TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Transnational Vs Vernacular in Istanbul, Turkey
By Sarah Grimaldi
From mosques to cafes, castles to
cobble stone streets, Istanbul Turkey
is undeniably a unique city
with an East meets West feel. There is an unmistakable aura of Europe
throughout Istanbul.
The narrow cobblestone streets, apartment like homes, and proliferation
of
cafes made me feel as if I was walking down a street in Italy.
The
preservation of older buildings and few newer neighborhoods adds to the
city’s
European characteristics. I had to keep reminding myself that the
country I was
in actually borders Iraq,
Iran, and Syria!
The mosques that are
scattered throughout the city demonstrate that this is a largely Muslim
inhabited place. The extravagant palaces in Istanbul
offer a symbol of the Ottoman power that ruled the Middle
East for five centuries. This East meets West feel gave Istanbul a
distinctive charming
ambiance that is unforgettable.
Oddly
enough, Istanbul reminded me of my home
city, San Francisco,
more than
any other global city we have visited. The view of the Bosporus, the
Golden
Horn, Bridge, and ferries all reminded me of the San Francisco bay. The steep streets,
taxi
cabs, narrow buildings, and traffic all gave me a sense of home on the
other
side of the world. Jenny White’s article “Bridge between Europe and
Asia”
informed me that this traffic and congestion that I am accustomed to
back home
is a representation of the increased population growth in Istanbul. The
continual building simply
cannot keep up with the internal migration of people in Turkey.
The Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC, and
Burger King
throughout the shopping districts of the city are provided to cater to
the
Turkish transnational community.
This
transnational phenomenon emerging with the vernacular culture in Turkey
is a
reoccurring theme I have observed in the past global cities around the
world. I
found Turkey
a particularly unique global city because the source of their
transnational
community lies within its own borders. The greatness of Istanbul is
undeniable with the endless
amounts of vernacular monuments throughout the city. The new Turkish
transnational community may congest this scenic city like so many other
global
cities I have seen around the world.
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