The "Wrong Side of the Tracks"

There is a street in Istanbul that splits the community in half. As we drove to dinner this evening, our driver informed us that the "right side" was the place to be, but to avoid the left side at all costs. It was the oddest thing to see - as we drove down the street, we could see nice, clean homes and businesses, with bright lighting. The left side of the street was dark and the buildings were rundown, with broken windows. The difference was amazing.

However, the difference became more visible as the sun went down. Driving back from dinner, I saw people eating in cafes and relaxing on the "safe" side of the road. In contrast was the other side of the road, where I saw one homeless woman. Now, I have seen homeless people before in the United States, but I have never seen a woman with her two children. She sat on the street and begged for money, while her two children (I am guessing the ages were 4 and 1) were asleep in her lap. It was a horrible thing.