Istanbul 4 : An unique city
What makes Istanbul unique? We just got home yesterday and all the pictures are now up so… decide for yourself. I think the atmosphere of authenticity and the mingling of Eastern and Western influences make Istanbul special.
It was rather interesting coming back. I was wearing a ‘Turkiye’-shirt and didn’t shave for a while - at the end of our holidy I appartenly looked more Turkish as virtually all Turkish people started talking Turkish to me… Both the Turkish and the Dutch customs picked me out for a check and wanted me to open my bags and asked what I was doing and so on. I have never been checked in my life and now twice in a row! Arjen - 100% Dutch but also looking Turkish in his ‘Turkiye’-shirt - cycled home in Leiden and was yelled after by a group of local Dutch “Stupid Turk, where did you steal that bike?”. Arjen laughed at them, but I can imagine you that ticks you of if you’re an honest Dutch national with Turkish roots.
About ‘authenticity’ : Dutch cities are increasingly becoming more similar to each other, since they all feature the same department stores and other franchise-chains. Which Dutch city does not feature its own McDonalds, Burger King, Hema, V&D, Blokker, America Today, *)-boekenwinkel, Etos, Holland Casino, Xenos, D-reizen, Zeeman? Istanbul is different, apparently being run by independent (family) businesses and not only in the Bazaar. You can barely find similar chain-stores across town. I only found 3 McDonalds for instance (Leiden itself already has got 3!).
Check out the pics underneath and the complete collection by clicking to the photo-section on the rightside menu.
