Istanbul has a rapidly expanding Spanish community that mainly consists of young people who have come here looking for better career opportunities. Meet Fernando Berges, an entrepreneur from Barcelona who has made the most of his time in the city – let him tell you how.
1. Why did you come to Istanbul?
Sunsets, food, culture, history, dynamism, hospitality and rakı…Okay, I’m lying. It was all about a girl. Cupid brought me to Istanbul, but the aforementioned factors helped to keep me in the city with joy. I met Aysegul almost 10 years ago during our Erasmus exchange in Rotterdam. Since then we have shared our lives between Barcelona and Istanbul.
2. What do you do here?
I came to Istanbul with a Spanish program focused on internationalization, which consisted of two phases: first, working at the Spanish Commercial Office, helping companies that want to do business here, and then at a Spanish company supporting their internationalization efforts. I worked at DIA supermarkets in Turkey until the company was bought by the Turkish manufacturer Ülker last summer. Then I decided to try my own hand at entrepreneurship. Collaborating with a Turkish tourism agency and some expat friends, we started a tourism project called Turquea.
We realized that there was a lack of options for tourists to really experience Turkish culture when travelling to Istanbul, especially for Spanish-speaking tourists. Therefore, we decided to do something that thrilled us: creating innovative touristic experiences in Istanbul, such as belly dance workshops or enjoying a wonderful dinner in a small boat in Golden Horn. Through these experiences we can show tourists our best spots and what we have learned during our time in Turkey.
3. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced here?
Definitely the language. I think Turkish is one of the biggest challenges a human being could face. Excluding parenthood maybe. Another problem can be moving throughout the city. If your Turkish is poor there is nothing more stressful than handing your change and yelling “müsait bir yerde” to a dolmuş driver!
4. What do you do for fun?
Apart from sport (mainly soccer and running), I enjoy visiting new neighborhoods to find hidden places to eat. In Istanbul it is often the case that the price and elegance of a place does not have any direct correlation with the quality of its food. Therefore, checking out the hidden and unassuming places to eat is a non-expensive, fun and really fulfilling activity (especially for my stomach).
5. Where do unwind/relax? Where is your favorite haunt?
I am very fond of the neighborhoods beyond the second bridge. Taking in their “village environment” and walking near the Bosphorus are the perfect way to chill out. As for my favorite haunt, it is definitely the area between the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar: so many interesting shops and guys screaming “buyurun”…you can feel the spirit of the authentic Ottoman trade!
6. What has been your biggest surprise about Istanbul?
The sun. The sunset behind the skyline with its mosques seems bigger than in any other place I have been. I can’t tell if there is a scientific reason behind or if it is just a cool optical illusion but the sunsets in this city are almost always breathtaking.
7. Do you have any advice for other expats?
Every citizen of Istanbul loves and hates the city during alternate periods of their lives; this is a fact. Crossing the Bosphorus with a tea and a simit, admiring the views, nobody can hate this city. But believe me, after one hour standing up in a minibus without moving more than 1 km, you start dreaming about a city with a much smaller population. Thus, my final advice: live near where you work!
Ask an Expat is our new column aimed at shedding some light on how other expats do Istanbul. Enjoy!
