Well, like I said, everyone I had met had to leave eventually. Last night Julien left for Iran and he was really the last of the first people I met to head out. So, although I have met other people at the hostel, today I spent alone. But after so many days with lots of other people, it was nice to spend the day by myself. There were a couple places I wanted to go, so I headed to them and basically got lost in between each stop. The neighborhood the hostel is in is called Cihangir. I think I've said this before, but whatever... So Cihangir is a pretty expensive neighborhood for Turkish standards, but since the lira isn't that great, a lot of international students live there, plus rich Turks. Anyways...it's a really idyllic neighborhood of colorful, old, residential buildings and cobbled streets. Naturally, it would be the place to find Turkish antiques. And that is what I found when I wandered through it: antique shop after antique shop. It was great. Lots of old bicycles, suitcases, and jewelry. My destination, however, was the museum of innocence. There is this famous Turkish author, Orhan Pamuk, who actually lives in Cihangir, and has created this museum as representation in reality of his novel by the same name. He writes about Istanbul mostly. I would loveee to talk to him about my research, but I'm sure he is a very busy man. I've read part of one and am currently reading another. He's different, but I would recommend him. I asked Sedat yesterday if he had read him and he said he didn't really like him because his writing was more western than Turkish... Apparently, he had his brother as a professor when he was in school. Pretty cool. So, I went to the museum. It was really awesome. It was like a reflection of modern Turkey in the last century. A collection of all sorts of things from cigarette butts and pictures to wristwatches and soda bottles. Everything was displayed in really interesting ways. There were lots of keepsake box type things and some had lights and music. It all followed the novel chronologically. I met a couple from Ontario there. They were really nice. From there I went towards Istiklal, passing by plenty more antique shops. I know where I'll be doing my souvenir shopping. Like I said, I like old things.
I went to this art exhibition that I found the other day. I'm not exactly sure the context or purpose of this place, but a whole six floor building had been converted into this crazy, colorful, psychedelic, modern, spiritual, art project/masterpiece. On one floor there was a huge Buddha. There were lots of other little Buddhas as well as skulls and butterflies and pictures of Ghandi...yeah kinda crazy, but really cool. On the top floor there were pictures of the process of creating it and a gorgeous view of the Bosphorus.
I left one scenic panorama for another, heading to the Galata Tower. The other day I met one of Shima's friends, a guy named Hakan. He was Turkish, but lived in New Jersey for awhile studying, so his English had a really funny accent. Anyways, he works at the Galata Tower. I was thinking he might be a good person to talk to about my research since he speaks English pretty well. However, he wasn't there. I did go to the top of the tower to see the beautiful view.
By this time, about 2, I was dying from the heat. It has been extremely hot the last few days. I didn't bring water, plus I was hungry, so I stopped to eat. I had kebab... it was tasty. At one point in the small, open room of the restaurant, the TV was showing something about Galatasaray, a Istanbul soccer team and everyone in the restaurant started talking, I'm guessing about the game. Something crazy must have happened.
I walked back to the hostel and now I'm working again, woohoo. Sedat introduced me to a friend of his, who said I could interview him later, so that's exciting. He's a historian, so it should be good. It's my first "interview", so wish me luck!
Gurushuruz!
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