Buying Istanbul (low res version)

It’s exploitive and arguably even sacrilegious using the Blue Mosque as your hook, as a way to reel in a potential sale, but there is a saying here in Istanbul: You call it ancient, we call it still standing. The mosques, bazaars, palaces–the history of the city in general–are all simply means to an end. For many they provide basic survival, a way to put bread on the table. For others it is a cash cow, an opportunity to top off the new Range Rover.