In Straight Trippin', OC friends and family share tidbits from their latest travels. This time, OC London contributor Alice Tate shares snaps of intricate tilings, minarets, and cross-continent views from her trip to Istanbul.
Name: Alice Tate
Occupation: London OC contributor and freelance lifestyle journalist
Travel destination: Istanbul, Turkey—a magical city full of surprises around every corner.
Carry-on necessities: Cashew nuts, a headphone splitter, and Monocle magazine
Reading materials: Rough Guide to Istanbul—my favorite place to do trip research is in my plane seat. I get too impatient otherwise.
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: The melancholically comforting, “Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl” by Wet
Favorite outfit to travel in: Printed jumpsuit and New Balance W990s. Comfort comes first! On the way back, there was the addition of the printed scarf I bought in the Grand Bazaar to cover my head in the mosques.
Highlight of your trip: Waking up extra early to swim in the giant, heated infinity pool at Ciragan Kempinski Palace. Looking out onto a different continent whilst doing a gentle length of breaststroke is something else.
Best activity: Waltzing through the Old City with a call to prayer ringing out in the distance as we walked through Topkapi Palace, admired Hagia Sophia, and stared up in awe inside the Blue Mosque. A day with frequent pit-stops for Turkish apple tea, pints of Efes, and too much baklava.
Souvenirs you brought back: Pistachio Turkish delight—in bulk!![]()
Getting giddy in the backstreets of Beyoglu. Quotes and photos by Alice Tate![]()
Blue Mosque: Ottomans did good.![]()
Istanbul makes excellent use of broken plates.![]()
OD'ing on baklava!![]()
A former sultan's palace for the night? It'll do.![]()
Swimming in Europe, looking at Asia. ![]()
The slickest hotel room I've ever stayed in, at Witt Suites Istanbul.
Name: Alice Tate
Occupation: London OC contributor and freelance lifestyle journalist
Travel destination: Istanbul, Turkey—a magical city full of surprises around every corner.
Carry-on necessities: Cashew nuts, a headphone splitter, and Monocle magazine
Reading materials: Rough Guide to Istanbul—my favorite place to do trip research is in my plane seat. I get too impatient otherwise.
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: The melancholically comforting, “Don’t Wanna Be Your Girl” by Wet
Favorite outfit to travel in: Printed jumpsuit and New Balance W990s. Comfort comes first! On the way back, there was the addition of the printed scarf I bought in the Grand Bazaar to cover my head in the mosques.
Highlight of your trip: Waking up extra early to swim in the giant, heated infinity pool at Ciragan Kempinski Palace. Looking out onto a different continent whilst doing a gentle length of breaststroke is something else.
Best activity: Waltzing through the Old City with a call to prayer ringing out in the distance as we walked through Topkapi Palace, admired Hagia Sophia, and stared up in awe inside the Blue Mosque. A day with frequent pit-stops for Turkish apple tea, pints of Efes, and too much baklava.
Souvenirs you brought back: Pistachio Turkish delight—in bulk!
Getting giddy in the backstreets of Beyoglu. Quotes and photos by Alice Tate
Blue Mosque: Ottomans did good.
Istanbul makes excellent use of broken plates.
OD'ing on baklava!
A former sultan's palace for the night? It'll do.
Swimming in Europe, looking at Asia. 
The slickest hotel room I've ever stayed in, at Witt Suites Istanbul.