Veils of Istanbul
There is a very interesting concept called hüzün, introduced by Orhan Pamuk in his beautiful book Istanbul: Memories and the City.
It is not easy to translate, but it can be described as a kind of shared melancholy, almost a poetic sadness that seems to permeate the very walls of Istanbul.
I think it takes living there for a long time, and perhaps also the sensitivity of a master like Pamuk, to truly understand it, and probably feel it.
I cannot say I do. But during my visit there was definitely something special: an atmosphere, an energy that I still remember clearly, beautiful old corners bathed in sunset light, night-time shopfronts glowing softly in the dark… i do still miss it just by writing about it
This mood surrounded the city’s beautiful, timeworn architecture, buildings that have witnessed centuries of change and history.
I just love Istanbul.
