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A Soul Map Of My City
1. The city of my ancestors - myths and legends about the city
2. The city of my great-grandparents and grandparents
3. The city of my parents
4. The city of today
5. Food for thought
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1. The city of my ancestors - myths and legends about the city
The City of My Ancestors
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| Istanbul In Our Ancestor's Time (From Ottoman Empire) |
A Legend from Istanbul...
The Legend of Maiden's Tower
Maiden Tower Before |
Maiden Tower Today |
From my childhood, my grandparents my ancestors was telling from a cruose story. This story is life of a beautiful girl who lived in a tower in the middle of the sea. This is a small and attractive tower built on an islet at the entrance to the Bosphorus. It is one of the symbols of Istanbul for everyone. Used in the past as a watchtower and a lighthouse, it has been preserved in its 19th Century appearance. It serves as a landmark for ships entering the Bosphorus and will be used for touristic purposes. Last year went there, it would be an interesting experience for me.
My ancestors told me once upon a time, a beautiful girl lived in a tower. Because her father wanted to protect her from young men and he built a tower in the middle of the sea. After that the girl started to live there. Western sources have erroneously attributed the tower to Leander, who drowned as he was trying to swim to his lover Hero. Actually, this mythological story took place in the Dardanelles. According to another story, an emperor once dreamt that his daughter was going to die because of a snake bite and settled the girl in this tower to ensure her safety. Nevertheless, the tragedy could not be averted and the girl was bitten by a snake hidden in a fruit basket.
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2. The city of my great-grandparents and grandparents
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| Istanbul In Our Grandparent's Time (From The First Years of Turkish Republic) |
My great grandparents
My great grandparents were from Istanbul too. My father has told me about what he remembers from what they had said about life in Istanbul then. My great grandfather was born during the Ottoman Empire. He served in the Ottoman Army during the First World War(1914-1918). At the end of World War I Istanbul witnessed the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman Empire was broken up and while the internal and external enemies were fighting among themselves for a larger share of the spoils, one of the valiant commanders of the Turkish army was engaged in a struggle on behalf of the Turkish Nation. This national hero, Mustafa Kemal, founded the Republic of Turkey after a war of independence that lasted more than four years.My great grandfather took part War Of Independence too and he lost his life in the War Of Çanakkale in 1916. Later Mustafa Kemal Ataturk assumed the Presidency of this first republic in Asia, and changed the course of his country toward the principles of western civilization. The Sultan and his family were exiled, the Caliphate was abolished, the Latin alphabet was adopted, the fez and veil were outlawed, and women were granted voting rights.
My great grandmother took responsibilities of her family in the new republic. The relocation of the capital to Ankara never reduced the importance of Istanbul, and this incomparable city continued to maintain its enchanting appearance and life style. My great grandmother chose to stay and work in Istanbul. Istanbul then was not as large and as crowded as it is now. A lot of construction took place in Istanbul, starting with the building of houses in 1930s, in 1950s more than 7300 buildings were in the fabric of the city. It seems Istanbul was a more beautiful and liveable place then.
A Story From Our Grandparents
My Grandmother's Longing For Istanbul
Whenever I hear the song "I looked to you from a hill, Saint Istanbul", I perceive my grandmother's full of longing voice to the past. She tell me "the mermaid Istanbul"
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| Büyükada (Princess Island) |
When the ferry came to Büyükada, if you looked to the right side of the quay, you could see a yellow painted, green louver house. It was my lovely grandfather's house and we lived there. When you looked outside from the window, you could see the sea. Ladies of the home collected at the garden when the steamer was closing to the quay. My grandmother sat the yellow, round, iron table and waited the grandfather.
Then, Hüseyin Efendi, wandered about the outside of the garden door, whispered to us with a happy tone "Sir is coming". I run to the grandfather to welcome. There were not so many cars at that time as it is now. The grandfather came to house with the white donkey, and he dismount from donkey with Hüseyin Efendi's help. In order to take a rest, we sat and wait for a while at the garden before going to eating the dinner.
Spring in Istanbul was different.
I remember the morning of the spring, the vineyard and the rose garden. The Bosphorus seemed from the distant as a sinning ribbon. It was such a gleam multicolored dream land with the rose-pink in the morning, golden blonde in the noon and bluish in the night.
Boat race was very important at that time. News about the race were published in two newspapers. Starting time of the race from the quays was given on the newspapers.
There were not the fanatic sport supporters among the young as it is now.
Decorated with flag and colored paper and carpet boat, rowboat, sailboat has been started to race with each others.
Appetizer and drinks at the center, shrill pipe, clarinet, loud cry, bell at the surrounding. Belly dance, chiftetelli, helvaci has been played.
Ah! Istanbul was different. As the poet Orhan Veli said "I am listening to Istanbul my eyes are closed", because I can see my dreamed Istanbul just only at that time. My lovely dear grandmother, you miss Istanbul and I miss you.
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3. The city of my parents
Istanbul In Our Parent's Time
I had an interview with my father about his childhood.
Me: How was Istanbul at those times?
Father: Istanbul changed a lot. When I was a child, Istanbul was a smaller place. By small I mean uncrowded places and gren gardens. There was no traffic at all. In our time tecnology developed a lot, however in my time we didn't have much tecnology. We didn't have a television at my house.I believe Istanbul was a much more beter place tol ive. I believe it was a friendy city, rather than the crowdedness today.
Me: What did you know about your ancestors as you were a child?
Father: I knew they were brave heroes. We had great wars with other countries to have our independence. For example my parents are big fans of Ataturk, the man who saved our country. As I grew up, I was always taught to respect my country and ancestors, and of course especially Atatürk.
Me: How was your childhood? How did you live?
Father: I used to play games with my friends. We were respectful and kind children, we didn't disturb anyone as we had fun.
Me: How was your school life?
Father: I was a very succesful student at school. I studied my lessons well and on time. Your grandparents were proud of me at those times. In high school we used to cheat a lot with my friends. All my classmates were very smart people, however we chose to have fun instead of studying. We also did so, and as we were all smart we educated from high school and continued to collages. I had very good friendships at highschool. I was always a smart and good student. I always loved the school life.
(From Elçimay and her father...)
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4. The City Of Today
City Life Instanbul
 Istanbul Today
The historic city of Istanbul forms a unified whole with the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Nowhere else can one find the wonders of nature, human artifacts, the testimony of the past and the bustle of everyday life in such close relationship.
 Golden Horn
For those who will remain briefly in the city, there are day tours including the important historical sites, museums, the famous Covered Bazaar and its vicinity. These tours leave from the hotels or the port and visit the masterpieces on the historical promontory in half-day programs. The important sites are the Hagia Sophia, one of Galata Tower from which one can see the best view of the city; the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, the richest palace in the world; the famous Archeological Museums; the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum; the Spice Bazaar, and many other historical sites. The performances of belly dancers and folk dancers add color to night tours.
The air and seaports of Istanbul are located on the European side. For those who have never stepped on Asian soil before, a boat trip or the bridges over the Bosphorus offer a wonderful opportunity. Over the suspension bridges and from Great Camhca Hill on the Asian side, one can get a bird's eye view of the city and the Bosphorus.The Princes' Islands, one hour by ferryboat and the eight wonders of the world, the Suleymaniye Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Topkapi Palace Museum. This is the classical one-day tour, but there are many specialized tours for Roman, Byzantine and Turkish monuments, the Bosphorus or the Asian shores, which will make the visitor return to his country with unforgettable memories. Minimums of three or four days are necessary to really get to know Istanbul.
The City Of Today in Poetry
Sceneries From İstanbul
One of our student, Buğu Pala wrote her feelings with a poem about İstanbul to show us how is her city today..
 The Poet of the poem; "Buğu Pala"
My İstanbul
Try not to hide it among your seas,
Istanbul is no stranger to secrets.
Lingering around at a coffee house
Folded around her skirts,
Just like any other wind,
Giving life both to the fall and the spring
Equally at its threshold.
A romance goes on,
Between the boats and the seagulls,
Among tiny crusts of sesame bread.
Then you get another tea...
Words fly away....
Then echoes the sounds, from the boats.
What is lingering behind, is just
Istanbul and her beating heart.
Bridges give hand in hand
From Asia to Europe,
Bestowing a feeling of tenderness,
As emotions increase with the
Sounds of Istanbul, you realize they have
Become sweethearts in bonded embrace,
Holding hands from the morning into the night,
And all through the night until the dawn.
Your tears will go away,
as you get closer to the Bosphorus.
Just like the verses descending into the lights of the night,
Boats gulping and swallowing.
Istanbul, breathing deep,
Weaves its web in the depths of such love.
This earth,
These people,
This deep gasp of Istanbul
Draws you inside.
You are now a hero of a story
That smells of a little bit of salt,
And a little bit of the sea.
Istanbul, thrusts into one's hand the written word,
Like the phosphorescence in the waters of the night
Drawn by strokes of a brush.
Istanbul makes you smile, and makes you cry.
You start a new love, you end a new love.
She again rises up with you like a new day.
Istanbul..
Is a story which you wish has no end,
With both the good and the evil.
Genuine, sincere,
A sibling you cherish most in life, despite her mischief.
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Istanbul
Is your neighbor, with a bitter-sweet smile,
Who is always by your side.
Is your greatest friend,
your most magnificent tale,
which you secretly keep alive.
Istanbul is a feeling that is shared by all,
Hope,
Disappointment,
Life itself.
Perhaps that one special piece within a puzzle
In which we all find ourselves.
I know, it is a mirror among window panes.
In fact, neither too fancy,
Nor too old,
or too new.
A mirror revealing the child within.
A mirror as the sunsets color the hues
from blue to purple,
And as purples turn into orange..
The messenger of history
Only a few streets away.
Sometimes a precious ore
Revealing the treasures inside,
As you leaf through the pages.
You Istanbul, whom I know more than myself,
A story for which there is no end.
A melody that cannot be silenced
Once the pen has touched the fingers.
You make us wonder like a seaman who
Declines to answer the question
What is there beyond the horizon.
Words are not enough,
Words cannot speak to tell all about you.
And sometimes
Everyone has a different thing to say...
Though your masterpieces look the same for all
Every one of your lovers delight
In the stories where your name is uttered.
Buğu Pala
Translated By: Gülgün Fındıklı
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The City Of Today In Photographs
We firstly searched for special İstanbul photographs on web. Then we worked with them on Photoshop. These are the results...
Created By: Emir Ersoy
Created By: Ege Karabük
Created By: Burak Yalçın
Created By: Cansın Aktolun
Created By: Gür Ağcı
Created By: Onur Çelikkol
The City Of Today With Video...
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5. Food For Thought
We would like to share our national anthem with all the participants.
In Turkish:
İstiklal Marşı
Korkma, sönmezbu şafaklarda yüzen al sancak;
Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.
O benim milletimin yıldızıdır, parlayacak;
O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.
Çatma, kurban olayım, çehreni ey nazlı hilâl!
Kahraman ırkıma bir gül! Ne bu şiddet, bu celâl?
Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarımız sonra helâl...
Hakkıdır, Hakk'a tapan, milletimin istiklâl!
Mehmet Akif Ersoy
In English:
The Turkish National Anthem
Fear not! For the crimson flag that proudly waves in these dawns, shall never fade,
Before the last fiery hearth that is ablaze within my nation burns out.
And that, is the star of my nation, and it will forever shine;
It is mine; and solely belongs to my valiant nation.
Frown not, I beseech you, oh thou coy crescent,
But smile upon my heroic race! Why the anger, why the rage?
Our blood we shed for you will not be worthy otherwise;
For freedom is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation.
Mehmet Akif Ersoy
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