Have you ever felt the daily sounds of Istanbul while wandering the streets? Every street has its own cultural elements inherited from its past. It might either be the sound coming from a coffeehouse, a mother’s voice calling the children for dinner or a street vendor yelling out, but with each step the sounds give you another insightEvery city has its own unique sound. Whether it’s the street musicians and their happy tunes or sellers trying to attract attention, each city has a different set of sounds that make it feel like home. Istanbul, a large metropolis city spread across two continents, has the perfect mixture of old traditional and contemporary sounds to offer its visitors and locals alike.
The buzzing in the streets of this city starts in the early hours of the day. The first thing that catches my attention is the “clink-clink-clink” sound of spoons as they hit the tea glasses. This sound is familiar to most people who call Turkey home because it indicates that a big Turkish breakfast is waiting for you. Next, as you get out of bed to start your day, the sounds of the streets attract your attention.
Outside, you catch the aroma of freshly baked bread coming from the bakery down the street. Friendly good day wishes fill your ears as locals head out to buy newspapers and other necessities from the markets that line the streets. Something catches your attention, a low yet deep hollering of a man pushing a cart yelling, “Simitçi, simitçi!” Selling a cart of sesame pastry (simit), the “simitçi” walks up and down the streets of Istanbul letting people know that breakfast is served. Left and right, people dangle their baskets for the man to fill.
The “simitçi” is long gone by the time the next hollering man comes along with his cart, but this time he’s not selling anything. In a high-pitched sound, he yells “eskici, eskici!” while pushing a cart full of random knickknacks. Again, left and right people start calling the guy over so that they can give him old items such as appliances or metal goods that they no longer need. The man with the cart politely collects the items given to him to be sold or used later. The sound of the “eskici” is a reminder of the kind hearts and helping hands of the people who reside in the city.
