Barbara Eichhorn
Istanbul is incredibly large, dense, noisy, full, hot, lively, variegated and difficult to grasp in all this complexity. Every corner is different, which makes it so interesting and fascinating. Sometimes this intensity also is too much and then it is good to find tranquil places. That is not so easy but, yes, quiet spots do exist. I did not have a concrete plan for my stay in Istanbul but rather the idea that I would drift through the city and take things as they come – to gather impressions by walking a lot or taking ferries while being well aware of the fact that these impressions always are just fragments. All this was linked by drawing indoors and outdoors and allowed me to settle in.
| 1. | My stay in one word: | |
| Harika, the luxury of easy living. | ||
| 2. | Dos & don’ts in this place: | |
| Facing the city and people with open eyes and an open heart. | ||
| 3. | Things I miss since I am no longer there: | |
| The people who have become dear to me there, the intensity of the city, the calls of the muezzins spanning the city like a web, all the water. | ||
| 4. | Where to shop great supplies: | |
| Art Sanatsal, Kadiköy | ||
| 5. | What you should definitely bring with you from home: | |
| Serenity and a good mood | ||
| 6. | Concerning art at this destination and where I visited the best exhibitions: | |
| On account of the heat and summer vacations, many Istanbul residents flee the city, many aspects are at rest and so is the art scene. This did not bother me much as the city offers more than enough new stimuli: Arther – a great museum –, Salt Galata and Beyoglu, Pera Museum, Depot. | ||
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| You actually get everything you need around Firuzaga Cami: the bakery Cihangir Tarihi Simit Firini, Firuzaga, 59/A – open day and night – is a must, the greengrocery Aktas Mini Hal, Aga Hamami Sk. 14/A, lunch: Cihangir Lokantasi, Kuloglu, Aga Hamami Sk. No:1 I Elvan Pastanesi, Kuloglu, Firuzaga Cami Sk. 2/a. | ||
| 8. | Where I like to spend the evening (dinner, drinks, best sound and networking opportunity): | |
| Smyrna Kafe, Akarsu Yks. Sok I Erik Agaci, Simsirci Sk I Archeo, hostel and café, always nice people, also highly recommendable as “home office”, Bogazkesen Cd. No:25 I Avlu Ocakbasi, Yeni Carsi Cd. No:19 I Falafel Koy, Kumbaraci Yks. No:69. | ||
| 9. | What would have been useful to know before coming here and starting my residency: | |
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Website resident: barbaraeichhorn.com