Serdar and her husband Tan gave me and my girlfriend a wonderful, warm welcome. We chose an apartment in Galatta, a very diverse and lively neighborhood in Istanbul. There, we experienced great nightlife, cheap eats and interesting folks in the streets. The apartment itself is located in a quiet side-street. You can walk from there to the historical/touristy part of the town. The best part of our stay was our time with Serdar and Tan. They are very friendly, open-minded, and knowledgeable hosts. You can ask them about anything from good vegetarian restaurants in the area to Turkish history and politics! Tan was born in Istanbul and can tell you a lot about this rapidly changing city. The room was clean and comfortable, with a few funny details to discover. The whole place has its unique, beautiful charm. We also had the pleasure to meet their car Ludmilla, who equally divides up her time between cuddling and mischief. There is also a little singing bird, if the cat has not managed to get inside the cage yet. In case you are very sensitive to noises at night, you should use earplugs, as the bird seems to have its own sleeping rhythm. Thanks Serda and Tan for the amazing 3 days! Hope to see you again!