Robin's Mug, Istanbul, Turkiye

Rasimpaşa, İskele Sk. No:58A, 34716 Kadıköy/İstanbul, TürkiyeThere’s no definitive plan for us today, just to be here is enough. The bay area has some activity, with the ferry port and adjoining transport links, but we trickle further inland, Ascending the hills of nearby residential areas that are quiet and leafy, we crawl through roads that seem to have coffee shops on every corner and eventually take up space amongst the greenery of a park-side place that is perfectly positioned as an afternoon sun-trap.
We order iced oat lattes from Robin's and sip gently as the quiet twittering of birds breaks the silence. It’s odd but I don’t think I’ve heard that over the past few days. Sure, there’s been the harsh cawing of gulls but the chaos of the European side of the city has just drowned out most of the natural noise you’d hear elsewhere.

It’s such a relaxed, urbane spot that I could happily spend the day with the rich, dense coffee and watch the dog walkers and dawdlers that occasionally pass by. This is the first part of the city where I’ve seen pet dogs rather than those just on the street, the more well-kept pooches that enjoy a pampered life.

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