I woke up on my 29th birthday in absolutely excruciating pain. My lower back is one huge knot, my hip joints hurt, and I have shin splints. This terrible bodily suffering was, no doubt, brought on by the ridiculously long and, evidently, life threatening 15 mile stroll I took yesterday. I can’t help asking myself, is this a foreshadowing of things to come? Did my body get old overnight? Will I have to start wearing a muumuu and orthopedic shoes? This is definitely no way to start a brand new year. Thankfully, the fruit bowl is well stocked with the delicious oranges I bought down the hill at the produce market near Ihlamur Kasrı. Now if I only had a juicer…

Categories: Istanbul