10 August 2009

Tangled between new and old

In returning to the City, Maria took up her usual activities -going to class, haunting the streets and as ever, writing. At some point, she sat in a cafe, waiting to begin an interview. Her tools were at hand for when her interviewee would meet her.






He came at the allotted time and they chatted about Istanbul and writing. Afterwards Maria dashed home to study, to write, to sleep and to prepare for the next morning.



---

On a somewhat lazy Saturday, a friend from the East came to stay. Maria, asking not his name when he pounded on her door (as she had seen his suitcases outside her window), let him in and helped him to bring himself inside. They set off for the day in search of a new home and met a friendly man at the first flat her friend saw, with whom they had breakfast and passed the lot of the day.

The trio walked from Cihangir back onto Istiklal Caddesi, passing a school Maria had remembered from an earlier visit.





Maria held the gate as if to go in,


but the sphinx dissuaded her from trying.


"It doesn't matter," she said. "I'm sure I'll be able to see it another time."
The group went on their way, splitting to grab other friends and rejoining in the evening to share the night.

In the morning, Maria, the traveler and a friend of the traveler left Maria's flat to explore the city, only to hear as they were setting out the clang of drums and whistle of a clarinet. On the street was a wedding party, their car beribboned,


the neighbors celebrating


and the bride escaping after a few turns to the drumbeat in the street.


Maria, feeling as if she was suddenly in a village, left with her friends to revisit another old site in the Golden Horn.

Confronted at the door by a sign she had come across before,


she chuckled and proceeded to translate the words on the words on the walls and the words of a Greek tour guide in the basilica.


She had of course been to the church before but still paused at the only eggshell ceiling




and the imposing mosaic of Christ



Yet all adventures and trips must end and this one stopped when her guest's friend had to return to the East. So Maria waved her off and began walking by herself once more, tangled between the new and the old.

2 comments:

  1. Maria!

    This looks like such a wonderful opportunity and experience for you. I'm looking forward to reading what happens over the next year while you're there. If you are interested in seeing what I've been up to the last few years, check out my blog - cubitude.blogspot.com. I spent some time traveling recently (although nowhere as interesting as Istanbul). Enjoy your time there! Take care - Jen Salamone

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Maria! You truly seem to be enjoying your time in Turkey and having some amazing adventures. I am so glad that you are able to have such an enriching experience such as this. Are you enjoying your job? Where have you traveled to recently? Best wishes!

    -Kristin

    ReplyDelete