Istanbul – Between Occident and Orient

The other day I cleaned up a little bit old stuff on my computer. And I found some long time ago photos from Istanbul. It made me think about a great time I had, moments I am so happy I lived them.

Many friends think I have a lot of courage. But I don’t feel that. I just do while I have all that anguishes that everyone would have with the same decision. But I believe: no guts, no glory! And so I go..

In this case it was my decision to follow my heart. Yes, I was in love of a man who lived in a totally different world than mine. Me in Southern Italy on a small island, him in the center of one of the biggest metropolis of the world. Ischia against Istanbul. But my heart wanted me to follow him and so I packed all my things, took my dog and the three of us entered on 30th November 2002 just before midnight the border to Turkey.

We had no place to stay, not even a friend who would help us to find some new home.

We slept a night in the car in Istanbul before leaving for Ankara, the capital. To stay with some friends. From there our ‘looking for a home’ tour has gone to a family at the Black Sea. That was a real great experience for me. We stayed in a small village. The house had no bathroom, no warm water. The shower something like a can hanging from the top. We ate sitting on the floor around a small table, women together, men together. Me no Turkish speaking at all. But they were all so nice and did everything to make me feel perfect.

In the end we returned to Istanbul. We stayed just 2 nights in a house of a friend in Istanbul, a lovely family. They were really nice with us and welcomed my big dog too. Which was a great thing because nearly everyone in Turkey was afraid about him.

Then we found a place were to stay for a while. Unfortunately in a skyscraper, on the 8th floor. Nothing for me and nothing especially for my dog. But it was winter, freezing cold, high snow, and no chance to find something right now.

It took 8 month before we had to move there out – because everyone was afraid of my dog! Which was ridiculous because he never ever did anything to nobody. But that way we found a tiny little house on the Asian side of Istanbul, at Beykoz. Before we lived on the European side, near to Avselar.

It was there in the knew home where we had a small garden, where me and my dog felt much better and more at home. We could stay outside during the summer, breath clean air and walk on the grass. Like at home in Italy.

It was a tough time there. Winters cold that sometimes we couldn’t leave the house for days, no gas, no telephone, no electricity sometimes for days, no money to buy enough food. But we were happy with what we had.

Two of my friends came to Istanbul to visit me. I had some sightseeing with them. The city has around 17 millions inhabitants, it’s frenetic and so full of contrasts. There is ancient history between modern glass skyscrapers. Old roads with even older wooden houses and very tradition living people. In the center there a young women with short skirts and high heels, so modern than someone believes to stay in New York. I loved the old Egyptian market, all those spices, men sitting in the cafeterias drinking tea. Women completely covered in a black robe talking about university to women in a sexy outfit.

I have been to the Topkapi Palace, really amazing building. Just in front of it there is the Blue Mosque, never seen such a big one. And an open one everyone can go in. Normally for non-Moslems it’s very difficult to enter a house of religion. Near to both at a corner there is the most amazing place I have seen in Istanbul: the Yerebatan Sarnıcı (Basilica Cistern). A water reservoir built by Emperor Justinian in 532 – 542. It has 336 columns and can be visited nowadays. They give concerts there in. I unfortunately never have heard one but I think the acoustic is more than fantastic. I highly recommend this place to everyone!

Another place that I really loved was the Galata tower. There is an amazing view on the Golden Horn and a big part of the old city. Makes the 1001-night-feeling and the hyper-modern city so clear.

And I loved so much to go on Sunday morning to have brunch with eggs, Börek (I wrote a post about the recipe of Börek you can find here), Mercimek çorbası (lentil soup) and tea. Generally in the late afternoon we did what nearly ALL Turkish people do on the weekend: a barbecue. We had a tiny barbecue place in the garden we built by our own. My man was the meat and vegetable man, me in the kitchen to prepare dips, sauces and sweets. In summer a nice cold beer, my dog, the cats, duck and who else lived with us especially near to the ‘meat man’. It could fall something down from the grill….. 😉

I still miss those days. I miss the great possibilities of leisure, the beautiful beaches, the shops and my life with my tiny family then. All has gone for a lot of reasons but it will be always an important and happy part of my life.

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Istanbul/Turkey:

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