Istanbul, Turkey

Photos and Words by Sezgi Olgac

As Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “If the Earth was a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” In Istanbul, simply by wandering the streets, you can feel the heritage of centuries of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times. On the other hand, the simple daily life has its own charms. Take a walk along the Bosphorus or Golden Horn, watch the ferries passing by, carrying crowds of people and seagulls chasing them. This is a simple but charming composition Istanbul creates for you everyday, again and again.

If it is your first time in Istanbul, you should start with the historical sites and then discover the culture, the music, the art scene and the tempting Turkish cuisine. Or simply get lost in the narrow streets around Karaköy, Galata and Çukurcuma areas and get amazed by the things that you’ll see.

Welcome to the unofficial, humble and soulful capital of the earth.