When we had left Istanbul - only a few hours before the expolsions - there was no indication of the violence about to erupt. With its grand minarets and markets, high culture and cuisine, the great city was only as chaotic as I'd expected.
In fact, Istanbul seemed to tower above other cities as a harmonious, tolerant and vibrant collision of East and West.
What struck us more than anything else was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. There seemed no limit to people's generosity, their interest in us and their hospitality.
As we drove out of Istanbul along the sparkling coastline we unanimously agreed that in only a few days it had become one of our favourite cities.
From our perspective now, safe on the Black Sea coast, this makes the bombings overwhelmingly sad and disappointing.
Matt Kennedy-Good
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