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August 19, 2011
The more things change, the more they become the same ...
The other day, someone asked me about my “travel philosophy”—part of which is that, as travelers, we should get out and visit locales we really want to see before change and modernization make them all too much alike. And when she asked what I meant, I cited Turkey as an example of this phenomenon ...
When I first traveled to Turkey in the 1970s with several girlfriends, I remember taking a ferry along the Bosphorus in Istanbul (aka the Istanbul Strait)—which joins the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and marks the line between Asia and Europe (and the respective parts of this Eurasian crossroads of east and west). At that time, the lushly green landscapes along the strait were rural and quite scenic, although Istanbul was already a major city.
But when I returned there again in 2005, several decades later, I was very surprised at how much the banks along the Bosphorus had changed. Along with the minarets, mosques, and some older structures I remembered from my past visit, a number of modern high-rises and hotels (like those found along bodies of water in many of the world’s urban centers) had been built—creating a mosaic of architectural styles. I wasn’t exactly disappointed, since Istanbul (and Turkey itself) remains a fascinating juxtaposition of traditional and modern, exotic and familiar, but it reminded me of how quickly and drastically things can change. And it made me thankful to have visited Turkey when I was younger.
Have you ever visited a destination before and after it has undergone significant change? If so, I’d love to hear more about it, and how it made you feel. You can share your thoughts, experiences—and photos—with others by posting your comments below this Journal entry, or you can email me directly. And in the coming weeks, we’ll be spotlighting India and Nepal. If you’ve explored these countries with OAT, I hope you’ll send your stories and photos to me at harriet@oattravel.com.
Harriet Lewis