“Where the east meets the west.”
“If the whole world were one country, Istanbul would be its capital.” ~ Napolean Bonaparte
It would not be hard to agree since no other city in the world sits astride two continents. My friends and I visited Istanbul in November 2019 at the end of Autumn. Istanbul is adorned with the most exemplary architecture and artistic wonders globally and with a rich historical legacy on every corner.
The tour started with the famous Blue Mosque in front of the Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmet mosque. The mosque was adorned with 20,000 blue and turquoise handcrafted Iznik tiles, stained glass windows, and golden brushstrokes of a 17th-century calligrapher. The mosque is considered a combination of Byzantine Christian and traditional Islamic architectural elements.
Istanbul sits astride the iconic Bosphorus Strait. This is the point where the two continents meet. The Ottoman Empire brought a heavily diverse culture before Turkey became a republic and part of the European Union. Our boat over the Strait connects to the Marmara Sea. We went under the grand Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Europe to Asia. Piping hot Turkish tea was served after sunset. Almost everyone in the country is seen sipping on herbal tea, which comes in different flavors.
Also, part of Turkish cuisine is roasted corn and delicious anchovies (seafood), known as “Hamsi”. Turkey is also famous for kebabs, mezze, and dough-based desserts such as Baklava, Kadayif, and Künefe. The most famous spot for Turkish dessert is Hafiz Mustafa. This confectionery was founded back in 1864; at that time, Turkey was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Till this day and age, Hafiz Mustafa is the most established confectionery, with both tourists and locals buzzing in and out to enjoy the traditional Turkish delights. One of my favorites was the Döner Kebap in Taksim Square. These were similar to shawarmas or gyros, but the meat was crisp and cooked to perfection.
In Turkey’s famous Grand Bazaar, we saw tons of spices, dyes, ornaments, dry fruits, and jewelry.
Almost at every shop, one sees the Turkish evil eye charm or amulet that they believe is protection against the evil eye and a part of their culture.
The modern Turkish culture is a mixture of diverse and heterogeneous elements from European civilizations mixed with Islamic Elements of the Ottomans. It is multilingual and multiethnic, with secularism established. I would love for this element to be found in my own culture.
