Apart from the tumultuous politics, Istanbulites away from Istanbul have a much deeper problem… a sense of belonging.
I’ve visited Istanbul several times as a child and with each and every visit, the city’s binding spell wrapped another tie around me. Quite simply, I’ve become an addict. I am severely infected. While I’m away from Istanbul, I am dehydrated and my memories are like a hallucination of an oasis in the middle of the desert. My longing is painful.
I’ve met a lot of people, both Turkish and foreign, who have said the exact same thing. Istanbul gets people hooked and seduces them to the point where they’re consumed with lust.