When in Istanbul, try to catch a whirling dervish performance. Carpets sold at the Grand Bazaar. — Photos: ABBI KANTHASAMY
I was just passing through. A stopover, a layover, a moment in transit while on my way to Italy for work. But Turkiye’s Istanbul doesn’t allow you to simply pass through. It grabs you by the collar, pulls you into its arms, and whispers a thousand stories into your ear.
I only had a few days there, but Istanbul doesn’t need long to sink its teeth into you. This is a city that seduces, overwhelms, and lingers in the marrow of your bones long after you’ve gone.
