Istanbul stopped me in my tracks. A Muslim country that feels deeply spiritual yet unmistakably secular—where faith exists without rigidity, and belief doesn’t demand uniformity. Mosques rise beside cafés, tradition alongside modern life, and people from everywhere seem to belong all at once.
What struck me most was the quiet contradiction—stepping into sacred spaces and finding reminders of how much we share. Familiar stories, familiar symbols, crossing religions and cultures. Different expressions of faith, different rituals… yet the same humanity at the core.
Walking these streets, you can’t help but wonder how a world so clearly connected still finds so many reasons to divide itself. Istanbul doesn’t offer answers—but it gently asks the question: what if we’re far more alike than we’re willing to admit?