As with many metropolis around the world, Istanbul has a rich street culture full of activities, sounds and more. Today we wander from Fatih main street, up through the counterfeit market and then the backstreets where fake Nike and Adidas shoes are made. Bustling vendors and workers move thousands of products around the small shops of Istanbuls the Historic Peninsula. Each store is stocked with fake designer clothes, fake football shirts, souvenirs, carpets etc are … souvenirs, jewellery, carpets, shisha pipes, shoes, watches and sometimes even spices.
Once we’ve walked through the back streets of this energetic and noisy neighbourhood, we cross over into a typical market street where Covid 19 and the strict lockdowns has closed down many shops. However we can still see many people out buying Turkish Delights, Produce, Freshly Baked Breads, and countless deserts. A quick turn and we’re crossing the new Haliç Metro Bridge.
The Golden Horn Metro Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge along the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, spanning the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. From here we make our way back from Fatih districts to the Beyoğlu neighbourhood on the European side of Istanbul. From the bridge we can see the entire skyline of historic Istanbul, with clear views of the Sultans Grand Mosques, the Hagia Sofia, Galata Tower, and the Bosphorus Bridge (Istanbul’s First Bridge) in the distance. Back in Beyoğlu, the walk takes us along the recently refinished waterfront path and park before we enter back into the streets passing some Ekmek Balik (fish sandwich) stands and then just in time to catch the sun setting over the Galata Bridge. Cotton candy skies illuminate the skyline as we circle around Galata Bridge.
With the sunsetting, we hear the evening prayer of Ramadan filling the air, while the fish restaurants lighting up the underside of the bridge. As the wind starts to pick up, and clouds get heavy, we sneak into into a store just as the rain falls. After a short rain we venture out back onto the streets, with the lights reflecting, the streets are painted in bright coloured reflections.
With each cobblestone, marble facade, and travertine clad building, we take in the rich texture and history of this ancient city. After the sun has set, and our journey coming to an end, we find ourselves near the Historic Galata Tower which soars overhead. For centuries the tower has been a beacon for ships and traveller’s alike, and is the perfect way to finish todays walk.
Chapters:
Sultanahmet Fatih District 0:00
Counterfeit Market 4:06 Beyazit – Fatih Counterfeit 7:358
Haliç Metro Bridge 16:08
Waterfront Park 20:10
Sunset over Galata Bridge 26:34
Evening Ramadan Prayer 30:43
Raining Walk 32:08
Night time at Galata Tower 43:15
Intro music produced by Ryan Booth at The JamBooth Recording Studio. https://thejambooth.wixsite.com/music https://facebook.com/JamBoothMusic/
NOMAD SKETCHBOOK 