2011 travel goal #1 from this post: complete. Megan and I spent a four-day weekend in İstanbul two weekends ago, and even though we did not see the sun a single time while we were there, we still loved the city -- which is saying a lot, because it was freezing and also I love me some sunlight.
Highlights: the Harem at Topkapı Palace (I love Turkish tiles almost as much as I love sunlight); the Turkish bath experience at Çemberlitaş Hamamı; amazing homestyle lunch at Mücver in Cihangir (along with all the grocery stores/boutiques around it); taking the ferry to Asia (in spite being too sick to really enjoy the Asian side of the city); the top-floor bar at the Leb-i Derya Richmond with expensive delicious cocktails and an out-of-this-world view; and of course Megan's many Turkish boyfriends at the Grand Bazaar ("You already have a boyfriend? That's okay, you can have another!"). I'll definitely be returning to this city. Just hopefully when it's a little warmer.