1) On page 88 in David Bryne’s chapter “Istanbul,” he talks about bike riding to a beautiful and popular tourist attraction called the Topkapi Palace. Bryne doesn’t give us any more information about the Topkapi Palace other than the fact it is a tourist attraction. However, upon googling it, the Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul and was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years of their 624-year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed’s cloak and sword.

2) Upon reading Byrne’s chapter, I was saddening to hear his account of all the beautiful unique architecture being replaced with identical bland grey apartment buildings. I did appreciate Bryne’s attempt to see the beauty in the gentrification of neighbors by saying the residents might feel empowered by the new developments because they are leaving their past behind and are no longer “peasants”. The concept of gentrification is something that I am not a fan of and unfortunately it happens all across the world. However, despite seeing the bland ugly buildings, I liked how Bryne was still able to bike around Istanbul and come across beautiful areas with beautiful art and eclectic neighborhoods.