It is Ramadan right now in Istanbul. Iftar (breaking the fast) is a religious observance and it happens at the evening call to prayer. The fasting during this month lasts all day; no food, no water. When that evening call to prayer comes, people come together as a community to break the fast (Iftar). So as you watch the small video below, try to imagine families and friends getting together after a long day with no food or drink to enjoy a good meal.
Sometimes I compare Istanbul to a beautiful shark; always on the move, never resting. As a result, the city can be loud as people go from place to place. This noise is part of the fabric of this city and oddly, one of the things I will miss the most. The video below was recorded on a street very close to my own. If you have a little over four minutes to spare, I hope that as you listen, you can picture yourself in Istanbul… enjoying the tapestry of sounds.
A ferry in the distance, a plane overhead. A couple having tea and a group of young men hanging around, enjoying the view along with everyone else. Small waves full of jellyfish rolling through time. Cement sidewalks wet with drops from splashes against the rocks. It is one of the reasons that Istanbul is so magical. In so many big and small ways, the Bosphorus is Istanbul. The attack last Saturday on İstiklal Avenue shook me up. Not just because it happened in a place that I have walked often, a short distance from my apartment, but because I don’t…
Living abroad as an expat has changed my life in many ways. I have seen some beautiful sites and grown as a person in many ways. But what I don’t always talk about with friends and family are the difficult bits. One of the main reasons I don’t write about the lonely and isolating parts is because they don’t last that long. Normally it takes a Skype call home or an inspirational walk around Istanbul to help me pass the blues. But these blues can run deep. I read an article recently that said expat life is filled with high highs…
In this crowded and sometimes chaotic city, this was a beautiful spectacle:
As a person who likes street art, Banksy is a bit of name. For me, his work can be thought provoking and as a marketer, he is second-to-none. I knew there was an exhibition about his work in Istanbul, but it was a happy accident when I stumbled upon it yesterday morning in Karakôy. There are many things to write but I think I will just let the images speak for themselves. Enjoy!
On Saturday, I visited Eminönü. In Istanbul, if you have visited the Spice Bazaar, you know where it is. Eminönü is what I refer to as ‘The Maze of Mass humanity’. This place is crowded. Not only is Eminönü a transportation hub (think buses, trams, cars, and ferries), it is also a massive shopping area where a person can buy just about anything. I am not exaggerating when I say this. It’s my go-to place for baked goods but that is the very tip of the iceberg. So if you come to Istanbul, Eminönü is a place to see. However, try to get…
Recently, a friend of mine suggested that I ‘rebrand’ my blog to not only write about my travels outside of Istanbul, but also about what I do in and around this charming place. Within this complex city, there are so many interesting aspects that exploring Istanbul should be considered a full time job. When I tell people where I live, they always ask what it’s like to live in a city with so much history; where the East and West converge. The best way that I can explain my fascination with Istanbul is the constant energy; sometimes when I walk out of my apartment…
I must admit that I was feeling a bit sorry for myself today. My school is off next week and most of my friends are off to faraway places like Rome and Iceland. But recently, I’ve had this ‘pay off your debt’ mindset so saving money, not traveling, is high on my priority list. Plus, when my retirement person said, ‘You are really behind in your retirement savings’ I knew it was time to smell the coffee. So when I woke up this morning I realized that I have three art projects that have been hanging around, unfinished in my apartment. And…
July, 2014. July was my last post! Overall, I just haven’t been traveling much and the name of the blog does limit the focus a bit! I did recently get back from California though and I must say it was a wonderful trip. I do have the best family and friends in the entire world. Drop the mic. Speaking of focus, while I was in the Golden State, I bought new lens for my camera – 35mm. I wanted to challenge myself a bit and try to look at things a little differently. Plus, it was only about $200 –…
traveling with claire 