The photo

If I were to just take a picture of these days I should take a photo while riding a bicycle I'm climbing the hill that leads from the Galata tower to Tünel, just down my house after all. Which is a climb of all respect, indeed, it is a chore! It takes about 3 minutes to climb. With the occasional car traffic coming down the narrow alley and me hardly balancing to not stop and lose the rhythm between cars and pedestrians. And passers-by, of course, many of them tourists, who look at me a little strange (someone did not resist taking a picture).
But this is just an imaginary picture, because who knows in which far corner of the world is now that picture, who knows where came from the tourist who has taken it.
Cycling in Istanbul is a form of active resistance. Sure, because the city is full of dramatic height difference, but mainly because the traffic is often fierce, and there is no culture of cycling. That is why cycling in Istanbul for me is a form of active resistance, because it means to express by facts another idea of world endangering myself.
So, this imaginary picture I can not show. But today I have so many more photos. Francesca and Nicola (Nice) came to visit me. And when old friends see each other again years later (as in the case of Nicola and me) is inevitable to try to take a photo of themselves and others.
Well, we enjoyed like crazy. A fantastic week, full of unpredictable twists and adventure. In short, a "normal" week in Istanbul. There were also 3 girls here in Istanbul from Naples, Roberta, Roberta, and Alessandra. With a few turkish friends together, we really had fun.
It was hard not to find us into any of Salvatores movies. But this is not bad. Because we are now more than 30, because fought we have a lot, the world we travelled a lot, and we can feel at home wherever we are, because we didn't change the world yet but the world didn't change us either.
Francesca took her photo of Istanbul by saying these words:

<<Istanbul is like a giant wave, if you are on the same direction it can make you fly to the sky, but if you are going on the opposite direction it is like crashing against a hard wall>>.

Perfect description!
Where am I now, in relation to this wave? Well, the wave lately seems to be a little bit confused, so it's hard also for me to take position. At times it seems it is going to grow suddenly, at times disappears and appears again at my back. At times seems it has to come just in front of me.
Because my ideas are quite clear. I know which is my direction. It's Istanbul that seems a little bit confused.
Riding a bike or riding a wave called Istanbul, anyway I hope the race is over soon. At least for a while.
I am cutting the movie, often at home from the morning till evening. At times I still play contrabass with Karagüneş, for example tonight we will play in a club. Yesterday night there has been the premier of a theatre performance which I collaborated. And after performance yesterday we went to play soccer in the Beşiktaş sport center with the team of the turkish musicians, actors and directors, as it happens since weeks. There should be no other better period to come and visit me, as this giant wave I know how to deal with. But I will not wait for it if it is confused. Come on, a giant confused wave is a ridiculous thing. I learnt how to crash and survive, I learnt how to ride it and go afar. So, my dear wave, come on, don't be late, this is the last ride, for now. I want to leave the Bosphorus soon. For a while, at least.

Here above the poster of the ongoing performance at GAF.

Here above at GAF after some shootings: Özay, Şeyda, Özgü, Serkan, Seçkin and me.

Here above Nicola and Francesca while making their first step in Asia down from the ferry that leads from Karaköy to Kadıköy.

Here above hanging out in Kadıköy.

Here above all together in my flat...

Francesca trying a funny hat at the second-hand shop down in the street.

Here above in Aksaray with Ahmed and our Eritrean friends.