Crystal Lopez

There is nothing louder than silence, Quiet.

After being locked down in one of the most restrictive cities in the United States for most of the year and several tried but failed travel attempts, I finally arrived in Istanbul, Turkey. This city has become my refuge more than once the past 8 years. I still remember the first time I arrived to the great Constantinople, it felt like coming home from a century’s long journey. This city has a soul, if it had a spirit animal it would be a barn owl, old and wise, its vibrant colors are electrifying, mysterious and full of life, always moving, always going, most active at night. This pandemic was starting to take a toll on me, I need now more than ever for the city to calm the storm inside of me. I need my internal battery to be recharged, I need to feel the mundane of normal life again.