Istanbul. The magnificent, flawless Istanbul. It is nearly impossible to describe its beauty. Should I tell you about its history, its diversity, its tasteful dishes or beautiful views to you, I don't even know where to start. I thank God that he put some curiosity in me while creating me. I've always wondered about Istanbul's different areas, their stories. And last year was the climax of my curiosity. I've got my camera in the beginning of the 9th grade and now I had a reason and an accompany while exploring this gorgeous city. Unlike most of the people, I didn't start exploring it from the Prince's Islands. Buyukada is the one and only place in Istanbul where I truly feel that i belong to. Anyways, Buyukada is a whole different story. And surely is a longer one. After all, the place i decided to start my journey was Eminonu, Sirkeci and Galata area. They represent the historical heart of Istanbul. Great mosques, bazaars, Turkish baths, synagogues and churches are all scattered around the area. The world famous Grand and Spice Bazaar and the New Mosque are situated in Eminonu. The medieval tower, where Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi took of with his wings and flew to the other side of the city, Galata Tower, is situated in the district where it takes it name, Galata. It is the tower where offers a scrumptious view of Istanbul. These famous landmarks were the reasons of choosing these places as my starting point. Ofcourse I've been to these places before. However, I was only a tourist while visiting them with my parents. I've been to the synagogue just near the Galata Tower a lot, but we never entered that tower, witnessed its beautiful view. I feel its a shame for my father not to letting us see the Galata Tower but making us see the every other inch of the world. I've also been to the Grand Bazaar and Spice bazaar, again as a tourist. I never thought that they actually belonged to me, that they were actually my heritage. As a real part of this city, I realized that I was actually the owner of this culture as soon as I got to the Galata Bridge with my camera. Those thousands of fisherman, those sellers inside the Bazaar, the people leaving the synagogue after the Shabbat prayer, people praying in the the mosques and all others who were somehow in this city were a part of me. I was even surprised. What took me so long to discover a part of me? Guess I was not mature enough to comprehend what kind of a treasure I had until then. I explored the hidden old streets of Istanbul too, saw enormous values of the city and surely captured hundreds of pictures. I guess I was also exploring myself while exploring the city. That day, I surely grew up a little. And I am sure that I could put a smile on the city's face as I grew up. Once for all, I became someone who could understand the city, who could be proud of where he belongs.
Photography: Burce Kabaoglu
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