My Unfiltered Thoughts On Living In Istanbul As An American

[@camdendavid]

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[@ssoruyorum]

The European and Asian continents of the city consist entirely of the same people and people of the same culture, but the large number of Arab / middle east tourists in Europian Side, coming to the European continent cause the other tourists to perceive our culture differently.

[@zissumanter]

Hello. You are right. It is getting very loud over the last 15 years.

[@cyranodebergerac1729]

I went to USA under a cultural exchange programme where my van driver borrow money from me and quit his job along with borrowing money from all other cultural exchange students, talking about scams as an american is hilarious xD if you aren't scammed don't go and talk about whistleblower bullshit bro

[@nancyanderson7422]

Im an American living here in Istanbul for 4 years now. Its my new home. I needed a change in cultural dynamics from the US. This city and the country of Turkiye has put me back on balance, and appreciate life in a way I couldn’t in Western Europe or in North America

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear you found a better balance :)

[@flammabletoast5820]

As a turkish person I really wonder why

[@AlpHan-o5g]

I'm a Turkish person and whenever I come back to turkey, I feel similar positive emotions to yours. Thanks.

[@irinaermolaeva5520]

Wow i’m a Turkish citizen and been living here since 2012, )and working as a flight attendant since 2016 - ) and i can tell you i am literally about to lose my sanity. I don’t wanna sound too depressing but This city is crowded with nothing but chaos and stress. So time consuming ; expensive .when it comes to good parts; ( still there is plenty) as an average İstanbulite😅 there is way too many places to explore everyday. Historic places amazes you; and no matter how much time you wasted in traffic you can sometimes say wow😂 another positive; in general Turkish people are quite friendly. I’m not saying kind but😂 friendly😂

[@berkleystreetcapital3588]

Could it be the sufi cultural patios

[@thewayofbiutze3899]

Your careful choice of words when describing things made me think that you're a decent and kind person. Welcome to Istanbul.

[@camdendavid]

Much love

[@ipekbaltacioglu2625]

Yesss

[@ssoruyorum]

Turkiye is at the crossroads of everything; we are European, Asian, Mediterranean, and Balkan. This gives us great cultural richness, which is reflected in our food.

[@camdendavid]

100%

[@kninezbanks]

"Everything"? You forgot African. You don't cross African culture at all. Still an intertwined culture nonetheless.

[@winenn]

​@@kninezbanks it's a common generalization word in turkish don't take it personal there are still many cultural areas missing from the comment

[@haticeararguc7157]

​@@kninezbanksBe sure we don't forget Afrika and say the world is bigger than 5/RTE 🇹🇷but the industrial world and countries do that and this for centeries! The Hollaender the Belgium the Englaender the German and the French people comes and took the best places from the Afrikans like Johannesbourg Kenia and so on! Till last year the Afrikans must pay millions of euro colonialism money/tax to France😮! For what please? This country was never their own! Western world gets rich but in what kind of way let us think about that thanks!

[@haticeararguc7157]

Afrika daha yeni kendine geliyor batı uzaklaştırıldıkça onlar düzelecekler ve zenginlikleri kendilerine kalacak inşallah! Yıllarca sömürüldüler malesef!

[@SP-nx8qx]

I'm Greek and I love Istanbul and its people, I try to visit whenever I get a chance, highly recommended. Friendly and warm city. I love the cats too! Not to worry too much about scams, Istanbul is actually much better than most places with lots of tourists like La Rambla in Barcelona or the centre of Athens. Common sense helps, and most Turks will actually protect you.

[@isbaraalp-b2t]

I congratulate you for your objectivity. If i may to guess your age, it must be 40+. am i right?

[@SP-nx8qx]

@@isbaraalp-b2t You are right.

[@ssoruyorum]

Big hugs to Greece from Turkiye❤Anytime you're welcome!💙

[@dovemenpluscare4974]

I am Turkish and I love Kos. I want to move there in the future, because everybody is so kind, the food is amazing (yes it is the same, but still different in a very good way) and it is such a beautiful island.

[@SP-nx8qx]

@@dovemenpluscare4974 Yeah we've "borrowed" many recipes from the Turkish culinary tradition. But first time in Istanbul I was surprised to see how difficult it was to find a traditional Turkish coffee, most shops were serving tea or modern western coffees like capuccino etc. Eventually I found one old shop inside Kapalıçarşı that had it.

[@HelloBalkans]

I love Turkey so much! Turkiye has always been the East of the West and the West of the East. it's so exotic❤

[@otgunz]

SO BEAUTIFULLY PUT! West of East, East of West. As an atheist associated professor on digital arts with a mentality that is quite and calm with law abiding at its maximum I am like an alien in my own country. Yet I feel lost when I want to immigrate to West as I feel bad that the community there wouldn't ever support me like the Turkish community here. In anywhere Turkiye you can get what you want if your face shows how bad you feel. So everything is free if they see that you are in need. From bus tickets to whole meals, people care for others. But when it is up to laws, no, they try to kill you in the traffic, they don't give a dime about paying taxes etc. So socially Turkiye beats whole of Europe of North America, yet in the sense of laws and a society that is cool headed Turkiye is not on the list by any means. I want the best of both civilizations but there is no community on this planet that is equally having both cultures.

[@derindeniz9975]

​@@otgunz This is true

[@sam1819]

We are from the US and we have lived here for 6 years, the inflation is eyewatering, everything else is heartwarming. NY and Istanbul are two places to live in the word, the rest will bore you to death. You do feel alive here in Istanbul, it is not like Paris where you will never belong, not like Florence where you will wonder for days with your mouth open and on the 7th you will be looking straight ahead, or anywhere in Switzerkand you will want run away on the 3rd day. Istanbul is like a whole world in itself, you can never fully discover it, even your neighbourhood changes all the time, old places close new ones open thinking they would have more luck but then they close and a new one opens overnight . They build things fast, work 24/7 make so much noise that after a while you think something si wrong if you don't hear a construction noise. and you will not hear the prayers 5 times a day, sometimes you will not even hear even once a day after a while you just don't hear them even though they are very very loud.

[@ozgenalpoglu7712]

Exactly! Lived in London for almost 10 years and my soul just went pale:) Back in Turkey soon as I can't take the boredom anymore lol. But the inflation will hurt!! Istanbul and Turkey in general is just full of wonders and really hard to explain but you did a good job 😅

[@karmatik9626]

Turkish-American here. If you want peace and quiet, live in the northern districts away from the dense parts of the city. Namely SARIYER on the European side and BEYKOZ on the Asian side.

[@barbtheresa5693]

hello, is it more expensive in these neighborhoods?

[@karmatik9626]

@@barbtheresa5693 Generally more expensive, yes, but there are many exceptions. Look for "gecekondu" type rentals without tapus (e.g illegally built but widely accepted by the local gov). Ugly buildings on the outside but nice and comfy on the inside and usually much cheaper.

[@Tech-Corner2023]

@@barbtheresa5693 yes defiinitely.

[@xaaieqqqqixz4824]

​@@barbtheresa5693No, as you would expect ut is cheaper away from the city center

[@Aranzahas]

@@Tech-Corner2023 no it is not

[@Janniserie]

As a Turkish citizen, thank you for your comments. It was very respectful. I hope you enjoy your time in our beautiful country.❤

[@camdendavid]

Much love

[@carolinacadabra8278]

Really enjoy these “unfiltered comments” videos. It’s like hearing about a place from a friend, rather than the formal, structured information in most travel vids.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear you’re enjoying this format. I’ll try to make one an unfiltered video for each place I place I spend a month in. I appreciate your support :)

[@seanhiggins9485]

I've been living in Maltepe(Asian side) over 4 yrs. I'm a South African expat.Your unfiltered summary of İstanbul is spot on!

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support! Have you enjoyed living over there?

[@Machiavellinist]

I love Maltepe, it's such a sleepy suburban area compared to the rest of Istanbul, how do you find Maltepe compared to the rest of istanbul?

[@attilaturan3831]

maltepe's coast side is better than a lot of country😊

[@quibs8347]

Living here over 4 years makes you an immigrant lol

[@tugcecar]

I braced myself for all kinds of negative stuff when I saw “unfiltered”, but at the end of the video I am left with a new found appreciation for my people. Thanx for the perspective☺️

[@camdendavid]

Much love

[@BSGurer]

Amazing city. Amazing food. Especially if you know where to go by asking. Asian side is great. And yes. Every neighborhood is totally different from one another. You can not find a beer in the district of Fatih commonly but go to Kadıköy and they have more pubs than any street I have seen in London. It’s a mega city. Flavor for everyone.

[@camdendavid]

Absolutely!

[@eehyetti]

Once that place was Taksim. You would find the coolest places and people to hang out. Until these religion selling bstards took it away from the people.

[@RescueAlwaysOfficial]

My heart feels so good to hear about the treatment of the animals! ❤

[@camdendavid]

Such a special part of the culture 😊

[@adamorumcek]

Stray animals especially dogs are a problem though. They are killing people, killed one person very recently in central Istanbul. Rabies and other dangerous diseases like cyst hydatid are still observed in Turkey. Thousands of people are vaccinated against rabies every year due to bites or scratches from stray animals. So please do not promote stray animals. There is a reason why developed countries are not allowing this.

[@thebells516]

I'm curious to know what brought you to Istanbul. My wife is from Istanbul. We lived in Kucuk Bebek for two years while I was a teacher in the 90s. Your observations were accurate and fair. I have strong ties to Istanbul and Turkey, as I have been traveling there for 4 decades. Over the decades, I have seen most parts of Turkey. I encourage you to see as much of Turkey as you can. The people are lovely and very hospitable. My family was initially leery of an American marrying their girl, thinking I would be like a character in Dallas. Ha! Ha! They soon learned this midwestern boy was ok. You mentioned the ferry across the Bosphorus. I used to tell my friends I would have breakfast in Europe, then hop over to Asia for lunch with the family and back home for dinner in Europe. I love the country, Istanbul, and the people. Cheers... Jim Amca 🙂

[@alivonal7442]

I was born there but spent my childhood in LA. Went back for high school in 93 to 96 and have been back once since then. I agree with everything you said. But what struck me was hearing Istanbul in the background. The sounds of sea gulls and the traffic lol, it’s a combo that’s unique the place. I miss it a lot, I hope to go back soon.

[@aysemilabarut733]

As a turk living in Canada for the last 10 years thay sound also caught my ear. Sound of seagulls it's that one thing that can make my eye water and make me miss "home". I'm glad I wasn't the only one 😊

[@alivonal7442]

@@aysemilabarut733 ive mentioned this video to several people since first watching it. Just did something to me. All that was missing is that diesel smell. 😂 Those three years I spent there shaped my whole world. I guess that’s normal considering I was 15-18 years old. I met my future wife there for god sake. I miss it. I miss it like a phantom limb. I can still feel the place in my heart, physically. Anyway, cheers to you.

[@marah2109]

I agree with you .. I found Istanbul peaceful at night and I'm lucky to live in the Asian side cuz my neighborhood is very calm .. enjoy your time

[@amaria7735]

Which neighborhood is it? I'm looking at areas to move to myself as a single person

[@milomassage]

We're visiting Istanbul and absolutely loving it. The food, especially breakfast, is amazing. I was just talking to my partner about the noise-it's noticeable but, compared to New York, I find it much more pleasant. In New York, the noise is louder and more jarring, with all the jackhammering and constant honking. Here, at least, the noise feels purposeful and gives the city a vibrant vibe. That's just my opinion. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@doricadelafuente2444]

I have been to Istanbul five times now and I agree with everything you say. It is a beautiful city with beautiful wonderful people.

[@techypcs]

İm american and have lived in Istanbul for 13 years out of 18 alive. İ agree with all of your thoughts man!

[@camdendavid]

Love to hear it!

[@secaattinakyuz6778]

It is wonderful video, I totally enjoyed it. I have been many western countries that people are alone, young or old. They are not social or outgoing and homeless because of a lot of life pressures. People don’t care about each other and no sharing resources and thoughts. Turkish people are social, outgoing, and respectful. When Turkish people hangout in groups they share their thoughts, resources and they care each other. So, They are mentally healthy even they’re poor. Their friendship bounds so strong that keeps them mentally alive. It is great.

[@gubidikk]

You explained Istanbul wonderfully in every aspect, it was a sincere, heartfelt and informative video. I hope you come again, with love from Kadıköy / Istanbul.

[@MichaelKonski-kd5xc]

Was there for over 2 years and never had a problem!! Great honest people.

[@camdendavid]

Agreed!

[@Jeff_The_Weatherman]

As a future American "world-revolving retiree", Turkey is on my list. I look forward to watching your other videos from the other places that I plan to visit. Knowing that those in Istanbul take care of stray cats and dogs warmed my heart.

[@tabbylondon2382]

I’ve been 14 times and I loved every trip. It would be interesting to see how life has changed recently. Great to hear your unfiltered thoughts. You are spot on.

[@camdendavid]

Do you have another trip planned?

[@tabbylondon2382]

@@camdendavid yes, very soon

[@GregoryIngle]

I'm an American living in Istanbul. Great video. 💯 I agree with all of it. I love it here.

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated! Which part of the city are you in?

[@GregoryIngle]

@@camdendavid Kaghitane. I'm near Vadistanbul as a touch point.

[@user-zx1sx9bj5t]

Maybe you will love it more in your country.

[@ZaurielRuno]

So glad to hear it 😊 enjoy the beautiful city ❤

[@goktug4618]

Over the past 20 years, the call to prayer, or "ezan" as we call it, has noticeably become louder and longer(?). Additionally, the number of mosques has increased disproportionately compared to the population. While I’m not sure if there’s data showing whether mosque attendance has gone up or down, it doesn’t seem to matter much since apart from important religious holidays and Friday prayers, mosques are often empty. Istanbul is a massive city, and the area where you’re staying is the old town, which was originally built for pedestrians or perhaps horses. That’s why the streets are so narrow, leading to more honking. I’m willing to bet that if you removed the taxis and dolmuş (shared taxis with set routes), the overall honking would drop by 70%. Stray animals aren’t what they might seem at first glance. I know they can look adorable and it may seem heartwarming to see them roaming around, but there’s a much deeper issue here. There’s a growing perspective on stray animals, especially dogs, which cause significant problems. People who feed and care for them may think they’re helping, but in reality, they’re making the dogs' lives worse. Living on the streets leaves these animals dependent on humans 24/7, and they often overeat because they can’t regulate their intake. While local authorities try to vaccinate and improve their health, there simply aren’t enough resources to properly care for all of them. Sadly, there have been numerous incidents of dogs attacking the elderly and children. The reason you see so many stray dogs here, unlike in Western Europe, isn’t because Turks are more kind-hearted or Europeans are indifferent it’s a matter of different approaches to the issue.

[@beckysam3913]

its the "no capture , no kill policy" and it works fine, human species are not the owner of earth alone.

[@tubabalcikli9460]

Her seye bi salca olmasaniz olmuyor ha. Adam guzel guzel anlatmis kendi tecrubesini. Genel konusuyor iste hic bilmeyenlere yonelik. Kalkip videoda IBBnin sorunlarini mi paylasacak? Guzel bi seye guzel diyememek nereden gelen bi eziklik ve ozguvensizlik acaba?

[@PassportDates]

I'm an American living in Istanbul (married to a Turkish man) and it was interesting to hear your thoughts. Really well explained, thanks.

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated! Hope you're having a great time in Turkey :)

[@derindeniz9975]

Benim kızım da bir Fransız ile evlendi. Seneye Türkiye'ye gelecekler. Umarım çok mutlu olursunuz bu güzel aşk şehrinde 😊

[@semprefidelis76]

Just curious what state are you from in the U.S. Trying to figure out where in U.S. are women more receptive to Turkish guys lol. Greetings from California and I would swap locations any day if money was not an issue

[@PassportDates]

@@semprefidelis76 Lol didn’t expect this question. A little complicated to answer. Born in Florida, raised in Idaho, lived in Southern California for the past ten years. But also lived in France and England in between. But actually I knew nothing about Turkish men, so I can’t say whether I was open to marrying one. 🤣 I was set up on a date by a close friend while I was visiting (that she called a networking meeting, not a date). But in general I am a little bothered by being approached by men on the street here. So again, hard to judge this from me as an example, maybe? But hopefully useful in your research !

[@semprefidelis76]

@@PassportDates Thanks for the answer. Well I can`t figure out the American women even after having lived in the U.S for 20 years. Not kidding. As much as I am more Americanized, it is almost like they are from a different planet. What I mean by that is, I never get any attraction from (white) American women or women of other ethnicities who lived here for a long period of time, such as Latinas, etc. I have confidence in my looks. As you know, Turkish guys pay attention to their looks, clothing etc. I also work out religiously, jawline, skincare routines etc. Exactly 6ft 182 cm, not tall, but not short either. I am chatty, smiling and even cold approach to women sometimes. So I don`t think I am the problem. NOTHING works with women. The difference between American women and European women is like day and night. One reason is, there is a huge obesity epidemic going on. 70% of women are obesely overweight here. Have no attraction. But funny thing is, even a 200 lbs walking beluga whale will not do any eye contact with me. Is it part of the culture? Can`t still figure out. Whereas, if I walk in a city center in Germany or especially in Eastern Europe, women are constantly showing interest! I see them noticing and doing prolonged eye contact. Even in Turkey, wherein women are kind of more conservative, I had one Turkish girl literally approach me in the subway. WTF. I live in Orange County, Southern Calif for the record. Lived in Jacksonville FL for like a year. Having lived in Europe must have changed you (for the better)

[@edaspeaks]

Props to you for recording all of this in one take and no editing or altering. Helps that you’re easy on the eyes too. 😅 Istanbul will always welcome you, thanks for visiting.

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the kind words :)

[@edaspeaks]

@@camdendavid anytime sir

[@Mayaperest]

I'm a singer-songwriter living in İstanbul, and most of your points are true. We as turkish people also complain about the honking, and the overall sound pollution. Cihangir, Moda, Maçka are some neighborhoods where it is calm and overall quiet :) Most of my musician friends complain about the constant noise when they are producing their music. In the city center, it is almost impossible to record any music haha. Thanks for the video!

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for sharing this! Much love :)

[@cicekbocekkelebek]

I am Turkish Canadian, lived 30 years in turkey and 10 in canada and now lat 7 years back in turkey. I have mixed feelings about Turkey. I agree with all u say but have to add that up until 2000, it was awesome, much safer, much nicer, at least 70 percent less religious. I am lucky to have enjoyed my best years in this city, it is still nice but hope one day it goes back to what it was, cause it was absulately amazing

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate you sharing :)

[@yfk1989]

Nah “70 percent less religious”. Sadece insanlar ortaya çıkmaya korkardı. Tvde temsil edilmediği için yok sanıyor olabilirsiniz ama vardılar. Ya cidden siz dindar insanların akepeyle ortaya çıktığını mı sanıyorsunuz? Totomla gülüyorum bu bakış açısına😂😂😂 Şu an dindar tayfa daha az “dindar”. Emin olun bu böyle. Fazla özgürlük ortamından açılan kızlar mı dersiniz, fındık kıran oğlanlar mı dersiniz… Nereye gidiyor bu muhafazakarlar? Nerede eskinin muhafazakarı? Yok, öldüler. O yüzden less filan değildi o istatistik eskiden. Bilakis daha fazlaydı, asıl şimdi az. Oy oranları geleneksel ve gelenekçi insanımızı temsil ediyor. Dindarı değil. Zaten bu farkın ne olduğunu idrak edebilseniz, akepe bizi yönetemez.

[@derindeniz9975]

Döndüreceğmiz günü iple çekiyorum. Umarım iktidar parti kaybeder.

[@Alaryil]

Turkey was actually more religious 20 years ago. But now Thanks to Erdogan and refugees, people are disgusted by religion, the young generation, even older people have become atheists or deists, social media has also played a major role in the decline of religion in Turkey, the mosques are empty, the students of imam schools graduate as atheists😂 it’s weird but it’s the result of mixing religion with politics the more they shove religion down everyone's throats, the more people will go the opposite way

[@b.a.cicikus]

He meant "religious oppression by government" when he says "less religious" and yes he's right. I'm Turkish, I don't know who you are, even your name is hidden but I can confirm that in contrast to widely known, Turkiye is not all muslim like in Arabic countires, we have a secular civil constitution, the state is not defined as "muslim", everyone is free but yes there's an oppression and as a result more people turned their backs to religion after 2000's or fleed to more modern EU countries. And it's a lie that more westerners developing interest to islam, they're just tourists visiting mosques, they know what islam is. They see it in west europe. And noone cares if you like to hear adhan or not. If it was a loud music in the middle of the night, I'm sure you would call the police. So...leave this hypocrisy and fake "nice and calm muslim" attitude. I reveal the real face of people like you.

[@BGWee]

The friendship and social culture in Istanbul is super nice. I live in London and it feels soooo unfriendly in comparison.

[@emip3008]

To find friendly people in the UK, you should perhaps go to a small village. But friendships are defined differently in the UK. You rarely visit someone's home, even if you are friends. People don't want to seem to "pry" in someone's life. But most of all, I think they simply don't know what it's like to be friendly for real. They like it when they do encounter true friendliness, but it leaves them kind of paralysed, and they don't always reciprocate. Example: I cook a lot and share things with my neighbour , but she has never shared a single thing with me, and I've lived next to her for 18 months.

[@misttborn]

thank you for the kind and unbiased comments

[@turkswhoeat]

Really enjoyed this video, it’s great to hear these thoughts on our favorite city

[@camdendavid]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@noorsaadeh]

I guess since I hang out in Sultan Ahmet area more a pedestrian zone I love the sounds of the tram, the ferries, the seagulls!

[@TimBoyle-q6b]

I'm an American li ing here for 14+ years. Adjusting to the difference from America was a little strange at first, but once I got used to the variances, I found I loved it.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear that! Which area of town did you settle in?

[@TimBoyle-q6b]

@@camdendavid we're out in Gokturk - about a 15 minute drive or 20 minute Metro ride to the airport. It has gone from a sleepy little town of 10,000 to a bustling area of 65,000+. Where are you at?

[@sebrush7422]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and observations in a very sensitive and considerate way. You seem to be such a lovely person. I think this is why you were able to enjoy and appreciate Turkey and her people, who are the kindest, most hospitable, and most caring. They wrap their arms around you with their eyes, smiles, and words. It is a great place to go if you are depressed. I hope you have a great time during the rest of your trip.

[@camdendavid]

Aw, I appreciate the kind words. Much love :)

[@greytravels4311]

Enjoy watching your vids. I spent 3 weeks in Istanbul last year and I'm head back this Fall for another two weeks. Loved it and will head to some of your suggestions. Keep up the great work.

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated -- Hope you have a great time this fall

[@AlpHan-o5g]

I was born and raised in Istanbul, your comment made me so happy. Come enjoy your time. Hope people treat you well here.

[@regliyimziya8676]

Some of the best memories of my life came from when I was in one of those 8-10 men group hang outs lol. So yeah we enjoy it. Welcome to Istanbul

[@xyttra]

You're always welcome in Istanbul Camden :)

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated :)

[@ozgebayer6652]

I live in Istanbul since born and I do not use taxi. Very expensive and feeling not safe ( ofcourse there are good taxi drivers for sure).This is my personal opinion. I prefer Marmaray. It is the best transportation in Istanbul:)

[@camdendavid]

Appreciate you sharing

[@akgulcur]

As a person from Istanbul, I really like your descriptive narration which is mostly a fact about the city 😃 but I have to add that I also lived in NYC and I can say that NYC is much noiser than Istanbul especially the Manhattan. Nonetheless, there are so many similarities between two cities except for the cats 😅 when I turn back from the NYC to Istanbul, I realized that how much I miss cats 😂

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate you taking the time to share this :)

[@akgulcur]

It's my pleasure 😊 thank you for sharing this video ​@@camdendavid

[@SalaciaAqua]

wherever you go there you are

[@a2zin125]

Greece has a similar situation with cats and dogs. They all have sponsors.

[@matthewedmonston5700]

visiting this month. so stoked!

[@camdendavid]

Hope you have a great time!!

[@ifwallace1]

What a charming chap. Insightful and accurate report. Yes, Istambul is fantastic and the people are wonderful on the whole.

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the kind words and support

[@EnderElohim]

1:45 Taxi part gonna be probably replaced soon btw Taxi terror need to end and we have one guy fighting to chance it like crazy

[@baturvardar123]

humans naturally more friendly and supportive towards what they currently own. when I travelled around the world as a Turk, I always tought no country or city can match Istanbul at making you feel alive. And I was telling myself, "You think that Istanbul is more vibrant than anywhere else because it's your hometown and you're not a stranger there; it's impossible for you to be impartial." But whenever I talk to the foreigners that visited İstanbul, they always talk about how vibrant İstanbul is.

[@LiGd33znu75]

As a Turk, I wish you'd seen the place 15-20 years ago Great commentary, very refreshing perspective. Hope you had the best time, come back again :)

[@expatlifestyle2000]

Just found your channel and dig it. Looks like we are on a similar path. Keep up the good vids.

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate that! Wishing you all the best

[@joededimanadedi]

There are definitely neighborhoods that are on the quieter side as you've pretty much chosen a central area near most of the tourist attractions. I remember coming back to Istanbul after a year in Japan, where people basically only use their horns to thank one another, it was a culture shock for me as well even though I am a local, but I think we are still no where near as bad as India in terms of honking or maybe I'm just setting the bar too low 😅

[@noonoo914]

So glad I somehow came across this video! What a gentleman you are and how beautiful you explained everything…following the channel now and looking forward to watch more videos ♥️

[@camdendavid]

Thank you for the kind words and welcome to the community! Much love

[@kimberlythomas4373]

It’s that call to prayer….. it’s consistent and loud. I loved it when I visited Istanbul though ❤️❤️❤️

[@TheArchiv-Ist]

Turkish here, your description of honking cracked me up😂 love your observations ❤

[@camdendavid]

Much love ❤️

[@enisbilgin3882]

Seven hill city as Romans called when they built walls around 7 hills, food is just amazing, there is only a couple of countries are comparable

[@camdendavid]

Would absolutely agree haha

[@ms.schnapp7415]

Appreciate your thoughts. You're definitely selling Istanbul and Turkey well! What are the other two cities in your top 3?

[@camdendavid]

So tough to rank and I probably need to make a whole video explaining how/what I’m evaluating but right now it’s: 1. Amsterdam 2. Cape Town 3. Istanbul

[@bblunder]

Worst part is that the whole experience could be better. I am a student who is planning to study abroad either in United States or UK, Germany, Italy etc. There are just so many potential in this country we constantly throw away

[@mrvactnky]

It was really nice to hear your observations 🤍

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support

[@Msaif2007]

I think you forgot to mention about the language Turkish and how important it is to know the language if you plan to live there in the long term.

[@kimberlythomas4373]

Yes! We would definitely see those groups of men hanging out. My first thought was where’s the women’s groups? (I’m from the U.S.).

[@camdendavid]

My wife and I were asking the same thing!

[@selinb8845]

@kimberlythomas4373 usually the older retired Turkish men likes to hang out in groups to have conversation,drink some tea and play backgammon.

[@salihkayadibi9023]

Woman get together homes making tea party with lot of pastry and food to eat on side so they kick men out they have to wander around untill wife's get back to home

[@derindeniz9975]

​@@salihkayadibi9023😂😂🙄

[@xyttra]

Those honks are almost always from the public transport vans which are privately owned. They like to use their honks and zip around traffic.

[@MrDodobir]

Renting a flat located next to a minaret of a mosque is a huge rookie mistake 😊 Thanks for the awesome video. As a turk i enjoyed it a lot.

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated :)

[@ipekbaltacioglu2625]

Thank you for your kind words 😊 I feel like sometimes people don’t see through turkish culture and istanbul as general.

[@ksc743]

Love this format. The background noise isnt intrusive over your voice btw😊

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated :)

[@ozlemeda2852]

pretty accurate ❤ welcome to Istanbul, it's a hectic city but.. There's no place like Istanbul. Much love stay safe

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for the warm welcome ❤️

[@investinnnnn]

Honking is used to remind that the yellow lights are about to turn on ))

[@alphaauer9755]

Thank you from an Istanbulite Camden!

[@camdendavid]

Much love

Istanbul is not a city to live in but to tour (too much traffic, too many people, hard to commute, expensive). I love smaller, quieter towns in Turkey, they're the best.

[@burakkocabal4992]

It is a community oriented culture. So true!

[@incogyt]

Did you notice the merchant cargo ships and oil tankers etc flowing through the Bosporous ? Can’t get that in almost any city. Also it’s blue all over since it’s not a river though it looks like one

[@Minerva14714]

Istanbul is very crowded that is why it’s so noisy. We are constantly building apartments, people going everywhere anytime of the day. If a city past 10 million population it’s so hard to live in it.

[@gdon2897]

Heads up on the balcony railing sir, it does NOT look very safe. Maybe you could talk on being careful about uneven. unsecured, unsafe, unregulated things there? Just an idea, cheers

[@sarcasmicro]

You almost experienced every unique experiences in the town 😅 really enjoyed to hear your thoughts about it 😊

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated

[@denizkenber]

Istanbul was originally built on 7 hills and now that its expanded so wide I cant guess how many hills!!😂

[@jeminaification]

You had me laugh out loud with the hills comment. Yes, they are many and very real, and yes they will keep your legs fit! 😄

[@camdendavid]

100% haha

[@trexeyesonly55]

Smoking is a real problem

[@melissa3232]

Turkish, living in Spain for 7 years. I was already considering moving back home. This video kind of highlighted some of the things I started to miss about home. I used to live on the Asian side, near Bagdat street, and whenever I went to the European side I felt like I have travelled to a different country.

[@Tech-Corner2023]

ben donus yaptim ve bin pismanim... Turkiye gitgide kotulesiyor, dolandiricilik cok cok yaygin, hersey insani strese sokuyor, hicbir sey duzgun degil. ve cok cok pahali, eskisi gibi degil. cevre, toksinler, gunluk adalet bile bu tur seyleri kimse takmiyor, herkes duyarsiz, herkes ben ne kadar daha alabilirim bu sistemden diye dusunuyor.. yalan soylemek cok normallestirilmis, kimse de merak, ogrenme, dinleme, kendini sorumlu tutma ve cevresine sorumlu hissetme gibi duygular kalmamis

[@camdendavid]

Hope you get to visit home soon 😄

[@emip3008]

They really are SO different! I also like how they give the weather forecast separately for the European and the Asian side! Avrupa Yakasi - Anadolu Yakasi. Hilarious;) I lived in Çiftehavuzlar and it was the best spot ever, on a quiet street, which luckily wasn't convenient for motorcyclists.

[@ThankGod10]

Im a reg visitor & loved ur video; wish there is a way to give it 💯 likes

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support!!

[@ezilmez1]

Love İstanbul and Türkiye.

[@camdendavid]

[@smesui1799]

Overall, Turkish culture is very rich.

[@camdendavid]

Absolutely

[@aysiiays1122]

I think the people who talk about scama are people who do not like Turkey. Because they don't want tourists to go to Turkey and make it popular. We can say that Turkiye is the safest country in Europe. When I am in europes most famous and big cities (barcelona, paris, rome) I feel uncomfortable but in istanbul it is not like that. Come and see beautiful istanbul.

[@midachan]

I'm from central Asia and I was considering entering university in Turkey but I'm not ood at Turkish language so I was wondering if there are many people who speaks English or Russian?

[@camdendavid]

I only speak english and didn't have a problem communicating :)

[@zeyna1881]

I loved how you summarized your observations... Asian side is more calmer and nicer to live by the way:) foodwise what you mention is mostly street food... try to find places that make home food type of meals... much healthier with lots of veggies:) if you like to cook, you should not miss the food markets set-up once every week in almost every neighborhood

[@camdendavid]

Absolutely :)

[@turky6834]

and balık dürüm is not a new food. it can be called balık ekmek or balık dürüm and its probably thousands of years old.

[@turky6834]

some of your opinions surprised me as a Turkish person. Yes in some neighborhoods the culture and atmosphere can be completely different but in general between european side and asian side I definitely dont think there is a major difference. the difference stems from the differences of the neighborhoods and districts not the continents. if you go to greece athens you would probably experience the same culture in general with a different religion. this is not only valid for greece but for most of the balkan countries. especially bulgaria and macedonia. And Istanbul is not the whole Turkiye. There are a lot more cities with completely different cultures and atmospheres. in general you can split Turkiye in 7 areas. Marmara, aegean, meditterranean. black sea, central anatolia, east anatolia and southeast anatolia. each areas have their unique culture and way of living. main reason is climate.

[@2che]

I'm a Turkish girl who lives in the Netherlands, I love Istanbul it's a beautiful country but I think I'm use to the Dutch architecture and the cleanlines, so I find the ledsigns that's everywhere unnecessary and ugly, unfinished buildings or the historic buildings that's renovated incorrectly makes me really sad. But the cats, people and the food makes it worth to go

[@camdendavid]

I hope you're enjoying the Netherlands! It's one of my my absolute favorites :)

[@Mo_Hamd72]

Stay where you are. Turkiye does not need you.

[@zissumanter]

Last 20 years construction is unending around my aparment. Constant road blockages , dust and endless construction NOISE DAY AND NIGHT. Sidewalks ruined ubder the heavy weight of cobstruction deliveries.

[@sciencelearnremember]

Come to Philadelphia's neighborhoods, migration and noise are way louder than here. ;)

[@cicekbocekkelebek]

Thanks for your video.

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for watching

[@isilmonika]

You can get a culture shock just by traveling to different areas of istanbul. You should see more :)

[@camdendavid]

Absolutely :)

[@Markhoca]

YOu worked this out from one month?! Impressive. 🌸

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated!

[@vlkngrt8805]

Every other city is small and boring if you get used to live in İstanbul. If you go somewhere else İstanbul call you back.

[@YounessAlvandi]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really like these videos. One comment about Turkish cuisine is that it’s not super vegan friendly. unfortunately!

[@serhatdemir3293]

You'd be surprised by the variety of vegan options in Tr. Foreigners think that we only eat kebab. On the contrary, this land is very rich of vegetables, and we have plenty of delicious vegetable dishes.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear you enjoy this format. I'd agree that there's a big emphasis on fish/meat but I have noticed quite a few vegan places opening around the city :)

[@esoterra8050]

literally, one of the first things turkish kids do is trying to light a cigarette with their little baby fingers. The state is trying so hard to fight this and is actually doing a great job, so much so that other countries are even importing some of their ideas.

[@nothing23681]

Yeah inflation is a REALLY big problem. Even elementary schoolers talk about it.

[@adjmm]

Well done 👍

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated

[@fancyAlex1993]

How difficult it is to navigate for english speakers

[@camdendavid]

Not too difficult. It's harder than most of western Europe but I've only had to pull out a translation app a handful of times

[@ahmetnumanduman8653]

What kind of differences did you find between european and asian sides? Asian side is a little bit more peaceful other than that I see no difference.

[@natasha_nom_de_guerre]

Excellent video! Very good perspectives. The situation with the dogs, and their being so overweight/unhealthy is really sad and something that is not talked about enough. Maybe you can bring attention to the new Turkish law that has been signed about the euthanasia of street dogs. It will be a genocide of street dogs throughout the country. The dogs don't have the same PR as the cats, and need more support.

[@ОльгаДенисенко-к8ъ]

Glad to see someone brought this up, thank you. The new law actually pertains to cats as well, but stray dogs are their no 1 target. It definitely should be brought to the attention of tourists visiting Turkey coming from countries where attitude to animals is more humane. It's true to some point that a lot of people are taking care of street cats and dogs but the reality is dark. Cats are everywhere because there is no animal population control. Most of them will not survive past their early months hit by cars, killed my diseases or people (the violence to animals is very widespread). I know it firsthand as someone who lives in Istanbul for 4 years and volunteering for stray cats in my neighborhood. Neutering is the only way forward, yet the government decided massive killings are a shortcut solution. Animal lovers will keep doing their job no matter what but the turn things took with Turkey in the past few years are breaking my heart.

[@derindeniz9975]

​@@ОльгаДенисенко-к8ъKesinlikle katılıyorum. Köpekleri istemeyen büyük bir kitle var. Birkaç kişinin ölümüne neden oldukları için hepsini uyutmak istiyorlar, ya da sahiplenin diyorlar ama İstanbul'da bir dairede bu sorumluluğu maalesef ki alamıyoruz. 😢

[@prohacker5086]

Gaziosmanpaşa-Bağcılar'dan yeterince uzakta durduğun sürece sıkıntı yaşamazsın :D