An article I wrote for Thrillist on the unique role that Istanbul’s verdant and storied cemeteries play in weaving together the city’s social fabric, and a bit of a love letter to the place that I’ve called home for the last decade. Read the full article here.

“Istanbul’s cemeteries reveal that its soul isn’t just etched into the bustling streets it’s known for but found in equal (though different) measure in the quiet groves and resting places hidden just out of view. They challenge the notion that vitality is a quality associated exclusively with the living and suggest that these are areas rich with potential for connection and community. In an increasingly urbanized and digital age, where solitude is often mistaken for solace, they remind us that our connection with the past may be part of the key to cultivating the communal spaces of the future.”