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/ / LVDLS TURKISH PREMIERE : HIGHLIGHTS FROM ISTANBUL / /

Istanbul is one of our favorite places on the planet. An ancient yet thoroughly modern metropolis, divided by a huge river that connects two huge seas, resting right on either side of two continents, where ferries are the preferred mode of transport, where old school tradition is respected, but also kept in check by undeniable cosmopolitanism. How many other places can boast all of that? Colorado Springs? Yeah, right. gtfohwtbs.  Crossing the Bosphorus on ferries, allegedly floating us from the Asian side to the European side (if you buy into that division). Monihan for one, considers Europe a subcontinental growth off the side of Asia. No different from the Indian sub-continent. As he says, “Look at a map. Tell me I'm not right". Geographical semantics aside, peep at the mosques and minarets peppering that skyline. You can even see Topkapi Palace if you look real close. 

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Below is Taksim Square, ground zero for the recent protests. And don't be surprised if there are more protests in the news soon. Trust, there is a healthy, savvy block of Turks ready to fight back against conservative non-sense, just waiting...waiting to be tested. And next up is the main walking street, the Istiklal, where a lot of blockades were erected in the battles against the water canons. We were there right after a major election, which was won by conservative forces not favored by most locals. This had put a bit of a cloud over the city. Nevertheless, large gatherings of students and older radicals were protesting along the strip on the regular. You get the sense that things will be turbulent in Turkey (like pretty much everywhere else) for some time to come.  

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Below: Monihan pointing out how he is probably also Turkish too. Next up, Some of our favorite people in Istanbul: The very talented artist extraordinaire, Sadi Güran (google him, check out his work). Also, our lovely friends and the most wonderful of hosts – Aylin and Hakan. Hugely talented artists and publishers of Bant magazine. In this photo they're holding court at their local cafe Kutu. As the Danes would say, super cozy. 

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Below: Highlights from Istanbul International Film Festival. IKSV, if you want to get technical. First pic below is Monihan and our Romanian friend Tudor, who's film The Japanese Dog is Romania's entry into the Academy Awards this year. Not bad for a first film. Next, we're hanging out at the hotel’s fancy bar with some of the Chilean posse (they made the great film Las Cosas Como Son). Sheena wanted whiskey and they served her some serious top shelf that cost around 150 Turkish Lira ($70US). Standing by the bar is our new French friend, actor Christophe Paou (avec beard) from Stranger By The Lake, also a great movie. A sinister thriller set in the south of France. 

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Our Turkish Premiere! Janeva on the big screen, the audience saying hi during one of the post-screening Q&As, Moni giving it the ol' Blue Steel, The Award Ceremony, where when they seated us way in the back, Tudor quickly added, "that's it, we've lost for sure. No way would they let us sit this far away if we had to go up on stage." He was right, we all lost. Didn't matter, we went and partied in this blue/purple room 'til sun-up anyway. 

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Obligatory tourist pics: the spectacular Blue Mosque, a guy about to jump off a tall building, Tudor,  Tudor's parents and Moni's parents all enjoying a cruise up the Bosphorus.  

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CATS! CATS! CATS! One of the coolest things about Istanbul. From the devout resident of Hagia Sophia, to the regulars at the Hookah lounge, stray cats pretty much rule Istanbul. And the best part? The locals really take care of them. The people pet them, feed them, bring them to the vet when they are sick. All these cats, (and dogs too), they must keep the city almost rodent-free. Other cities may have their comparable numbers of strays, but where else do the people actually treat strays with love and respect typically reserved for domesticated pets? So marvelous. 

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The Grand Bazaar where you can find almost anything under the sun. Linens, aphrodisiacs, china with Michael Jackson calligraphy. There's also a LOT of amazing food. Spices and sweets galore. Look at these displays. And look at those sun dried tomatoes. And our daily breakfast at Kutu (the local cafe near Aylin and Hakan's in Moda, where we ate every day). Hungry just typing this.

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