ISTANBUL: WHERE EMPIRES MEET THE FUTURE
Kolyn Boyd and Lindsey Granger explore the vibrant crossroads of Istanbul, uncovering how ancient empires and modern innovation collide to shape the bridge where western Asia meets eastern Europe. The journey begins with the new direct flight path from Colorado to Istanbul, a gateway to what Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat calls the 'beginning of civilization and culture.' From their base at the Shangri-La Bosphorus—a historic 1920s tobacco warehouse turned luxury landmark—the hosts witness the literal meeting point of Europe and Asia on the Bosphorus Strait. Guided by local experts, the episode explores the architectural force of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, reflecting a city reinvented from the Byzantine and Ottoman eras into a modern republic. The exploration moves beneath the streets to the 2,000-year-old Basilica Cistern before emerging into the sensory experience of the Grand Bazaar, the historic center of global trade. The narrative then shifts to modern medical tourism at EsteNove to investigate Istanbul's role as a global healthcare hub. The journey concludes by blending cultural rituals—from the art of Turkish coffee fortune telling to the 40-layer craftsmanship of baklava—proving that in Istanbul, the past is an active, breathing part of the city's future.



















