Home » Turkey » Istanbul

There is of course another side to Istanbul, a very old and very crowded side. Our visit to a video production company took us into that other city...

Istanbul

Hank Shiffman
2003-11-29 14:44:00

Displayed times (last time: )

After Cairo came my first visit to Istanbul. Before my visit my only images of Turkey were From Russia With Love: Kerim Bey running his Secret Service operation from the back of a rug shop, spying on the Soviets from rat-infested tunnels under the city, Gypsy camps and the catfights therein and Sean Connery urbanely ordering Turkish coffee, medium sweet. What I found was a fascinating city full of beautiful women (at least the Bond producers got that part right), one where I hope to spend a lot more time. After Cairo, Istanbul felt a lot more Western and familiar. But in truth it's a complex and not entirely stable mix of the West and the Middle East.

After battling with traffic for an hour or so we finally arrived at our hotel. The Ciragon (the C is pronounced more like a soft J) is a magnificent place in a magnificent location, a former Sultan's palace on the shore of the Bosphorus strait. The Sultan certainly picked a fine location for his home, and my colleagues a perfect place for our little seminar.

(I had a Social Studies teacher in Junior High who tried desperately to impress on us the political significance of the area as an exit for Russian ships into Europe. He kept talking about the Dardenelles and the Bosphorus, repeating the phrase like some kind of mantra. I think he'd be pleased that I remember it so well.)

There is of course another side to Istanbul, a very old and very crowded side. Our visit to a video production company took us into that other city, where the streets are narrow and steep and finding an address involves lots of conversation with passersby and lots of waving of arms. (I think I overheard the Turkish equivalent of "you can't miss it" a few times.) Eventually we found our way to an unappealing door on a dark street, behind which was one of the most beautiful suites of offices it has been my pleasure to encounter. (You'd think I'd have learned by now not to judge a book by its cover.)

That other side of Istanbul showed itself again as we prepared to leave. Our departure coincided with a major religious celebration, which meant that the entire population of the country was also at the airport. (Think O'Hare at Thanksgiving and you'll get the merest hint.) My impression of the scene was no doubt affected by a lack of sleep and certain lingering effects of alcohol poisoning. Our Turkish colleagues are a very hospitable people.