So I haven’t managed yet to put the other cities up (soon I promise!) but I have some UPDATES on ISTANBUL for you!

- NUBLU Istanbul is closed, it’s BABYLON LOUNGE again

- the tables and chairs to sit outside in the vibrant nightlife district of Asmalimescit are GONE! Taken away by the Municipality! FORBIDDEN! This is not only outrageous, but it will also ruin the small business and eventually make room for big cooperate government affiliated companies. Istanbul will die if this happens. So if you happen to travel to Istanbul, make sure to look out for local cafes, bars and restaurants like Otto, Local, Kulp, ROOK (at Sishane) and Quetal, Asmali Cavit (good meyhane), Zeytinli (also a meyhane), Helvetia (good pan food, home stlye, no credit card or alcohol though) and Yakup. Don’t be fooled by the bling-bling and polished appeal of chains. Don’t take Istanbul’s soul!

- And for the first time I got a look at the damages on the historic HAYDARPASA train station (see picture). The roof mysteriously caught fire a little over a year ago during renovations. Before the renovations started there were talks of plans by the officials to alter the function and purpose of the building (and the whole area with it in fact) and possibly it’s inside structure, which triggered protests. The company conducting the roof repairs that followed is owned by a former local official with the ruling party AKP. The papers wrote Istanbul’s heart is burning when this happened, mine was at least when I saw it. Let’s hope it will be restored to its original state.