As many readers know, my absolute favorite city in the world is Istanbul, Turkey, which was tragically rocked by another terror attack at New Year’s Eve. It bothers me how much people have been dismissing Istanbul as some kind of dangerous hotspot, particularly since Istanbul actually represents so much that is good in the world to me.
Istanbul has been a crossroads of the world’s cultures and peoples for millennia. From the Romans to the Arabs, East has met West peacefully and prosperously in Istanbul. Where else in the world can you find the Aya Sofiya, one of the most impressive buildings in the world that started its life as a church, then became a mosque, and now has become a museum to BOTH religions?
Leaving politics out of it, I want to use my post today to talk about Istanbul. And I want to use a music video to do it. This is Feel, by Mahmut Orhan feat. Sena Sener. This music video has been number one across Russia, Kazakhstan, and yes, Kyrgyzstan for months now.
(Fair warning: there is a belly dancer in the middle portion of the video, so if that is considered not safe for work in your workplace, then stop the video at about 1:45.)
The video, as you can tell, tells the story of a photographer and his muse as they explore the back (and front) streets of stunning Istanbul. If you had never seen a photo of Istanbul, this would make you want to visit, and for me, it makes me want to go back even more.
Early on, we see his muse exploring the alleyways outside the Grand Bazaar. The interior of the Grand Bazaar is a major tourist attraction (not to mention that the main drag is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world by rent per square meter), but the alleyways outside it are where many locals go to do their shopping. In fact, the entire hillside that separates the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) from the Grand Bazaar feels itself like a maze of bazaar shops that are a delight to get lost in.
His muse then finds her way to the large square that faces the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofiya (also known as “Hagia Sofia” in some spellings). In this screen grab you can see the Aya Sofiya in the background. Hard to believe that the spectacular building dates all the way back to about 550 AD!
Our photographer friend takes a moment to get his shoes shines by this delightfully smiling man, who reminds me of many of the extraordinarily friendly people I met across Turkey. In fact, with the exception of Turkish Airlines, I found that almost everyone in Turkey is always willing to help visitors and guests. My mother, who worked in tourism development her entire life, commented during our trip that she had never seen a country with such well-developed tourist infrastructure for DIY visitors that know nothing about the country. Everything just worked, from every bus to every boat. And all the people like this man that we met along the way just make it that much more special.
Some gratuitous shots of the spectacularly unbelievable skyline are always welcome. You can also see the seabirds that remind you that Istanbul sits on the Bosphorus, which is technically the ocean.
Our muse ponders the Galata Tower, which stands on the top of a hill in a part of Istanbul that was developed by Venetian traders. It’s no wonder that the entirety of Galata and Beyoğlu feel as though you’re wandering through an Old Town in Italy.
Our protagonists find themselves on some sort of glamorous afternoon/evening on the Galata Bridge. This scene was shot on the northwest side of the bridge’s centre house, facing towards the Süleymaniye mosque in Fatih, but on the opposite side of the bridge you can see the Galata Tower, the New Mosque, the Aya Sofiya, the Blue Mosque, and many other incredible sights like the Maiden’s Tower and the Bosphorus Bridge. And, of course, you can enjoy a lunch of spectacular seafood as fishing lines fall from the fishermen on the level above.
The song is pretty catchy too, and gets stuck in my head all the time. But it’s this video, showing all the excitement, beauty, glamour, and kindness of Istanbul and Turkey that brings me back.
Istanbul, to me, represents so much of the good in the world – multiculturalism, diversity, kindness, respect, coexistence, and yes, maybe glamour and fashion too. Today, the world must mourn for Istanbul and Turkey, and we must not forget these values that made Istanbul my favorite city in the entire world.
If you happen to be changing planes in Istanbul and have at least 6-8 hours free, check out my Istanbul Layover Guide to see how easy it is to put on a beautiful dress and walk in slow motion across the Galata Bridge.