Turkey

A Day Exploring Cihangir

Woman in Red in Cihangir

When I decided to move to Istanbul, I knew exactly which neighborhood I was going to live in: Cihangir.

Cihangir is the Williamsburg of Istanbul (though it’s really nothing like Williamsburg)– full of young hip artists, cafes, brightly-colored walls, and galleries, and only a stones-throw away from the center of nightlife in Taksim. Yep, it would have to be Cihangir.

Things didn’t work out that way. Instead, I chose to live in Kadikoy, on the Asian shore– it’s cheaper, friendlier; still full of artists and bars and studios but with more seaside. I love my neighborhood and have no regrets. But I was curious, anyway, to delve deeper into the neighborhood that could have been; so one chilly Saturday, my friend Lucy and I decided to explore the colorful, hilly, funky world of Cihangir.

Here are some pictures from our wanderings that day:

Cihangir Blue

Lucy on Pink

Gas Masks

HAMAM

Outdoor Garden

Fresh Fruit Juice

We found cafes spilling over with expats drinking tea, junk shops full of framed pictures of Ataturk and gas masks, steep streets hiding galleries and greengrocers. It’s easy to imagine myself careening through this neighborhood, living in Istanbul’s “Expat-istan.” But the sense of discovery is maintained by living elsewhere—now I can still get lost in the alleys and curves of Cihangir. It’s a neighborhood I enjoy visiting and exploring, untangling and photographing in all its energetic glory.

But I’m always happy to get back to my sweet Kadikoy by the sea.

4 Comments

  • agentlabroad
    April 12, 2013 at 1:32 PM

    The Asian side is far less cool. Consider it living in Queens on purpose. However it’s far more livable and thank GOD for that Kabataş ferry running all day, amiright? I love going to Cihangir, and I love going home.

    Reply
    • Katrinka
      April 13, 2013 at 12:29 AM

      It’s true… I usually tell myself that Kadikoy vs Cihangir is more like Somerville, MA vs Brooklyn (which was my life pre-Istanbul), though the analogy falls apart if I think about it too hard. And yes, thank goodness for the ferry.
      Also: your blog is great!!

      Reply
  • Doyle Air
    May 28, 2013 at 3:17 PM

    Your images are exquisite just like the place you describe in your article!

    Reply

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