My brothers and I are software developers working for a few companies around the world via the internet. In 2012, we decided to move to Istanbul because of the lack of stable internet and international banking system in Iran. In the past two years, we have found that Istanbul is a really great place. In addition to the stable and fast internet connection and international banking needed for our job, there are lots of small things that made us happy! If you come to Istanbul from Europe or the US, you’ll find it is really interesting because of the great mixture of eastern and western culture, amazing weather, and beautiful landscape. But it’s really more than just that! In this photo series, I show the things that make me happy to live in Istanbul.
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Green City: Many years ago in Iran there were lots of geraniums in yards but they have disappeared as people increasingly dwell in apartments. But they should see Istanbul! There are lots of geraniums on balconies and in windows & it keeps the city feeling alive. -
Street Cafes: You can find a cafe or small restaurant in less than 5 minutes walking distance anywhere in Istanbul! And how lovely are these outdoor seating areas! -
Modern City Spaces: Istanbul has plenty of modern architecture and skyscrapers. We have some in Tehran, but not nearly as much as Istanbul. -
Nightlife: It’s amazing to see people in the street in the early morning hours, 7 days a week! Istanbul is a city that never sleeps! -
Shopping Malls: You can find lots of really big shopping malls in Istanbul, whereas in Tehran, there are only a few. -
Street Performances: In crowded places of Istanbul, there are many fun and humorous performers. -
Graffiti: Istanbul has great graffiti; some of them are truly masterpieces! -
Concerts: Managing a concert in Iran is really hard and few concerts are held. Concerts of international bands and singers are not allowed. But on any given day of the year, you can find some great concert to go in Istanbul. There is also live music in bars, on streets, and in metro stations. -
Cinema: We don’t have any 3D or IMAX cinemas in Iran! And only local Iranian movies are played in our cinemas. -
International Brands: Could you imagine a country without any international brand chains like as Starbucks, Apple, MacDonald’s, etc.?! -
International Holidays: Holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are celebrated on different days in Iran than the rest of the world. And we don’t have Valentine’s Day! It’s banned by the government! -
Personal Freedom: You might know that in Iran all women have to wear a hijab, even those who are not Muslim. And there are also restrictions on what men can wear in public. For example, men are prohibited from wearing shorts, unlike in Istanbul. -
Love in the Street: There isn’t any law about affection by couples in public. but you never see it in Iran! -
Respect: I have seen lots of religious people who have animosity towards people without religion beliefs and vice versa. I don’t want to say Iranians don’t respect other people’s beliefs at all, but this respect is much more visible in Istanbul. -
Kindness towards Animals: You can see here that dogs, cats and birds live harmoniously with people, but in Iran it is quite different! If you have a dog, you should be sure to keep it inside and unseen. All dogs, because of Islamic law, are taken away by police. And there are only a few people that take care of stray cats. But Istanbul is a city that really loves cats! -
Freedom of Photography: Taking photos in the street is really hard in Iran and you are not allowed to take pictures of airplanes even at a distance. I really am happy about the freedom to photograph in Istanbul. I spent about 3 hours near the runway of Istanbul airport and managed to get this shot.