Love-hate relationship with Istanbul
Can I live in Istanbul?
I am currently visiting Turkey, my home country, after 15 months; and I have visited Istanbul after a few years. I traveled to 20 countries all over the world so far, and Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. As most tourists would agree, Istanbul is charming. But to me, it’s not only about its charm; it has a special place in my heart: I love Istanbul. But I also hate it.
Let me explain why I have a love-hate relationship with Istanbul.
Why do I love Istanbul?
The short answer is simple: my friends. Including my childhood friend, whom I have known for 27 years; my closest friends from high school live in Istanbul. They all went to college in Istanbul, and my relationship with Istanbul started back then, about 15 years ago, thanks to them. As I went to college in Ankara, I have visited Istanbul at every opportunity. I have also lived in Istanbul with my friends for 2 months while doing my long-term internship when I was an undergraduate student.
Since I live abroad, I can’t visit Istanbul as much as I want to, but whenever I visit it, it feels the same:
Istanbul: comfort, being myself, unconditional love…
Maybe it is not about Istanbul but about being around friends who have known me for at least 15 years. I mean, I would love any city where my closest friends live, where I can be just myself without thinking twice while saying something, where I can find the personal connections that I was aching while living abroad.
But Istanbul makes everything better. Why?
Because you can eat the best food and drink the best raki in a tavern with your friends, where the table next to you offers you a birthday cake even though they don’t know you.
Because you can keep dancing and drinking on a random street in Beyoglu until 2 am, and nobody questions this.
Because you can cross the bosporus by a ferry to change the continents to meet with your friends.
Because your friend can suggest a soup place, and you can eat the best soup of your life in a tiny restaurant at midnight.
Why do I hate Istanbul?
Because Istanbul is harsh, especially for the poor. The economic situation is really bad in Turkey, and you can feel this in your bones in Istanbul.
I have visited many underdeveloped countries and thought my skin thickened, but it hits differently in my home country. One reason is that I can’t see Turkey as an underdeveloped country because of all the resources and history we have.
When I see two homeless kids on the street eating from a trash bag, I can’t stop thinking:
Okay, there are homeless people all around the world, even in the US and Europe. But, even those homeless people have some level of standards: for example, you cannot see two homeless kids on the street at night all alone.
Finally, it makes me sad but mostly angry when I see tourists enjoying the best version of Istanbul, eating at the most fancy restaurants and enjoying the most fun activities, while local people work only to survive.
As you read, I have mixed feelings about Istanbul. Regardless, I will visit Istanbul as much as I can in the future, as some of the people who I care about the most seem to keep calling Istanbul “home” in the near future.
About the question that I asked, “Can I live in Istanbul?” For now, the answer is “No!” But, “never say never.”
Do you love or hate Istanbul?
Cheers,
Sidika
I really love İstanbul. I have been living in İstanbul since ı was born. I have seen many countries so far. I have stayed two months in london last summer I agree with everything your said. I will follow you with interest. Happy new year Sıdıka. ❤️ I hope we can meet one day.
Istanbul holds a special place in my heart due to its stunning views and abundant opportunities. When you visit, you'll be mesmerized by sights like the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. Just experiencing these views can leave you in awe. However, many people are aware of the traffic and economic issues that plague the city. Ultimately, despite my love for Istanbul, I wouldn’t want to live there.