Class 55 Istanbul: Perspective Shifts October 21, 2026 By Class55 Share: Today the rain clouds lifted, greeting us with sunny skies and new places to explore. We started our Sunday morning with a traditional Turkish breakfast, one that seemed so foreign when we first arrived, but now fulfilled a craving we didn’t even know we had. A taste for something new, once someone else’s normal, had quickly become part of our own. This is the true gift of traveling and learning about new cultures. We launched into the day with a brisk walk past historic Ottoman buildings and ornate mosques, set to the familiar rhythm of the call to prayer. By now, many of us thought we had our bearings, but it didn’t take long before we needed our guide to remind us where we had been just yesterday. “Is it that way? No, over there, near the Old City. Oh yes!” As one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to navigate the lay of the land while simultaneously absorbing its vast culture, history, and architecture. For many of us small-town fellows, it was a major shift. Crossing the Galata Bridge alongside local fishermen and their children, we enjoyed sweeping views of the city while witnessing locals going about their Sunday morning. The area shared a familiar, relaxed vibe—reminiscent of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Whether due to the quiet Sunday hour or simply because this was where locals came to unwind, it offered a peaceful contrast to the bustling streets we had explored the day before. Eventually, we made our way to Galata Tower, an ancient skyscraper standing in the middle of a modern city. As we climbed the stairs toward the entrance, we couldn’t help but think about the people who had touched those same stone walls hundreds of years before us. When we reached the top and were able to step out onto the viewing platform, suddenly everything started to make sense. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, the bridges, the European side, the commerce, and the neighborhoods we had walked through. All the places that had seemed so spread out and sometimes confusing from the ground were now right there in front of us. We could finally see how it all fit together. It was a posture of “Zooming Out” in the purest form. We needed to zoom out to really understand where we had been and why it was also so interconnected. The day before, we had been down in the streets, surrounded by the people, the history, the sounds, and the culture of Istanbul. We were experiencing it all up close, but it was sometimes hard to understand exactly where we were or how everything connected. From the top of Galata Tower, we could step back and see the bigger picture. Nothing about the city had changed, only our perspective. Leadership often requires us to move between the details and the bigger picture. We need to get close enough to understand the people and circumstances in front of us, but we also need to step back to recognize connections we might otherwise miss. Nothing about Istanbul had changed, but our perspective had. From Galata Tower, we wound along cobblestone roads through historic districts to marvel at the architecture. Descending into the financial district, we arrived at Salt Galata—a former Imperial Ottoman Bank turned cultural institution. On display was an exhibit titled Near Miss (2026) by artist Merve Bedir, which critiques modern workplace surveillance, AI, and body optimization, emphasizing the dangers of ignoring human limits. Nearby, a sister exhibit on global waste by Kamil Dalkir and Sibel Karadag tracked the physical toll on Istanbul’s recycling laborers, bringing issues of global inequality and waste export into sharp focus. These installations offered a vital narrative we would have completely missed had we stayed on the primary tourist routes. Leaving the cultural center, we resumed our outdoor exploration and boarded a ferry to Kadıköy, crossing from Europe to Asia. For most of our class, this marked their very first time setting foot on the Asian continent—just one of many firsts on this trip. In Istanbul, commuting between two continents is simply part of daily life. In Kadıköy, bustling markets, street food, vibrant cafés, and languages from around the globe offered a window into the city’s living rhythm. We walked through the fresh market “farmers market” and our agricultural roots were delighted by fresh fruits, nuts, olives, cheeses, fish, and meats. Our guide highlighted how this district developed its unique harmony and acceptance, shaped by centuries as a multicultural melting pot. Where Attention Goes, Connection Grows Our final official stop was the Spice Market, where Istanbul seemed to gather all its contrasts into one place. After a chef-driven lunch, we were ready for another culinary adventure. By now, Turkish food had become more than a succession of memorable meals. It was a way to experience the country’s history, traditions, hospitality, and everyday life.Inside a tiny spice shop, Class 55 squeezed in shoulder to shoulder. We sampled sumac, red pepper blends, dried mint, teas, and oils. Shopkeepers offered Turkish delight and poured pomegranate and apple tea. Some of us purchased saffron, spices, and sweets to take home, while others found remedies for the seasonal changes ahead. It was a feast for the senses and a reminder of another leadership posture check: currency, or where we invest our attention. Throughout our time in Istanbul, our guide, Cihan, helped us see beyond the landmarks. He shared stories about the city’s Ottoman heritage, changing neighborhoods, and cultural and political significance. His insights reminded us that understanding a place requires looking beyond what is immediately visible to the people, experiences, and history that shape it. You must look at the places you are visiting with a different lens, new perspective, to truly understand where you are. As we gathered outside the Egyptian Bazaar for our final instructions, Sunday shoppers moved around us, children chased cats, street vendors prepared corn and roasted chestnuts, and the call to prayer carried through the surrounding streets Cihan thanked our group and gave each of us a bar of soap scented like the traditional Turkish bath we had experienced the evening before. It was a thoughtful farewell to a city that had welcomed us through its food, traditions, stories, and hospitality. Packing for the Journey Ahead As we prepared to leave Istanbul for Egypt, we faced the practical challenge of fitting our new treasures into already-full suitcases. But we were taking more than spices and souvenirs with us. Istanbul reminded us that a city, like a community, reveals more when we take the time to see it from different perspectives. As Class 55 continued our journey, we carried with us new connections, unexpected stories, and a reminder to stay curious, embrace the detours, and look at familiar places with fresh eyes. With appreciation and thanks, Lisa, Jared & Kiaran and Class 55 We’re grateful to our guide Cihan for sharing his knowledge, personal perspective, and love for Istanbul, and for guiding us beyond the landmarks to discover the hidden corners and everyday moments that brought the city to life.