The i Within
The mere utterance of the name "Istanbul" conjures up visions of mystery and intrigue. Capitalizing on a combination of good fortune and connections, my return after a nineteen-year absence revealed a city on the edge, not only geographically but also economically and politically, laden with cultural contradictions. Akin to most sprawling metropolises, one’s first interactions are invariably overwhelming. Yet slowly, it reveals its hüzün, a melancholic underbelly so eloquently described by Turkish Nobel Prize winning author Orhan Pamuk in his memoir,
Istanbul: Memories and the City.
2019+2023