RIP Seyhan Cafe

Today was, by far, the most depressing and sad day of my entire exchange. I know I've mentioned "Seyhan Cafe" before several times here on my blog. 

This cafe is always the meeting point and hangout place for all the exchange students, but especially for Daffne and I. I can say that easily I went to this cafe at least 3 times a week. And today was it's last day open. [For any of you out there who have ever watched "Friends", it's a US tv series from 1990s-early 2000s, you'll know "Central Perk" which is the coffee place the characters always hangout at. This cafe was OUR Central Perk] *Pictures below:

For these last 6 months I've been in Turkey this cafe has always been a place for us to hangout, talk, study, eat, and most importantly, use their free wifi :) 

(( In this picture I was studying Turkish, drinking my usual Nescafé, and enjoying the gorgeous view of Kadıköy ))

** Side note, Daffne and I went here so much that they would give us discounts on our orders because we, literally, were there 3+ times a week. After a while they picked up on our orders too!

I know you are probably thinking, "It's just a cafe, you'll find another one." No, this cafe represented all the best times here with my exchange family. I can't even start to explain how many laughs, serious talks, good times, and late nights were spent there. Honestly I'm still in shock that they are closing. Oh, I forgot to mention WHY they are closing exactly. They are closing because there is a Starbucks in the building in front of it and they bought the building in order to expand their store front. Ugh, I hate franchises. I can tell you that right now I can count in Istanbul 5 Starbucks off the top of my head. In my opinion, this Starbucks is plenty big, they have two levels plus an outside area. Seyhan was 4 levels, the bottom two being an indepentent book store and the top two being a family owned and run cafe. The fact that it all had to be shut down, and for what? So Starbucks can put in more tables and bathrooms? This cafe ment the world to Daffne and I and we are completely devestated that everything had to end this way. 

So tonight, Gabi, Arthur, Laura, Luis, Hana, Daffne, and I met to have a final "Send off" dinner and coffee. We all ate our favorite things. For me it was the Club sandwich and fries but Daffne always eats my fries, so basically just the sandwich :) After we all finished eating, we went out on the 4th floor/roof level of the cafe. The cold air felt so great while I was drinking my last Nescafé :( We all talked while enjoying the spectacular view and familiar sounds of our beloved Kadıköy from the roof for the last time... This cafe and all the memories I made there will always have a special place in my heart. 

Daffne and I walking out of Seyhan for the last time...

I can't believe this chapter of my exchange is over. And to think I have only 4 months left until I return to the US. I am so not ready for all of this change.

Maggie