3 Days in Istanbul (click to view on YouTube)
As a world traveler I was always excited about going to Turkey, especially Istanbul, the city that literally never sleeps. So, we got the chance and spent 3 days in an AirBnB close to the Galatserai Bridge. The bridge between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the only city in the world which embraces two continents. It’s a city of tolerance and a melting pot of cultures, languages and opinions.
During our recent visit, we dined in an Indian restaurant; at tables next to us were Italians, Saudis, Usbeks, Germans, English and Americans; the owner was Turkish and the wait staff, Kurdish. As you can imagine, it was a cacophony of sound and gestures.
Istanbul is one town where you’ll never need an alarm clock. Six times a day the call from the mosques rings out over this incredible city. While the noise is frantic and the imams chant from the peaks of the mosques calling for prayer, the city is very western and primarily secular. The people are very friendly.
This was the first visit to Istanbul for myself, my wife Ruth McCartney, and her mum, Angie McCartney. It certainly won’t be the last. We fell in love the beautiful scents of Istanbul; a mix of incense, tobacco and flowers.
Here are some tips for traveling in Istanbul based on our recent adventures.
Taxi to Taksim Square (or anywhere else in Istanbul)
• A cab ride from Istanbul Atatürk Airport takes about 40 minutes and should cost no more than 75 Lira.
• Be sure to take a yellow cab with a meter and negotiate the price of the fair before you get in the cab.
• Since many cab drivers don’t speak English, it’s a good idea to have a screenshot of your destination on your smart phone to avoid misunderstanding.
• Also, make sure to save a picture of your starting location, so you know how to get home after your day or night excursions.
Tips on tipping
• When it comes to leaving tips, do not overdo it or you will never get rid of people. If service people spot you over-tipping, they will not leave you alone.
No “Thumbs Up”
• In Turkey, a “thumbs up” sign is a derogative gesture that’s considered quite rude.
The Old Bazaar
• In Turkey, everything is organized by street blocks and all the vendors work together. So, if you don’t buy a carpet or a scarf, you will be invited to spend money in the restaurant next door.
• Vendors profit from Westerners and are generally very nice, but they are also persistent. They will not let go unless you duck out and stealthily take a cab back to your base location.
• Bring money, because the jewelry is out of this world and every street shines with handmade lamps, pottery, shoes and hand-printed silk scarves, plus food like flash fried lamb nuggets, hand rolled flatbreads, kebabs and baklava.
• Even though obligatory prayer day falls on a Friday here, the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays.
Blue Mosque
• The Blue Mosque is an impressive piece of architecture, managed by over 6,000 people who take care of the grounds, the interior and the thousands of visitors Muslims and Christians alike. Entrance is free and the rules are clearly posted.
“Tea sugar dream”
• “Tea sugar dream” is an easy way to memorize tesekkür ederim, the Turkish phrase for “Thank you.”
Read the full article here…(Istanbul.buzz)
