Traverslogue - Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey

Gallery Shots

I've included Turkey in both the European and Middle East section of Traverslogue, simply because the city of Istanbul is partially on the European continent. Despite the fact that Turkey has applied to be part of the EU, it's pretty clearly a Middle Eastern country. Unique, fascinating and sometimes troubling, Turkey is a very intriguing destination.

The Hagia Sofia (below), which was first constructed in 360 A.D. as Christian cathedral.

Young boys, playing soccer outside a mosque.

Family Snapshot

For us, self-education on the history, culture and current events of our destination is a fun and rewarding precursor to travel. In the case of Turkey, we went above-and-beyond, watching a 30-episode online lecture series on the history of Constantinople and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. This extensive background gave us many interesting insights into the current political climate in Turkey and shaped what we experienced in our travels.

I admit to feeling a certain uneasiness in Istanbul, not for myself but for the educated young people who live there. Turkey, which became a secular democracy after World War I, has seen a steady erosion of rights we typically associate with democracy - civil liberties and freedom of expression. A police presence was very much felt and when we visited the President had just blocked Twitter and YouTube for "illegal content" which was essentially just criticism of his government.

Our visit to Turkey, an Islamic country, gave me much opportunity to consider the place of woman in Islamic and western societies, and the role of fashion as a reflection of accepted cultural norms. While I cringe at the societal isolation imposed by the burqa (full-face covering, showing only the eyes), western norms that push adolescent girls to overtly public displays of sexuality and sensuality are cringe-worthy in their own way. Contemplating this continuum, it becomes easier to appreciate the stylish hijab as a positive statement of modesty and privacy.