istiklal caddesi is having a face-lift for some time now. literally the whole street and the parallel ones(trees as well) are being pulled out (which is a traditional municipality act). instead of the stones that i loved so much, now we are going to have granites. and the street remains a nightmare, although i try to avoid going, it becomes inevitable and i find myself playing the game “pitfall”, but my burst of joy is taken from me as i see the new granited-istiklal behind the shovels. it is like seeing one of your friend after a nose job and you cannot decide if the new beautiful nose is actually beautiful. so i look to the new granited side rather doubtfully, seeing a part of nisantasi (the 5th avenue of istanbul)there, rather than good old istiklal. and i know, because it is impossible to leave it, i’ll go for loving it.