#102 Karakoy and Galata Bridge - Istanbul

The Galata Bridge is a constant hum of activity. On the bridge itself, fishermen stand shoulder-to-shoulder, their lines disappearing into the choppy waters of the Golden Horn below. Vendors weave through the crowd, trays laden with glistening fish sandwiches and steaming cups of çay. Musicians fill the air with melancholic melodies from their ouds, their music competing with the rhythmic clanging of the tram tracks running down the center of the bridge. Tourists snap photos, capturing the stunning panorama of the city on either side, while locals use the bridge as a quick shortcut, their hurried steps adding to the constant flow of movement. It's a sensory overload, a microcosm of Istanbul's bustling energy condensed onto a single, vibrant thoroughfare.