Newsletters
Popular American content creator Darren Watkins Jr., known online as IShowSpeed, livestreamed his visit to Istanbul's historic Galata Tower on Sunday, highlighting communication challenges faced by English-speaking tourists at one of Türkiye's most visited landmarks.
During the broadcast, Speed expressed enthusiasm about learning the tower's history but encountered difficulty when staff members were unable to communicate in English. The YouTuber, who has millions of followers, could only gather limited information about the medieval structure through the language barrier.
From what Speed understood during his interaction with tower employees, the landmark was conquered by Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, who captured Constantinople in 1453.
The content creator appeared impressed when he reached the tower's upper levels, praising the panoramic view of the Bosphorus strait with his characteristic exclamation of "W view" - internet slang meaning "winning view."
The 14th-century Galata Tower, standing 219 feet tall in Istanbul's Beyoglu district, offers visitors sweeping views of the city's historic peninsula and the Bosphorus waterway that divides Europe and Asia. The stone tower serves as one of Istanbul's most recognizable landmarks and attracts millions of international visitors annually.
3 min read
