Jan and I are in Istanbul, visiting family and friends. In less than a week, Elif and Mina will arrive to spend the rest of our time together. I felt the same way as I did last year. The city I used to know and enjoyed very much was gone. In its place was a different town which I nicknamed last year, Towertown. Of course, fitting to the scene was one of the Trump Towers that only carries the man’s name.
As we traveled from the airport to our destination, the traffic was maddening as usual. And the ever-present cranes were stretching their arms, ready to lift the next thing to bring up high. The architectural style of the towers is nouveau riche with ostentatious components and presence. In the dimmer light of the early evening, some parts reminded me of the Gotham City waiting for Batman!
As we approached the Bosphorus Bridge, probably the only bridge in the world that connects two continents, the hills of Camlica appeared covered with piled on apartments, communication towers (they are towers too, you know,) and a new mosque, large enough to accommodate 1,000 people at once. Istanbul is extremely rich in terms of mosques, but I guess you cannot have enough mosques!
The next day we went to Kuzguncuk, a small village on the Asian side that maintains its rich texture despite being right across a mass of towers on the European side. The lunch at Ismet Baba was pleasant, with palamut fish (bonito?) in-season. We enjoyed the fish and the scene outside. Back at home, we toured the garden and the greenhouse to see the newly labeled flower collection in the garden.
Here are some scenes from the first couple days.
blaine ellis
Sad what is happening to Istanbul. Sorry I never got to see Ara Guler’s Istanbul. But all in all it still my favorite city.
A. Cemal Ekin
Blaine, apparently about 20 million people agree with you as the population exploded in Istanbul. I got to know Ara Guler’s istanbul, it was a city with much character and history. Perhaps that is the main reason why I feel so sad about the city. In some corners one can still find the remnants of Guler’s Istanbul. And, I say all these not because I oppose progress, but abhor erasing the traces of history, time, and culture. But, of course, I am glad that you find things to enjoy there, and thanks for stopping by.
Cemal
Haluk Atamal
It was great to have met Jan and you in face. For this occasion, I will give some positive points to the TowerCity because She embraced us and brought us together.
Rest is still ugly as you have very thoroughly documented in your beautiful photographs.
A. Cemal Ekin
Indeed, Haluk, it was great to meet you and Turkan last night. I wish we were in Ara Guler’s, Old Istanbul, but … I hope that we will have another chance to see each other. Take care, hello to you and Turkan. Have a nice trip to Azerbaijan.
Cemal