6 www.the-intellectual-magazine.com It is immense and you can easily get lost in this covered market with its 61 streets and over 4000 shops. e Spice Bazaar is less daunting but a must visit. It was certainly an advantage staying in Sultanahmet, where all the main attractions are. Istanbul is also a foodie’s haven, restaurants are affordable and offer authentic Ottoman and Turkish dishes. If you are lucky, you will get to see the incredible Dervish dancers, accompanied by some of the best singing I’ve heard. I would also recommend doing the Bosporus boat tour, visiting the Basilica Cistern and Taksim Square. If you have the time a Turkish bath also called Hamam would be a nice way to end your trip. Concluding with some notes… I found the people to be very friendly and most were eager to show off their knowledge of English. e city is bustling, small cafes offer the most delicious baklava, Turkish coffee and tea. As with most cities you would have to take precaution in securing your belongings. I once again took advantage of my location and visited neighbouring Bulgaria (Sofia) and Greece (Athens, Santorini and Mykonos). If you do decide to visit Istanbul, one thing is for sure, you would leave a different person… I’m glad I took the chance. Bridging Peace, ISTANBUL M arred by reports of violence, an attempted coup in 2016 and a night club shooting that saw 39 people killed, Istanbul seemed to be a traveller’s nightmare. However I decided to make the trip to Turkey in June, 2017. “You have to be crazy!?” was the common sentiment when I told close friends and relatives of my travel plan. e truth is, I have been wanting to visit Istanbul as early as 2015 and kept putting it off due to travel advisories and concerns from loved ones. My only consolation being safety assurances from a colleague in Azerbaijan who visited a month prior. Despite this, I recall boarding the Turkish Airlines flight from Miami feeling uneasy, brought on by a US customs officer saying, “…us Trinis should not be going to Turkey…” What did I get myself into? What I found here instead, touched my soul… Hearing the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer), during the holy month of Ramadhan, with scores of fellow Muslims about to break their fast at the Blue Mosque, sent a tear down my cheek. Maybe it was the piercing yet comforting tone of the words. A feeling of being humbled, a sense of peace took over… It’s really difficult to find words to describe this city, the only city in the world that straddles two continents. Formerly called Constantinople, it was the capital of four empires, from the Roman (330) to the Ottoman in (1922). Rich in history, the influence/ remains of these empires scattered throughout the city. e Blue Mosque, with its majestic minarets, defines the skyline. What’s amazing to note is that the mosque was completed in 1617, and is one of two marvels to still stand today despite several devastating earthquakes, a testament to the remarkable architecture. e other building being the Hagia Sophia, which is said to define the history of religion, first being a church that later became a mosque during the Ottoman rule and today has become a museum with elements of both religions inside. e Grand Bazaar is oﬅen regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world. Fadil Sahajad

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Page 1: ISTANBUL M - THE INTELLECTUAL MAGAZINEthe-intellectual-magazine.com/uploads/3/4/9/5/... · It is immense and you can easily get lost in this covered market with its 61 streets and

6 www.the-intellectual-magazine.com

It is immense and you can easily get lost in this covered market with its 61 streets and over 4000 shops. The Spice Bazaar is less daunting but a must visit. It was certainly an advantage staying in Sultanahmet, where all the main attractions are. Istanbul is also a foodie’s haven, restaurants are affordable and offer authentic Ottoman and Turkish dishes. If you are lucky, you will get to see the incredible Dervish dancers, accompanied by some of the best singing I’ve heard. I would also recommend doing the Bosporus boat tour, visiting the Basilica Cistern and Taksim Square. If you have the time a Turkish bath also called Hamam would be a nice way to end your trip.

Concluding with some notes… I found the people to be very friendly and most were eager to show off their knowledge of English. The city is bustling, small cafes offer the most delicious baklava, Turkish coffee and tea. As with most cities you would have to take precaution in securing your belongings. I once again took advantage of my location and visited neighbouring Bulgaria (Sofia) and Greece (Athens, Santorini and Mykonos). If you do decide to visit Istanbul, one thing is for sure, you would leave a different person… I’m glad I took the chance.

Bridging Peace, ISTANBULMarred by reports of violence, an attempted coup in 2016 and a night club shooting that

saw 39 people killed, Istanbul seemed to be a traveller’s nightmare. However I decided to make the trip to Turkey in June, 2017. “You have to be crazy!?” was the common sentiment when I told close friends and relatives of my travel plan. The truth is, I

have been wanting to visit Istanbul as early as 2015 and kept putting it off due to travel advisories and concerns from loved ones. My only consolation being safety assurances from a colleague in Azerbaijan who visited a month prior. Despite this, I recall boarding the Turkish Airlines flight from Miami feeling uneasy, brought on by a US customs officer saying, “…us Trinis should not be going to Turkey…” What did I get myself into?

What I found here instead, touched my soul… Hearing the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer), during the holy month of Ramadhan, with scores of fellow Muslims about to break their fast at the Blue Mosque, sent a tear down my cheek. Maybe it was the piercing yet comforting tone of the words. A feeling of being humbled, a sense of peace took over…

It’s really difficult to find words to describe this city, the only city in the world that straddles two continents. Formerly called Constantinople, it was the capital of four empires, from the Roman (330) to the Ottoman in (1922). Rich in history, the influence/remains of these empires scattered throughout the city. The Blue Mosque, with its majestic minarets, defines the skyline. What’s amazing to note is that the mosque was completed in 1617, and is one of two marvels to still stand today despite several devastating earthquakes, a testament to the remarkable architecture. The other building being the Hagia Sophia, which is said to define the history of religion, first being a church that later became a mosque during the Ottoman rule and today has become a museum with elements of both religions inside.

The Grand Bazaar is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.

Fadil Sahajad