Why I Love Istanbul
Claire Berlinski ·
Jul 27, 2010 at 6:02am
Because this is so, absolutely, just the way it is.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
It is a neat place. As much as it remains a village in many ways, the city has come a long, long way. When I lived there in 1971/2 there was no functional telephone system. Yelshilkoy was the capital airport and straight out of a tenth world travelogue. You could buy whiskey in one store for around 8 times the price you would pay in the states. Western goods like peanut butter etc. simply did not exist. A trip to Beirut or Athens was a wonderland shopping extraveganza with the retornee being treated like Santa on his/her return.
My return to Istanbul was about 6 years ago and I could not believe the change - beer gardens on the Bosphorous down from where I used to live? Shopping malls. The Covered Bazaar and the Spice Bazzaar were the same, the bridges, mosques etc. were the same - but everything else was wow!
Hope you have been able to get some neat carpets, brassware & gold. I am sure you have also honed bargaining skills that will serve you in good stead.
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
From the link: "'We need to catch it," he said. "Or the cats will get it.'"
Whose cats?
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
I thoroughly enjoy these glimpses of the teeming, exotic city. I am struck by the constant vigilance and preparedness you demonstrate in living there.
Nonetheless, I wonder if you aren't like the marketplace chick -- in need of a long rope and basket to deliver you to safety.
Have you decided to remain in Istanbul, or will you plant your keyboard elsewhere?
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
I imagine chickens are only allowed on the top floors. Otherwise, the streets of Istanbul do not smell of sweet spices and perfumes as I had dreamed.
I would assume she is, but in a different sense. How do Turkish men view and interact with American women? Someone once told me that Italian men love to play with American women but would never marry one. Does that about sum it up?
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
That's a sweet and very perceptive comment. I absolutely do feel that way sometimes.
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Complicated question! There are as many kinds of Turkish men as there are American men, after all. I could actually write a book about this subject, and indeed did write a proposal, using the vehicle of my experiences here in the martial arts world to explore the question. I was told by more than one agent that it wouldn't sell: The story was just too weird, they said; American women wouldn't relate to it.
Many Turks do marry foreigners. Whether it's apt to work out no doubt depends on the Turk and the foreigner. Definitely the general cultural chasm is pretty vast.
Edited on Jul 27, 2010 at 11:20amMay '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Claire Berlinski
That's a sweet and very perceptive comment. I absolutely do feel that way sometimes. · Jul 27 at 11:10am
It's probably safe to assume, though, that rubbing Claire beneath her eyes would likely result in something rather the opposite of somnolence.
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Oh, no, it would have just the same effect on me.
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
I would hope so, as your prolific output seems to suggest you never sleep. Is it the Turkish coffee?
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
No, txmasjoy, it's my simply preternatural ability to procrastinate and find just about any excuse to do just about anything else when I have a piece on deadline and a nasty case of Blank Screen Terror. "Oh! But I haven't checked Twitter! I better do that! Hey, lookie here, whaddya know?--who would have thought Soviet women looked so hot in 1964! Hey, I should post that on Ricochet, I bet other people would find that interesting! Oh--someone answered my post, and they asked a question, so technically, I have to reply, it would be rude not to. Hmmm, shouldn't I change the cat litter? Yeah, really overdue on that. Okay, just do that and then we get started. OK. I'm sitting down now. I'm going to write now. Just check Facebook first. Oh, wow, Carpetblogger has a new post up! Oh, that's hilarious. I wonder if people on Ricochet would like it? I'll just post that. OK. Got to work now. Oh, there's a new comment--it's from txmasjoy, she's nice. Better answer. OK. Work now. Have I alphabetized the spice rack? I really should ... " Get it?
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Since Ann Coulter was recommended as a Ricochet contributor, I've wondered if that might be one high-strung marketplace chick too many. At least, we'd have someone to pick up the slack when your threads fall below fifty comments.
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Claire,
I am in total awe and admiration of how much material you high-strung types can read and write in a day's time. I feel like butter knife speaking to a chainsaw.
Thanks be to Ricochet.
May '10
Re: Why I Love Istanbul
Oh, I wasn't complaining. I just don't think I have the stamina to keep up with two Claires in one conversation.