Bosporus fish, or: fishermen as easy target
An utterly sad low in the trouble over fishing the Bosporus: the head of a fishermen’s cooperative was shot because he opposed the way some of his colleagues scrape the Bosporus fishing grounds with their nets, contributing to certain fish becoming extinct. The man lost his left eye. It’s about time the government takes responsibility.
If you didn’t know any better, …
‘A campus should not be a trade zone’
(This blog post was written by my intern Zehra Kaya, who studies at the Journalism Academy in the Netherlands. She is currently studying for one semester at Yeditepe University in Istanbul.)
Thanks to banners saying ‘Occupied area’ it’s hard to miss the Starbucks on the huge campus. The branch of the coffee giant has been occupied by students since last week. …
When I came home Saturdaynight, I heard the sound of a cow coming from the neighbour’s garden. I checked, and yes, there it was. Usually there are only chicken running around there, and the occasional cats and dogs. But I was not surprised to see a cow: the next day would be the Feast of Sacrifice. I knocked the neighbours …
’We want three’, she said holding three fingers up in the air, ‘for ten’, showing ten fingers. She giggled, as did her friends. Dutch, I heard clearly from their English accent. The salesman accepted the offer with a big smile. He handed them three pieces of bread with fish and some salad, they sat down on the edge of the …
I walk down Istiklal Street and see a huge advertisement in a book shop window. ‘Historical lies of the Republic’. I step back and look again. A book critical of the truths of the Turkish state through the decades? And it’s advertised that prominently? Then I see the sales slogan accompanying the book: ‘Documented answers to the lies of the …
The sound of cutlery: Ramadan in Üsküdar
‘Istanbul is not very different than usual during Ramadan, is it?’ I’m with a group of Turks, we are in Beyoglu, a shopping, nightlife and tourist hub, and they look at me, they want to hear the foreigner’s opinion. ‘Well’, I start my answer, ‘you know, I live in Üsküdar and…’, and don’t get the chance to finish my sentence. …
‘It was about time they cleaned the mess up around there’, says my Turkish friend S. I look at him surprised, and ask him if he is being cynical. ‘No, I’m very serious’, he replies. ‘You couldn’t even walk there properly. The bar owners protest now, but they really don’t have my sympathy.’
We talk about Asmali Mescit, the area with …
With a shock the elevator came to a standstill. Exactly 62 metres beneath the surface of the Bosporus. With a helmet on my head and a reflecting orange jacket I stepped out into the tunnel. Look, there is the arch where the metro will come out! And hey, so this is going to be Üsküdar metro station? And Sirkeci station …
‘Water is a right, it’s unsellable!’ When I saw that protest sign yesterday afternoon at Taksim quare, I was sure: everybody is here. Everybody that has something to protest about that can in any way be linked to May Day, was gathered in Istanbul’s central square. And showed a unity that was just breathtaking.
The general idea about Turkey is that …
Arabesk, the blues of Istanbul
Those of you who know Arabesk, Arabic-style music created in Turkey, will be shocked by the title of this blog post. Defining Arabesk as the blues of Istanbul! Ridiculous! Arabesk is a genre by itself, with its own history and development, you can’t call that the blues of Istanbul! I know, dear readers. Still, the title perfectly explains what this …
Recent Comments