Anyone Here Ever Been To Istanbul?

[Gail Simone]

Not Constantinople!

If so, what's it like?

Best,

Gail

[EdContradictory]

I've been to New Amsterdam.

[PatrickG]

Is it any of our business what it's like?

I thought it's the business of the Turks.

[GremlinClr]

Y'know I bet more people know the song then actually know anything about the city. :)

It's quite a catchy little ditty.

[Kahnno6]

Honestly though -- if you know the song, what more do you NEED to know?!

[Tink!]

My mom said it's nice. I could ask for more details, but there's a very good chance I'd regret it. I do think she prefers visiting Antalya (sp?), though.

I suppose I should check the place out sometime. After all, it's only an hour's flight (or so) from here.

[matterconsumer]

Not Constantinople!

If so, what's it like?

Best,

Gail

It's like you know you turkey!!!

[Tad Sivana]

Rent 'From Russia With Love' at your local video store!

[The Xenos]

Heh. I was just reading a book about the history of the Orthodox Church. I left off at the fall of the major Christian center of Contantanople to the Turks. It actually was a bunch of poeple business other than the Turks. Quite amazing stories.

-Xenos

[abbas.khan]

try the doner kebabs :)

[Cam63]

I've never been and have no desire to.

[Lone Ranger]

Gail

I spent a week there (nearly a month in Turkey altogether) about 10 years ago.

It's a great city - very vibrant, the people are extremely friendly and it is quite affordable. I was on a backpacker's budget so I can't really make any lodging recommendations.

If you get the chance to head south down the coast or head into the interior - don't pass it up.

Still one of my favourite countries - I plan on returning.

[Lanfeust]

Yep, usually every two or three years. It is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Some districts are no different than the modern shopping centers in Paris or Rome. But there are still the old city districts.

The old city districts lay at the bosphorus shore and the golden horn. There are also the large part of the historical buildings like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the palaces and the train stations in classical 19th century architecture. There are also the famous basars. The closed one, where you can find everything from jewellery to leather clothing and carpets, mostly visited by tourist and the egyptian basar, where every kind of food and spice can be found. After scouring the city the best way to pass the time is sitting in a restaurant either on the shore or in one the many rooftop restaurants eating seafood and watching the ocean and the ferries. The People are friendly and helpful. And that's good because the city is a real maze.

You can also watch the penultimate episode of the last season of the amazing race. They had a some good shots of istanbul. Or substitute the churches in a mediterrenean town like athens or rome with mosques and you have good inkling how it looks. Best visiting time is the fall season.
The Times has some interesting articles here http://e-paper.timesonline.co.uk/turkey/13006/page.html on Turkey in general and the museums and historical buildings in Istanbul

[Lunar Daydreamer]

My dad went to Turkey and said he'd never, ever go back again. said it was dirty and the people were horrible :S

[the4thpip]

try the doner kebabs :)
I prefer the lavas (the "s" is pronounced like a sh). It's thinner bread, like very thin pizza dough that is baked fresh, while the döner is in pita bread. Lavas has less carbs, too.

I live in a largely Turkish neighborhood here. The food is amazing.