Istanbul: Faces unveiled
Photos & Words: Salina Christmas

Istanbul was my homecoming. Not because I am Turkish, but because so many ideas that contributed to the city's physical and cultural landscapes were the ones that first shaped my views on art, and life.

This reportage is about a tiny part of Istanbul which I understood. There are many details I purposely left out: the coffee-sipping at Starbucks, clubbing at Beyoglu, grunging and rocking at Karakoy — all these very much happening in this cosmopolitan city, and all these I avoided.

I come from Brixton, London. I speak a second language all the time. When in London, I take great care to behave like a Londoner.

I chose not to do that in Istanbul.