Istanbul. A city straddling two continents, two religions, and two ways of life: one ancient, one modern. Although they are all stereotypes, my recent visit to this magnificent Turkish city taught me that there is a lot of truth behind each of these images. Although not the capitol of Turkey (that would be Ankara, on the Anatolian plateau), Istanbul is most definitely the demographic, economic, and cultural capitol of the country. Growing incredibly rapidly, it offers a vivid reminder of the ancient heritage that this fascinating "crossroads of the East and the West" possesses, as well as an example of the wrenching dislocations of globalization, westernization, and European integration forces. Read on to learn some more... On February 20, my friend Bryony and I arrived in Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport after flying through Vienna from Paris.
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