Istanbul is a special city, it has nothing in common with the resort towns of Turkey, it has its own atmosphere, its own color, its own rhythm of life. Anna Delianidi shares her vivid impressions of Istanbul.
Istanbul. Everyone is talking about Istanbul. Everyone is flying to Istanbul. Books about this city with many faces have long been on the shelves of stores. The main temple of this city has long stood in front of the main temple of this city. And the bridge over the Bosphorus today is a place where you can eat or walk on fish scales. Istanbul… Have you been to Istanbul?
In the morning, the city sighs for the first time after a short sleep and a wave of life goes from the Bosphorus in all directions, as if from the epicenter of an invisible explosion. Fishermen, cleaners, movers-these are the first people of the morning Istanbul. A whole series of sounds is gradually added to the cries of gulls: cars, people, bridges, mosques. During the day, everything will freeze for a moment in lazy bliss, only to fall on you in the evening with a whole orchestra: the voices of children, calls to prayer, the clink of glasses in restaurants, the shouts of mothers of large families, the splash of water that the waiter pours out of a bucket right on the road, the meowing of cats, the horns of boats, the gusts of wind that brings new smells…
Istanbul is a strange mix that can’t exist in nature, but still exists. Here is an ancient history, which-as in some children’s game — is ignored by all the surrounding residents. Here it is interesting to kiss and do not want to do it often, because everything should be filled with meaning, and it is still impossible to explain more — you just need to feel it. Here you want to pick up a brush and draw large strokes of something very colorful and abstract. Here, in general, there are many desires: you want, for example, that your bag is bottomless and very comfortable, because there is a grand bazaar ahead, and it would also be good for the camera to charge itself with happiness and smells, because there are three more alleys on the road — from there you can hear children’s laughter and see minarets. Here, at the same time, you want to open your face to the sun and wrap yourself up to the eyes in a bright pashmina, buy heavy boots and walk barefoot in the courtyard of Hagia Sophia, do not eat at all and eat in principle.
Food in Istanbul is a separate fairy tale. It has strange wine, complex meat, and great fish. And you need to start eating with coffee. Good Turkish coffee, which is Turkish exclusively for the variation of grinding and the magic of cooking. And if you are not here for the first day and are already used to freshly squeezed orange and pomegranate juice in half, have eaten all sorts of kebabs, have eaten too much fresh fish and even traditionally drink ayran in the morning, there are many interesting stories in Turkish cuisine that you can and should bring home. Go to the bazaar or to any local shop and buy a little of everything that will appeal to the eye: Turkish bahlava, Turkish delight, aromatic spices, fragrant apple tea with cinnamon — you can also grab special cups from which it is customary to drink it here. Put it all in your own kitchen and enjoy it until the supplies run out, and then – back to Istanbul, because it is impossible not to return here!