Istiklal: The Heart (and Stomach) of Istanbul
By Katherine Gypson
A Turkish friend once told me that to understand Turkey all you need to do is take a walk down Istiklal Caddesi — the main pedestrian shopping area of Istanbul that hums with energy late into the night and hosts everything from street musicians to sophisticated clubbing to protests. “Istiklal,” she said, “is the heart and soul of Turkey.”
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