Paul Osterlund

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Paul Benjamin Osterlund is a freelance journalist and writer based in Istanbul, Turkey. You can follow him on Twitter at @Paul_Osterlund

Stories

Cover Photo: Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Considering My Debt to Istanbul in the Wake of the Elections

“Today’s Turkey is a place where about half of the population is utterly dismayed by the state of affairs, while the other half couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Jul 18, 2018
Cover Photo: St Stev/flickr
A Resilient Istanbul Nightlife Despite Sobering Liquor Taxes

An inverse relationship between the price of a drink and Turkey’s stability.

Jun 14, 2018
Cover Photo: Old and New Turkey Square Off by Paul Osterlund
Old and New Turkey Square Off

“Turkey remains a country too complex and rich to split into tired binaries of east/west, secular/religious, and Old/New.”

May 03, 2018
Cover Photo: Guillén Pérez/flickr
Altering the Face of Istanbul’s Aesthetic Beauty

The state and the private sector foist unsightliness on an otherwise gorgeous Istanbul.

Mar 28, 2018
Cover Photo: Bağcılar's main pedestrian walkway. Photos provided by the author.
The Modern Reality of Istanbul’s Urban Chaos

Istanbul is a labyrinth of apartment blocks with limited green space for millions of its residents.

Feb 27, 2018
Cover Photo: Ozan Safak/unsplash
Ghosts and The City

“Gentrification and excessive development are major realities in major global cities, but in Istanbul, they’re on steroids.”

Jan 25, 2018
Cover Photo: Wikipedia
Flexibility and Frustration: Navigating Life Through Istanbul

“As Turkey becomes an increasingly difficult place to live, many friends and peers have become perplexed by my determination to stay here.”

Oct 12, 2017