I have visited Istanbul many times, but each time I discover a different side of it. This time I turned my route away from the crowded tourist squares. I started walking from Karaköy, diving into the streets toward Balat. Colorful painted houses, old doors, and walls covered with graffiti suddenly appeared. The laughter of a child, the paws of a street cat, an old man sitting in front of a small café… These are the truest moments of Istanbul, hidden in the details.

As I wandered the streets, I sat down in a café for some tea. A woman at the next table told me about how she used to play in this neighborhood as a child. Through her story, I realized I was actually hearing the city's story too. The beauty of Istanbul is not only in its grand mosques or historical palaces, but in the daily lives of its people. Getting lost in these streets taught me that to know Istanbul is to become part of its living stories.