I wanted to tell a tale of Istanbul. And Istanbul gave me the most magnificent of tales. I wanted to draw its picture - and unexpectedly, it unfolded all its colors generously, with ecstasy...

It wasn't easy to describe a city so exultant, always surprising, a city that you can't get enough of exploring and that is sassy with its uniqueness. To describe it, I needed to understand it and to understand, I had to chase after my feelings. I faced 8,500 years of history, as well as the 21st century metropolis... I wrote this book to be worthy of Istanbul's name.

As you get lost in the pages, you will see a journey through Istanbul from a viewpoint you haven't seen before, the richness of Istanbul with buildings that have never previously appeared in the same frame.

I tell you about an Istanbul. An Istanbul that is multicultural, multicoloured, blending the old and the new, keeping differences side by side in its bosom, reconciling resentments with its beauty, amazing with its history. I held onto the wings of a seagull and wandered around my beloved city. I left room for you too. Trail behind me and watch a journey of Istanbul from another perspective. You will be surprised about how much this tale has yet to unveil..