How to be happy? Someone wrote that it’s all about (i) nature; (ii) other people; and (iii) exercise.
That sounds about right to me.
So what could make you happier than nature walking in a group?
My recent blog #AdiosIstanbul 2 mentioned independent hiking group “Hiking Istanbul”.
The aim of the slightly British-flavoured project is to create a network of hikes in the countryside, along the coasts on both sides of the Bosphorus, and on the Princes’ Islands. The hikes are accessible from central Istanbul by public transport and generally take a day to complete.
I’ve been on two of the walks and enjoyed them immensely. Good company, fresh air, and a way of underlining the importance of the nature that surrounds great cities such as Istanbul, and the need to nurture it.
If hike descriptions like “Alibahadir to Beykoz via Kayanca & the Akbaba Sultan’s tomb” or “Black Sea Cliffs, Anatolian side” sound appealing, this could be the walking group for you. Clearly a lot of people feel the same way: this year the group has been attracting record numbers.
So if you fancy finding out whether hiking close to Istanbul will make you happy, or just want to join a walk, check out Facebook: Hiking Istanbul, or write to the group at: info@hikingistanbul.org. They’ll be pleased to hear from you.
PS: as my departure from the fabulous city of Istanbul looms, you can read more blogs about my favourite places and activities under the heading #AdiosIstanbul.
Follow Leigh Turner on Twitter @leighturnerFCO