Text and photos by Mary L. Peachin
July, 2012, Vol. 16, No. 8
Earthy smells of roasting chestnuts lead to corner vendors. Beyoğlu’s Istikla pedestrian mall, crammed with multi-cultural shoppers, reminds one of a car-less New York 5th Avenue, even the 212 area code is the same as the Big Apple. But, the similarities end here.
This is Istanbul. The Turkish city, spanning both the continents of Europe and Asia, is separated by the Bosporus River and its Golden Horn estuary. Traffic is a nightmare. Speeding cars weave across lanes or they run traffic lights like children in an amusement park bumper car. It is not unusual for commuters to find themselves trapped in hour-long traffic jams.