So, the thing that I have with Istanbul is that no matter what I do or where I go - I always come back with my feet hurting like hell. And, of course, the fact that the city is like twice as big as my country, population-wise. There are people everywhere. A lot of them. Like so 'lot' that everyday feels like a grand protest/march/gay pride/any-other-huge-public-event is taking place right around the corner from your hotel. I feel claustrophobic.
But then there are these beautiful, oriental glass lamps filled with magic and fairy tales that light up the old city, the new city, the Anatolian side, the Bosphorus - everything. And there is Cay (Turkish tea) everywhere with people sitting outside and drinking eat, conversing with each other in slow and low murmurs. And child-musicians - never to forget! Street children playing the lute and the drums, and oh - what a sound! Lonely guitar and violin players, singers and again lute players sitting by the side of this huge human-ocean traffic and singing about the years past with such voice modulations each of them could get a Grammy or whatnot.
There are also huge and fat seagulls flying around even in the downtown, because wherever you go - there is the Sea. And the smell of salty water, and fish - intermingled with ultra-fashionista perfume of these high heels wearing women and men walking by with a haughty attitude. And women clad in completely black clothes, and you cannot even see their eyes - and there are fashion stores for them too! Ha.
Oh, Istanbul - a city of contrasts. (I shall end with a banality).
mellow
enraged
sleepy