And what about Veysel Çikmazi, the blind alley on the left with the sock depots and the restaurants serving customers night and day. When we wanted to see my uncle we would start looking for him from the blind alley where he would meet up with his old friends. The blind alley that fascinated me as a child is not 'blind' any more, because the locked iron gate at the end of the alley that limited my horizon is now open. The Dogu Karadeniz Restaurant where we sit with my uncle is still there in the same alley.
THE GREAT MEETING
Anafartalar Caddesi, where I used to keep a firm grip on my mother's hand to avoid getting lost, is the trigger of the historical journey that stretches from my childhood to today. The narrow streets to right and the left are like small undulations in my memory. Mind you, I don't know if it is for the people who walked along these streets in their childhood or more for those who have just become part of this mysterious place, but I recommend that you turn your head upwards away from the crowds below and look up to the second floors, where the old façades and windows are such a contrast from the monotony of the modern shop fronts.