Istanbul, where I am visiting these days, is a breathtaking place. It is not just the geography, tourists attractions, the TV’s broadcasting football at every shop, or the fact that you can eat here gourmet food at every corner, but it is more its demographics.

Istanbul is vibrating with night life, with gay people walking hand in hand in main streets, with open mindedness. You look one way and you see a striving society, looking to the west, trying very hard to keep its space and learn (even though asking five times if a guest needs room service is a bit over the top).

But if you look the other way, you can see a growing movement trying to pull Turkey back to the orient. Some of it is a global movement, some is political maneuvering with consideration to its neighboring countries. Some has to do with the EU rejection.

A visitor might enjoy a great time in Istanbul, but if you are sensitive enough and you can see behind the daily routine, you can see here a micro-cosmos of a universal struggle. In that sense Istanbul is also very depressing.

Because even after a few days in Istanbul one must really realize that this bridge will never and cannot be built. It just a matter of self honestly for everyone to admit it.