East Meets West...

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul. ” - Alphonse de Lamartine

As I travelled into Istanbul on an early September morning, for all I knew, I could have been stepping into any Middle Eastern City. Leaving behind my western familiarities I was launched into the hubbub of Istanbul life, my senses bombarded with sights, sounds and smells; all alien to my life back on the English seaside.

Life was already at full flow; the roads throbbed with the ubiquitous yellow taxis ferrying their fares across the city and the sidewalks were alive with traders, setting up their stalls for the day ahead, sipping Çay and smoking, like a turk, at regular intervals. The sun rose above the innumerable mosques and as it did the mesmerising drone of the first call to prayer rang out across thecity. Continuing onwards towards Taksim Square, we meandered through the convoluted roads and past the myriad of ramshackle houses that make up suburban Istanbul. Nearing Taksim we bridged the ‘Golden Horn’ and the transition from the suburb of a Middle Eastern City to a cosmopolitan, flourishing, European metropolis was largely apparent. The dilapidated roads became tarmac highways saturated with pristine BMW’s and Range Rovers, the antiquated housing transformed into towering skyscrapers and Hilton Hotels and the market traders into vast Malls lined with trendy cafés and boutique shops.

Taksim Square is considered the heart of modern Istanbul and is home to the Monument of the Republic, commemorating the formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. A center of shopping, restaurants and bars it attempts to imitate the typical ‘European Square’, however; juxtaposed with its grandiose counterparts in Western Europe, Taksim falls somewhat behind. It’s capacious nature leaves it somehow bare and unappealing, exacerbated by the complicated traffic system running through its core. Despite this however, it is surrounded by some of the liveliest, à la mode districts of Istanbul. The bohemian bars and restaurants of Cihangir, the unrelenting nightlife of Beyoglu and the endless line of shops channeled along Istiklal Cadessi, all provide limitless entertainment.

Istanbul is teeming with touristic treats and one could spend a lifetime revealing layer after layer of what the city has to offer and there’s no better place to start than the old town of Sultanahmet. Sultanahmet is a peninsula in the western part of Istanbul and is situated within the original area of Constantinople, whilst areas to its east were independent cities, towns and villages. It’s known as the old town but as the influx of tourists become greater, so does the spread of Mcdonalds, Starbucks and other such Western chains, testing the areas authenticity. Nonetheless the area has marvelous wonders and is imbedded with awe-inspiring architecture – home to both the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia was formally an orthodox Byzantine Church, later transformed into a Mosque by the Ottomans, but now remains as a Museum, opened in 1935 by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first Turkish President. The Hagia Sophia is an incredible piece of craftsmanship and a credit to the abilities of man. Its tremendous arching domes, clad with murals and mosaics depict both Islamic and Christian symbols and icons intimating both the religious and cultural diversity that the city bestows.

No visit to Sultanahmet, nor Istanbul, would be complete without an amble through the labyrinth of market stalls, cafés and spice shops that make up the Grand Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar, again, is an assault on the senses with copious smells, sights and sounds flying in all directions. Sauntering slowly around the stalls, we attempted to absorb as much as we could, a difficult task with every merchant attempting to covet ones attention. The Bazaar is a hagglers heaven and a fantastic place to seek out a bargain, if you’re willing to put in the time, playing the barter game with the merchant – although it’s just as easy to pay well over the odds for your chosen rug, scarf or whatever turkish treat you may so desire – if you agree to the tourist price tag.

Istanbul is a city where east meets west and where Europe meets Asia. Its history is deeply permeated by the clashing of cultures and the reigns of various empires throughout its history, each influencing the very essence of modern day Istanbul, conveyed in every sphere of its society; from the architecture left behind by the Ottomans to the eclectic mix of people who populate the city. It is the epitome of diversity, a cultural aspiration and a city that, over the last month, I have come to revere.

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