Istanbul really gave my wanderlust a shot in the arm. Physically, I was getting well, but I was moving past the side of the world that was comfortable to me. You see, I was somewhat familiar with Western Europe because I had been there before. It probably resembles the U.S. more than any other region of the world. Turkey, though, I knew very little about. As soon as I arrived, I got this giddy, night-before-Christmas feeling. I was so anxious for what was about to happen. I was overloaded with new sights, smells, and sounds, and I was instantly out of my comfort zone. One second you think you know. The next, you learn that you know nothing. That's the good stuff! That's what keeps me wanting to see more.
Constantinople, Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire. The bridge between east and west. However you describe it, this place is filled with history. There are so many cultures, foods (there's like a hundred different ways to grill meat), religions, and opinions on how progressive or conservative the country should be. All have left a mark on this wonderful city.
Right after this small tunnel...
While I was walking to the ferry one evening, a man started to follow me. He knew I wasn't from around here. I didn't feel threatened, and I could tell he was more curious than anything else. We just had a quick conversation, but one thing he said about people from different places living in other countries stuck with me.
"No place is pure. Everyone is from somewhere else. Now more than ever we have to accept that."
A Kurdish-French man
The packed neighborhood of Beyoglu.
Antique trinkets left over from hundreds of years of bartering in the Grand Bazaar.
Taksim Square. The heart of Istanbul. This is the site of many demonstrations, including the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Window. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Museum / Church