After a few years immersed in the crypto world and a decade on the startup conference circuit, I’m taking a different approach to Blockchain Week in Istanbul. This time, I’m skipping the pinballing and back-to-back events. Instead, I’m dedicating this week to the art of connection — reuniting with old friends, making new ones, and truly experiencing the city’s culture.

Travel for me has too often meant a blur of conference centers, hotels, and bars, with the local culture a mere backdrop. But not this trip. I’m inviting anyone I know, and friends of friends, to join me in exploring this wonderful, historical melting pot.

On Sunday, Boyana and I will host a market exploration, complete with a side of ethnography training — a skillset I’ve found to be rare yet invaluable in the Web3 space. It’s an open invitation to learn, play, and see through a local lens with us.

The rest of the week promises a tapestry of markets, galleries, tea houses and flaneuring. I’ve always found joy in reaching out to local contacts to discover places pulsing with authentic life, the places they love. These are the experiences that show me something new about the world and myself. That’ll be my focus - though I’m happy to tag along to specific events if someone invites me. Just going with the flow.

So, if you’re in town for Blockchain Week and you know me or my work, let’s make plans. Let’s wander, talk about life, and remember why we travel — not just for business, but for the soul-enriching encounters that happen along the way.