A Greek family traveled to the historic Boğazköy neighborhood in Istanbul’s Arnavutköy district to search for their ancestral home, which was left behind during the 1923 population exchange. Although they were unable to locate the exact 150-year-old house, the family was warmly embraced by current residents who helped them scour the area using old photographs. Local villagers shared traditional Turkish tea and coffee with the visitors, demonstrating genuine hospitality across cultural lines. Relatives George and Panagiotis Birmpoutsoukis expressed deep pride and emotion simply being able to walk the same streets as their forefathers. Local officials welcomed the touching reunion, calling it a beautiful reflection of the historic neighborhood’s shared past.
Batuhan Toprak