The contributions of economic and social conditions to political radicalisation in the Turkish Repub
lic. Hokay so, here we go. I'm going to just paste most of an email I sent to my mum and then edit it because I have been in this internet cafe for ages and I need to go soon. Righty ho then:
Dear my mother,
Istanbul is one of the most incredible cities I have eve been in, in absolutely every way. I had thought that a week here would be a long time, but it's hardly sufficient to see even all of the most important things. The Hagia Sophia is one of the most impressive buildings I have ever seen. There are lots of places as big but none of them feels so monumental. I have also been to some of the many many beautiful mosque complexes, the Basilica Cistern (which was so cool), the Grand Bazaar- it's amazing but so hectic. Actually the whole city is very hectic, and it took a while to get used to. I felt quite tense walking around these very packed streets alone looking very obviously foreign whilst people shout at you to buy kebabs and perfumes and rugs and have your shoes polished and whatever. Do I really look like I want to buy a rug? And it's full of baffling juxtopositions and contradictions. For example, there's an archeological museum full of presumably priceless statues and stuff from every period in the last 4000 years or so, but half the collection is dumped willy nilly (hehe I said willy nilly) in a little yard outside which is full of cats who just lounge around on them. Also nobody is there! I just don't understand why every part of the old town isn't completely overrun by tourists. It's pretty touristy but not like most old European capitals.
Matt and Ozge are lovely, excellent hosts, excellent guides and fun to be around. Their appartment is in the crazy part of town just across the Golden Horn where all the bars and clubs and such are. There are at least a billion bars in the streets around where I'm staying, and they stay open til about 9 a.m. And that's in the week! The food here is good, but 90% of it is grilled meat in a wrap with about 50 different names.
I think that's enough for now. I'm doing alright, I felt a bit weird for the first couple of days but I think I'm okay now. Except yesterday a guy tried to talk to me when I was reading in the courtyard of a mosque and after a while I walked away and he started following me and I doubled back on myself and managed to lose him and it was scary but also quite cool because it was a bit like a filme noire or something.
Actually I didn't really need to edit it at all. It shows how tame I am compared to Alice, who has to post seperately on livejournal so that she doesn't have to censor! I did go out and drink rather a bunch last night but nothing much happened so y'know.
Hope you're all well! My blessings upon you
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear my mother,
Istanbul is one of the most incredible cities I have eve been in, in absolutely every way. I had thought that a week here would be a long time, but it's hardly sufficient to see even all of the most important things. The Hagia Sophia is one of the most impressive buildings I have ever seen. There are lots of places as big but none of them feels so monumental. I have also been to some of the many many beautiful mosque complexes, the Basilica Cistern (which was so cool), the Grand Bazaar- it's amazing but so hectic. Actually the whole city is very hectic, and it took a while to get used to. I felt quite tense walking around these very packed streets alone looking very obviously foreign whilst people shout at you to buy kebabs and perfumes and rugs and have your shoes polished and whatever. Do I really look like I want to buy a rug? And it's full of baffling juxtopositions and contradictions. For example, there's an archeological museum full of presumably priceless statues and stuff from every period in the last 4000 years or so, but half the collection is dumped willy nilly (hehe I said willy nilly) in a little yard outside which is full of cats who just lounge around on them. Also nobody is there! I just don't understand why every part of the old town isn't completely overrun by tourists. It's pretty touristy but not like most old European capitals.
Matt and Ozge are lovely, excellent hosts, excellent guides and fun to be around. Their appartment is in the crazy part of town just across the Golden Horn where all the bars and clubs and such are. There are at least a billion bars in the streets around where I'm staying, and they stay open til about 9 a.m. And that's in the week! The food here is good, but 90% of it is grilled meat in a wrap with about 50 different names.
I think that's enough for now. I'm doing alright, I felt a bit weird for the first couple of days but I think I'm okay now. Except yesterday a guy tried to talk to me when I was reading in the courtyard of a mosque and after a while I walked away and he started following me and I doubled back on myself and managed to lose him and it was scary but also quite cool because it was a bit like a filme noire or something.
Actually I didn't really need to edit it at all. It shows how tame I am compared to Alice, who has to post seperately on livejournal so that she doesn't have to censor! I did go out and drink rather a bunch last night but nothing much happened so y'know.
Hope you're all well! My blessings upon you
xxxxxxxxxxxxx