Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Tarlabaşı Market & Other Photos


Tarlabaşı Market as dusk begins
On Sunday I ventured over to the Tarlabaşı Market, a mere 15 minute walk from my house. A blog focusing on the neighborhood can be found here, but in short Tarlabaşı is a mixed minority neighborhood that is under an urgent risk of government-influenced gentrification. I certainly plan on returning both to do my grocery shopping and to take more photos and meet more people.  The market itself, which is huge, offers a good cross-section of the neighborhood which is the most diverse place I've ever been in Turkey: a feature which makes me feel at home, approaching the diversity that I grew up with every day taking the subway in Brooklyn, NY. There's a surround-sound mix of Turkish and Kurdish conversation, bargaining, and hawking, accompanied by a wealth of African languages, Arabic, and the occasional smattering of English or German. The sellers all try to outdo each-other by calling out their wares, making animal noises, singing songs, or even breaking into a collective soccer hooligan-like hooting. Transexuals (of which Tarlabaşı has many) are buying henna and clothing alongside older conservative women. Many people were eager to engage in a conversation with me and have their photos taken, something that with a few exceptions I don't do without a conversation these days.

Most of the following photos are from the market, with a few exceptions...

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 
Octopus. Eyüp, İstanbul.

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 
Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul  
Üsküdar, İstanbul

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 

Üsküdar Ferry, İstanbul. 

Kosovar Man. Üsküdar, İstanbul. 


Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 

Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 


Tarlabaşı Market, İstanbul 


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