Monday, February 4, 2013

Back in Istanbul

I'm settled back into Istanbul and for the most part it feels as if I've only been gone a few days instead of a month. I spent Saturday in the office and Sunday mostly in the apartment trying to nip a cold in the bud because I don't have time to be sick on this project. I did manage to take a walk in my neighborhood on Sunday to keep the walls from closing in on me, but that was the limit of my exploration so far this trip. These photos aren't from that walk, they are a batch I found from a Bosphorus cruise I took last November.

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I've had a few friends and family members send me notes over the last few days making sure I was okay after they saw reports on the news about the embassy bombing in Turkey and the American woman who was killed in Istanbul while on holiday. Both events are very sad, and while I'm not impacted, they were reminders that we all live in a world that requires us to be vigilant and careful no matter where we are.

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I'm here working with a good sized team. We live and work in a quiet suburb, far from the center of the city. We live in an apart-hotel - an apartment building with 20 units that is operated like a hotel. All 20 units are filled by my coworkers. We live together, work together and are even picked up and delivered to and from work together in a mini-bus. It is an insulated and protected environment - so I've always felt incredibly safe in Istanbul.

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I don't think what happened this week will change the way I feel safety wise about Istanbul, but it was a sad reminder that our world isn't as peaceful as I know it can and will be someday.

"I only wanted to sing songs."
Kathleen Edwards - For the Record
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6 comments:

Simon said...

Glad to hear you are fine, and safe back in Istanbul. This looks like a busy day near the water. It reminds me of a spot in Portland, ME with long piers and ferry boats and people who come to be near the water.
I'm chasing down a cold too. I've been downing the zinc, using the neti pot etc. I may have had success, we'll see. Hope you did.

k said...

it's good to hear that you are playing it safe!

Dagmar said...

Get well soon Jamie, glad to see more of your wonderful photos!

Cindy said...

i'm glad you are ok and appreciate hearing more about where you are!

Karen said...

Glad to know you are safe (and feel safe). My friends are now in Istanbul and although I haven't heard from them since the tragedy, I'm quite sure they are feeling safe there as well. We're hoping to get there sometime this year while our friends are there. Your photos just increase my desire to see this city!

Jerica said...

Great photos! Hope you are feeling better and enjoying work.

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