Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it’s Turkish delight on a moonlit night

A post for my travel series was due. For a long time I had been planning to do a write-up on my Turkey Travels from last year. But something or the other came up, and the post kept on getting delayed.

Till the attacks happened

I could not longer delay it. I had to put something down. I had to express my feelings. I fell in love with this country and it saddened me to see it being ripped to pieces. Last summer this place was filled with so much love and beauty and this summer all I could see was pain and hatred.

This is the second version of the post. The first romanticized the Mystical Turkey. It was more about my relationship with this place and how things had changed over a year. How my memories were being tarnished. How terrorism and world politics destroyed this beautiful country. My perspective on these attacks.

But after the Bangladesh attack on Saturday, 2nd July 2016, I can no longer read through that post. Innocent people died. Families are ruined for life.

I have no profound thoughts to offer. No opinions to share. No insight , no extra information.

I can no longer put anything in context. My grandparents were from Bangladesh and I fell in love with Istanbul. That’s my connection to these countries.

All I have to offer are these pictures. I had so many things planned for this travel post. Alas I am left with a couple of photos for your viewing.

Istanbul

Istiklal Street

Bosphorus Cruise

Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia

The Grand Bazar & The Spice Market

Antalya

Kusadasi

Cappadocia

Kaşık in Turkish means spoon. We couldn’t explain the word spoon to the housekeeper. After 10 minutes of weird hand gestures, I googled spoon in Turkish. Kaşık came up , the first and only word I learnt.