Looking for a new expat destination? In this episode of Meet the Locals, a digital nomad shares her experiences of living and working in the vibrant, multicultural city of İstanbul, where ancient history and modern life intertwine seamlessly.
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00:00Istanbul for me is almost like the hub of the world.
00:07You just constantly meet so many amazing people.
00:12And it's definitely people with that almost digital nomad outlook on life where you're
00:17not just stuck to one environment and a daily routine, but seeking that adventure that Istanbul
00:27100% has to offer.
00:32My name is Marie Lawrence.
00:33I'm from South Africa, Cape Town, and I'm absolutely in love with Istanbul.
00:37I create photo and video content for digital platforms.
00:42I'm a digital nomad in the overall sense that I do travel.
00:47I don't have a set office space.
00:50Other than that, I also do consultation on how to optimize the impact of the content
00:57for the digital platform that they have chosen to create the content for.
01:05Having lived in Istanbul for about 11 years, I've applied for various visas on arrival.
01:10At the moment, South Africans are not eligible for the digital nomad visa, unfortunately,
01:15but I am really looking forward to them adding it as one of the countries.
01:20About the benefits of having a digital nomad visa, compared to a foreigner coming in as
01:25a tourist, you will have many benefits such as the eligibility to stay for a longer period
01:33of time, as well as work legally in the country.
01:37The other benefits that you also can expect is the access to health care as well as education.
01:46A typical day in Istanbul for me is me waking up in the morning, having my coffee, saying
01:54good morning to my rabbits, of course.
01:57I would just have a look out over Istanbul, get ready, and set the tone for the day by
02:03going for a walk, seeing the city wake up.
02:06You walk over Galata Bridge and you see the fishermen in the mornings, and possibly seeing
02:12the panoramic view of the Bosphorus, taking in that fresh air.
02:16And then come home, set myself up, look at what my program holds for that day.
02:21I will have various meetings as well all across the city, and mostly I opt for public transport.
02:30Everything is just so conveniently accessible.
02:34I also love just going to my favorite coffee shops, setting up my computer, having my calls
02:41in a quiet corner.
02:43I do prefer Soho House as my base.
02:47It's a membership club that's also a co-working space in the city, in my neighborhood.
02:58I love stepping into the historic spaces of Istanbul and receiving that energy that is
03:04all around.
03:05I love visiting the Blue Mosque and just being surrounded by so many people who are there
03:12with purpose.
03:13And I go into the back streets in the old town.
03:17They have these beautiful carpet houses where they weave carpets by hand or kilim by hand
03:25with natural products.
03:26So one of my hobbies is to go into these beautiful carpet shops and discover some of these forgotten
03:34pieces and bring them back to life and create beautiful kilim pillows out of them.
03:44I enjoy spending the rest of my day or any open gap that I have to go and meet some of
03:51my friends that I've met here who are also expats.
03:55They might not be digital nomads, but they are also in the creative scene.
03:59I love to go and visit their studios.
04:01I love seeing what other foreigners are creating here locally.
04:06Being an absolute foodie, Istanbul is just bustling with little local food stores and
04:12street food options.
04:14When you're walking through the streets, you can smell the scent of all the different kinds
04:19of spices that they apply to the food.
04:25Of course, this is a city that never sleeps.
04:28When I am in the city, I do love gathering friends around for dinner, experiencing a
04:33new restaurant, or just going to our local favorite.
04:39Turkey for me has been my home for the past 11 years.
04:44When I travel, I miss it.
04:46I don't think I'll ever be able to move abroad completely and leave my life behind.