Madness in Istanbul
by aran
There is something unsettling about air travel. As planes and clouds look the same around the world, flying is like being put in a capsule and blasted into an entirely different culture. You don’t know what hits you until screeching people, screaming taxi cabs and strange smells wash over you. But just because it’s unsettling, doesn’t mean its bad. Quite the opposite. Especially in this case: the 2008 ULURU trip to Istanbul.
On the last day of our 4 day visit, a tourist who had just arrived asked me which tourist attractions I could recommend. After giving it some thought, I answered “Istanbul.” Partly, because after touring the place almost non stop for 4 days, we hadn’t even seen a fraction of everything there was to see in Istanbul so I had nothing more authoritative to say. And partly because it’s true: yeah, you have the Blue Mosque, the Ayasofya, the Grand Bazaar and many more beautiful and unique buildings, sights and attractions. But best of all is the city itself. The nicest and coziest living room is a living room that has been used as such for centuries, that has seen various people come and go, relax, entertain, fight, make up, eat, sleep, make love. Istanbul feels like one giant living room, with a great history. Bazaars, shops, tea houses and bars appear to seamlessly extend into the streets. People meeting, chatting, trading and tasting everywhere. Madness in every direction.
It took some getting used to. But only for a minute, before I started thoroughly enjoying myself.
Tags: Istanbul