📅  19th July 2025 📍Istanbul

From Sunflowers to the Bosphorus – A Shortcut Through Greece and Into Turkey

The night was short. Barely had we closed our eyes when it was time to hit the road again, heading south with the rising sun. We kicked off the day with breakfast from a charming little Bulgarian bakery—warm, flaky, and unmistakably homemade. Just the kind of comfort you need when you’re living out of a vehicle and counting countries instead of hours of sleep.
As we drove on, the Bulgarian countryside unfolded in classic late-summer fashion: golden fields of sunflowers and the occasional stork watching from a telephone pole like a curious road trip spectator.
By midday, we reached the Greek border. Our stay in Greece was short and sweet—just enough time to cross over, take a few snapshots to mark the moment, and roll on. With Istanbul in our sights for the evening, we couldn’t linger long.
Before heading into Turkey, we made a crucial pit stop at the last available charger of the Elli network. Thanks to Elli, everything worked perfectly. The station recognized our card instantly, and the charge was fast and seamless—just like so many others across Europe.
With a full battery and the border in sight, we rolled into Turkey as daylight faded. By the time we reached Istanbul, the city was glowing in the dark, buzzing with life as always. We spent the final hours of the day optimizing our luggage and preparing for what’s next.
Because this wasn’t just the end of another day—it was the beginning of a new chapter.

Next stop: Asia