We had a good idea what to expect from the photos, but Julia and Tarkan's apartment is so much more in reality.
The apartment is located right next to Galata Tower, a popular tourist destination. However, we didn't bother climbing the tower because the view from their rooftop patio was absolutely breathtaking. We were mesmerized by the scenery - the narrow alleyways below us, gorgeous mosques in the distant, Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn (inlet). The prayers from the mosques nearby provided a beautiful soundtrack against this backdrop.
The apartment itself has all the modern amenities you'd need, with two full bathrooms, washer, and a full kitchen. It's an old building, but they've done such a great job updating the unit, leaving much of the original charm (including the fresco on the ceiling).
We fell in love with Istanbul - the architecture, culture, the food, the people, and the ubiquitous cats!
I have no doubt we'll be visiting Turkey again, and when we do, we know where we're staying.