Why Istanbul?

Why Istanbul? Ohh why? I have popped into Istanbul a few times on passing….. got hooked. Reading Richard Fidler’s Ghost Empire really set me off. So much…

I've popped by Istanbul a few times over the years, stop overs as I was heading here or there....

The history surrounding the place, the Bosporus where east meets west.....the layers of civilizations, those walls that are still standing.

Reading Orhan Pamuk, Elif Shafak , Richard Fidler all set off my curiosity and as I was passing again, I decided to stay a while.

What a pleasure.

It takes time to grasp some things you may have noticed in passing and after repeat exposure you realise it is a 'thing'.

Disclaimer - I am not a crazy cat person, generally - let me say BUT they think they own the town and you are welcome to visit. As long as the food is out and you don't block their sun!!

The cats.... they live in Istanbul, the people of the city look after them. Most houses have cat and/or dog bowls out the front to feed who ever wanders by hungry.