Tarkan
by Lunamagica
One of the things I've discovered and now appreciate so much is the universal love Istanbul people have for Tarkan, the 'national' pop idol..... no matter where you go, whether in a taxi, a club, a shop, or a restaurant, you're bound to hear a song by Tarkan in the background. Notwithstanding all the controversies that are slapped his way time and again, Tarkan still is the undisputed ruler of the Turkish charts...and who can blame them....he truly is THAT good! Listen to any of his songs, and you'll know why....... (personal suggestion: TAS, KIS GUNESI, GITTI GIDELI or KUZU KUZU).
old fashioned courtesy
by iaint
I was on the metro last month (July 07) when I realised that it is normal etiquette for able bodied men to give up their seats to women if its busy! I must have been on ferries & trams many times before this, and not done the right thing.
Anyway, I know now and offer my apologies to anyone reading this who has been a past victim of my poor manners. I can remember one woman in particular - much younger than me, but wearing a neck brace - standing over me on a busy tram and giving me dirty looks!
All this used to happen in UK when I was young (50s and 60s) but not any more. Certainly, once womens' lib came along I decided equality means equality. Happy to do things the Turkish way when in Turkey.
How much tobacco and alcohol can you bring?
by ddevronn
Like everywhere else, there are limitations to how much tobbaco and alcoholic drinks you can bring in.
two boxes of cigarettes
50 cigars
200 grams of tobacco
2.5 liters of alcoholic drinks
Genoese Hilltop
by mrclay2000
The Bosporus ferry out of Istanbul eventually docks on the Asian side at the mouth of the Black Sea, the village of Anadolu Kavagi. On the hillside lie the ruins of a Byzantine/Genoese castle, but I confess I was too daunted by the presence of machine guns to ask admittance. As the entrance to the Bosporus from the Black Sea, this is a Turkish military station also. I'm sure people visit the ruins daily, but I was a little too gun-shy to ask the nearest gun barrel for instructions.
Meanwhile the friendlier merchants and restaurateurs swarm the planks to direct you to their establishments, which is generally more helpful than hindering. Prices are cheap in Turkey. You can get a great seafood meal for a few USD. I kept the fried mussels coming until the ferry left at 3:00 p.m. that afternoon.
Beware of Perfumes shops
by aliamiri about Traditional Bazaars
I suggest you to don't buy perfumes and eau de colognes in traditional or occasionally bazaars. Most of names and brands are fraud and fictious!
They yell loudly and invite you to buy a well-known perfume for example $10, if you refuse to buy they insist more and more and you may see they propose it for $2 at the end! so what do you think about the product? You can see a lot of such shops.
Of course the story will be different for some creditable shops in special markets.
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Galata Bridge - Istanbul
Just past the entrance.. very ornate already!
Westward views from the tower
Wonderful seafood restaurant with alfresco dining
