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.
Dear Sıdıka, I totally understand the frustration. As someone born and raised in the Netherlands, I was totally struck by the great contrasts in Istanbul. I always loved to visit this intriguing city but I knew within I would never think about living in this crowd, where I couldn't even hear my own inner voice. The chaos that rules the traffic and almost every other aspect of life made me feel unsafe nervous and uncomfortable. Now after all those years visiting this city loving and hating it, as you describe it, I left my city in the Netherlands, and I'm living in that city I never imagined I would. I can tell you this much, I still feel the same about this city but I developed a way of dealing with it's troubles. It still saddens me but I cannot change it, so I changed the way I look at it. I think this country can only change for the best when it comes from within. Personally I don't see a lot of effort here to change things. There are a few academics who try to point the structural problems, like for example Behçet Özkara; I hope it will wake the rest of us to improve ourselves and the country we live in.
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts, dear Aynur!
"I would never think about living in this crowd, where I couldn't even hear my own inner voice." Completely relatable. I felt like my creativity had dropped within a few days spent in Turkey, which is okay but still very interesting to realize.
I have been in Istanbul for a week now, and I’ve had the chance to experience both sides of the city. Just as you described, it truly is a love-hate relationship. I have visited many cities around the world, but Istanbul stands out. It has a unique soul I haven’t encountered anywhere else. The city feels so alive, yet at the same time, it’s deeply burdened by poverty. I visited Beşiktaş, which is a vibrant area filled with tourists who seem to have fallen in love with the city. Istanbul isn’t just wonderful for tourists—it’s also a paradise for those with high economic status. However, during my stay, I also spent a couple of days in a much poorer part of the city. There, people seemed to constantly worry about how they would make it through the next day. While chatting with some locals, I learned that many of them haven’t even visited iconic places like Galata Tower. What a pity! They live in this magnificent city but haven’t had the chance to explore or take their children to such places. I also noticed schoolchildren in different neighborhoods. It was heartbreaking to see the stark inequalities they face. Children don’t grow up under the same economic or social conditions, and many aren’t surrounded by a healthy environment. The gap between different groups in Istanbul is enormous, and witnessing this left me with unpleasant feelings.
Still, my emotions about Istanbul remain mixed, just like yours. It’s a city of contradictions, and that’s what makes it so fascinating and challenging to understand.
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.
I hope so❤️
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.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Micheal!
Dear Sıdıka, I totally understand the frustration. As someone born and raised in the Netherlands, I was totally struck by the great contrasts in Istanbul. I always loved to visit this intriguing city but I knew within I would never think about living in this crowd, where I couldn't even hear my own inner voice. The chaos that rules the traffic and almost every other aspect of life made me feel unsafe nervous and uncomfortable. Now after all those years visiting this city loving and hating it, as you describe it, I left my city in the Netherlands, and I'm living in that city I never imagined I would. I can tell you this much, I still feel the same about this city but I developed a way of dealing with it's troubles. It still saddens me but I cannot change it, so I changed the way I look at it. I think this country can only change for the best when it comes from within. Personally I don't see a lot of effort here to change things. There are a few academics who try to point the structural problems, like for example Behçet Özkara; I hope it will wake the rest of us to improve ourselves and the country we live in.
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts, dear Aynur!
"I would never think about living in this crowd, where I couldn't even hear my own inner voice." Completely relatable. I felt like my creativity had dropped within a few days spent in Turkey, which is okay but still very interesting to realize.
Dear Sidika,
I have been in Istanbul for a week now, and I’ve had the chance to experience both sides of the city. Just as you described, it truly is a love-hate relationship. I have visited many cities around the world, but Istanbul stands out. It has a unique soul I haven’t encountered anywhere else. The city feels so alive, yet at the same time, it’s deeply burdened by poverty. I visited Beşiktaş, which is a vibrant area filled with tourists who seem to have fallen in love with the city. Istanbul isn’t just wonderful for tourists—it’s also a paradise for those with high economic status. However, during my stay, I also spent a couple of days in a much poorer part of the city. There, people seemed to constantly worry about how they would make it through the next day. While chatting with some locals, I learned that many of them haven’t even visited iconic places like Galata Tower. What a pity! They live in this magnificent city but haven’t had the chance to explore or take their children to such places. I also noticed schoolchildren in different neighborhoods. It was heartbreaking to see the stark inequalities they face. Children don’t grow up under the same economic or social conditions, and many aren’t surrounded by a healthy environment. The gap between different groups in Istanbul is enormous, and witnessing this left me with unpleasant feelings.
Still, my emotions about Istanbul remain mixed, just like yours. It’s a city of contradictions, and that’s what makes it so fascinating and challenging to understand.
Wishing you a happy new year!
I feel you😞 Thanks for sharing your observations, Büşra!