Istiklal Street is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul and allegedly visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends. On Sunday afternoon the Bazflyers joined the throng and walked the narrow avenue from end to end and back again.
This is definitely not the place for a demophobic. Never have we been to a more crowded street, completely packed with people and on Sunday afternoon it felt like the beating heart of Istanbul.
Flanked on either side by designer stores, kebab cafes, ice cream parlours, souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and more. Out on the street there were vendors peddling their wares and buskers of every description. Down the middle of all this runs a quaint tram.
The street is known to be the political nerve of Istanbul, the place for demonstrations and political rallies. It did not disappoint. While walking the street we passed by a noisy political event staring obviously opposing factions and being watched over by a police riot squad detail complete with water cannon. We were later told the demonstrators disbursed after police sent a tear gas canister among them.
Here is a random selection of images we captured......
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