The Asian Side

If the European side of Istanbul is a destination in and of itself, the Asian side seems to me a point de depart (in the various senses of the term). I took the ferry across this morning, hoping to escape the steady rain that was beating down in the old town. It was a breezy journey of twenty minutes. I managed to pick the smoking "cabin" (which had lots of open windows to let out the smoke) which was a bit of a mistake, but I loved the players in the scene. An old man sat next to the window puffing away as rings of smoke circled above his wrinkly face. With a toothless smile he chatted with the tea servers who, dressed in bright blue jump suits, had also hurried to the front for a cigarette break.

There were others munching on what I can only describe as circular pretzels covered in sesame seeds, and tea...

And I think I'm going to stop it there as the Internet cafe I'm at has been 'invaded' by the police who are now looking at everyone's IDs. Not sure what that's about, but they left me alone when I only spoke to them in English. I've had to register my passport number before in China to use an internet cafe, but this is the most obvious incursion on free speech that I've ever experienced before!