off. I find my seat next to a young girl. I am not the young girl I used to be but I am now an Istanbulian in every age.