Popular western European countries such as France and the UK may have a lot to offer, but there are things they are definitely lacking in. Buildings and homes from another time climbed the hills that overlooked the sea. There were no towering skyscrapers to block and detract from the view of the ancient city. This is Europe.” Centuries-old minarets towered above buildings as the Bosphorus churned beneath old bridges. We had been in Asia for the past 5 months, and we could remember a sort of feeling as we drove through the city to our Airbnb of, “This is it. Istanbul has a sort of mysticism and old world charm throughout its streets.