Eight-year-old girl in Turkey’s Hakkari curious about Bosphorus Bridge realizes her dream

ISTANBUL

An eight-year-old girl from the Yüksekova district of the southeastern province of Hakkari, who recently became known after reports that her father had made a makeshift Bosphorus Bridge model for her, has realized her dream of seeing the bridge after coming to Istanbul on June 19.

Aydın Güder built a miniature replica of the Bosphorus Bridge for his daughter Yağmur because he could not afford to take her to the city. He built the model using curtain materials and umbrellas, adding lighting and seagull sounds to make it more realistic.

After news of the model was reported, the Istanbul Municipality sponsored the girl and her family members to come to Istanbul, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Yağmur and Aydın Güder were flown from Hakkari to Istanbul as an official from the municipality welcomed them at the airport.

Güder thanked the official for realizing his daughter’s dream, saying he hoped the other children who wanted to see Istanbul could also come to the city.

Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş hosted the girl and her father at the municipality’s facility in Istanbul’s Florya district, inviting the other family members to Istanbul as well. 

“Eight-year-old Yağmur Güder was very curious about Istanbul. We were very moved when we found out. They will be our guests in Istanbul until they are satisfied,” Topbaş said.

He also said they would visit symbolic sites in Istanbul during their stay including the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and the Sultanahmet Mosque.