Istanbul Protests

What the Turkish media tried to hush up was all over the international news. The Gezi Park protests were going on during the time we were in Istanbul and were the main topic of conversation all around. It was a special time to be in Istanbul, watching and experiencing so many Turkish people defending their rights. I will never forget the one evening we spent walking around Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Just getting there was an adventure....soo many people crowding the road!
The atmosphere was very intense, peaceful but very lively at the same time. Lots of banners everywhere, people giving away free food, groups of people dancing traditional dances to catchy Turkish music, smashed and burnt police vehicles with protest grafiti. Some people had created a protest museum in a former police trailer with images of the protest, articles, quotes etc. It was creatively lit with tea lights inside cups that were taped on the walls among the displays. Well done whoever did this.
The core of the park was packed with people and tents, almost impossible to navigate. Luckily the evening remained peaceful. The rumour was that the police would get back in action against the protesters in a day or two.

In the evening at 9pm all protest supporters who were not in Gezi Park would flash the lights in their houses on and off and lean out their windows while banging on pots for 15-30 min. We participated in that several times with out hosts. It was exciting to see so many flashing windows in all the apartment buildings in our friends neighbourhood.

BEST WISHES TO TURKEY!!!!!