Istanbul

As my time here in Istanbul comes to an end, I feel this urge to reflect on my time spent in this magical city.

Istanbul is a city where not only does the East meet the West, but also where old meets new and traditions clash with modernity. On this warm summer day the streets are filled with twenty somethings sporting the latest trends weaving through the crowds in frantic speed trying to get to their destinations. Older women in colored abayas and men with their rosary beads shake their heads in distaste when passed by. The disapproval isn't because they were bumped into by these young adults who represent the uncertain future of this country. No, their unconcealed grumble is for the lack of clothing they see around them. Don't get me wrong, Turkey prides itself on being a secular country, and one can live quite freely here. As an expat, I have lived a life very similar to the one I lived back home. In Istanbul though, there are some neighborhoods where I would think twice about before venturing out in revealing clothing. Men glare at you as they would anywhere else I guess. But Istanbul has changed over the past two and half years I have been here for. More and more young girls have started wearing the headscarf due to family pressure, social pressure or even to make a political statement. But that's something I will write about in more detail in another post. Back to my love affair with this beautiful city.

The one thing you realize when you start living here is that people in your neighborhood want to be a part of your life. The older men sit in cafes sipping on endless cups of tea playing backgammon in crisp white shirts and creased pants, as they discuss the lives of everyone else around them. As you walk by, they raise their head waiting for you to greet them. The older women sit on their balconies with beautifully dyed hair and pretty colored nails watching over their neighbors and the happenings on the street. Nothing goes unnoticed. If you have a friend over or if you buy something new, someone will stop and ask about it. At your local cafe, you are sure to find a cup of tea and your favorite piece of flaky pastry filled with a wonderful explosion of flavor waiting for you as you walk in. Whether or not you can speak the language, the owner of the cafe will definitely have a conversation with you about your health, work and most definitely about how fast life is passing everyone by. This is in fact one of my favorite things to do in this buzzing city. Sitting at a cafe watching the world go by.