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Letters from Istanbul

from the writings of James Tressler.

The View from Kuştepe (Life in the Shadow of Trump Towers)

It’s hard to miss the Trump Towers in Istanbul. The twin tower complex, bearing the signature brand name in large letters, commands your view as...

My Old Neighborhood

I was 50. Half a century. How was that even possible? Some years ago, one of my directors Zeynep, a lovely, cheerful Mediterranean woman had...

Midnight at the Pera Palace

A young journalist travels back in time to 1919 Istanbul, accidentally disrupting the natural flow of history. She must act quickly to prevent the...

Reflections on “Kulüp”: A Yabancı Perspective

“Do you know why this city exists? So that a guy like me doesn’t take you to the end of the world.” This is...

Dreaming of Dollars (But Waking Up With Liras)

The other night I was sitting with my son on the sofa, trying to read a book with him, while on the TV the...

The Golden Hour

Nizam walked quickly and nervously through the twilight. The fences and houses along Limon Paşa Boulevard were dark silhouettes beneath the rapidly aging sun....

Impressions of Galataport

The Galataport has finally opened – some of it anyway. This immense 1.7 billion-dollar project along the shores of Karaköy on the city’s European side...

Autumn Rhythms: Life in the ‘New Normal’

Life begins all over again in the fall: That old saying is particularly apt this year.  In the city by the Bosphorus, students and teachers...

In The Shade of Karaköy

“I’m steppin’ out, steppin’ ou-ou-ou-out!” The chorus to the old John Lennon song was bouncing in my ears as we boarded the ferry at...

Letters from Istanbul: The Ballad of Angry Çetin

We all have those people who drift in and out of our lives, and years later, we find ourselves musing about them, wondering whatever...

Letter from Istanbul: Looking Back at the Old New World

This month marks my tenth anniversary in the city by the Bosphorus, so I want to go back and remember how it was that...

Letter from Istanbul: Anlaşma (or ‘The Arrangement’)

When I first arrived in Istanbul, nearly ten years ago, I found a room for rent in Kadıköy. It was on a narrow street...

Want a Romantic Evening? Try Kuzguncuk

When you first arrive in the city, you feel drawn to the riotous spectacle of Taksim, or to the multitudes of the street markets...

Letter from Istanbul: My Own Private Venice … In Sultangazi

For those of you who haven’t been there, Sultangazi sits on the furthermost outskirts of Istanbul, out near the highway that heads up to...

Letter from Antalya: Border Patrol Agents on Vacation

A group of border agents are sitting on a beach in the southern Turkish seaside resort town of Antalya. It’s a working holiday –...

Inside Devrim Erbil’s Revolution Factory

The word “devrim” means revolution. Does Devrim Erbil consider himself a revolutionary? “Of course,” he says, without hesitation. “Every day. Every night. I work constantly.” Indeed, at...

Observatory Time: With Man Ray in Anamur

It’s always a good idea to get out of Istanbul, to escape the traffic, the noise and endless grind of people and machines. My wife...

Ataşehir and Ümraniye: Portraits of the City’s ‘New Hope’

At first glance, Ataşehir seems to embody everything you hate about modern Istanbul. At second glance, it doesn’t get much better. You can insert here...

Letter from Karaman: Night of the Dervish

The city of Karaman stands on the low wheat plains of Anatolia, about an hour south of Konya, the birthplace of Rumi. Arriving from Istanbul,...

A Strange Fast

With the start of the holy month of Ramazan this past week,  many Turks have been fasting and praying. It’s not easy, especially  in...

Out Now: “Letters from Istanbul, Vol 3: Living with Terror” by...

We're delighted to announce that long-time contributor James Tressler has recently released the third volume to his Letters from Istanbul series, available for purchase via Lulu....

House-Hunting in the Age of Terror

My wife wants to buy an apartment. That’s a pretty common goal for many people in this city, since it’s a sound investment. The...

Beating the Istanblues: A Night at the Spa

My wife Özge and I can’t afford many luxuries. We’re a working couple, with different schedules. We don’t even share the same days off. We...

Construction Fever: Will It Save Us from the Next Big One?

Bağdat Caddesi is a long, wide shopping avenue on the Asian side of the city, Istanbul’s equivalent of 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive. Nearby are...