Last Metro to Taksim

Last Metro to Taksim, part 5: The siege of Constantinople
A night that is almost too calm turns violent, then calm again, and then comes the day to make conclusions. Photography by May Castelnuovo. Click here for the full series.  It’s 2 a.m. when we arrive back to Istanbul from Bursa. Istiklal Avenue is busier than at noon. Street musicians are everywhere, many playing “Bella Ciao,” the struggle’s…
By Yuval Ben-Ami June 6, 2013
Last Metro to Taksim, part 4: The expedition
It’s time to take a look around and see what’s happening off the square, way off the square. Photography by May Castelnuovo. Click here for the full series.  ISTANBUL/BURSA, Turkey — On the day we arrived, the metro station at Taksim Square was closed. The following day was a Monday. We took the train into town expecting to…
By Yuval Ben-Ami June 5, 2013
Last Metro to Taksim, part 3: Enter night
The Istanbul team heads into the clouds of gas. It starts off pretty well. Photography by May Castelnuovo Click here for the full series.  ISTANBUL — On Sunday night, newly reunited after the lost kidney scare, May and I went to dine with two compatriots. One was Or Heller, Channel 10’s man, whom we tried…
By Yuval Ben-Ami June 4, 2013
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Last Metro to Taksim, part 2: Day
Two Israelis out to explore Istanbul’s awakening are joined by two locals, or rather by 200,000 locals, and for a dance, no less. Yet they find themselves lost in memories of home, then simply lost. Photography by May Castelnuovo. Click here for the full series.  ISTANBUL — We are at “The Kebap” restaurant, near Taksim square, right…
By Yuval Ben-Ami June 3, 2013
Last Metro to Taksim, part 1: Among the debris
When two Israelis pop over to experience a neighboring country’s revolution, they get their first glimpse of graffiti, in the full sense of the word. Photographs by May Castelnuovo (click to magnify in a new tab). Click here for the full series.  ISTANBUL – Nothing seems strange at first, Istanbul does seem atypically sleepy and empty on…
By Yuval Ben-Ami June 2, 2013
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