Text and photos by Elena Siemens
Istanbul Airport, its front lobby resembling at once a fairytale and a sci-fi movie. The ceiling lights bring to mind intergalactic travel. I’m both in awe and wary.
The smoking lounge is straight from the film classic Casablanca (1942), it has that same multinational and multilingual cast of characters. Any time now I’m expecting to hear “Play it again, Sam” (Casablanca).
The destination board lists Paris, Accra, Shanghai, London, Moscow… It’s an all-inclusive port of entry, like Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca where everyone gathers around Sam’s piano to hear him sing: “it’s still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die.”