architecture

this building is found in the heart of old istanbul - in Capali Carsi. its age was the thing that first struck me, because decay always adds tremendous contrast and texture. i noticed soon after that there was a fig plant growing from a crack in the face of the building, desperately groping about with its protruding roots, trying to secure itself. i could not fathom its resillience. the way the roots stuck out showed how it was struggling, and visibly showing signs of its efforts.

again, i saw a relentless fig tree grasping for dear life on the left side of the window ledge. it gave the impression of something meaningful, a small but unmistakeable stain of green amongst a background of black and white, drab colors. i'm not sure why, but it reminded me of sartre's idea about the body as "being-for-itself". i wondered if the tree realised that there was a building there, or if this phenomenon was restricted to humans only.

here is a beautiful picture of the anatolian side of the bosphorus. i took the photo on the boat when the steam was blowing visibly into my view. i enjoyed a lovely cup of tea and watched the sunset that evening.