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dullnboring, you're absolutely right about how hilly Istanbul is! I'm young and in good shape but sometimes even I had to pause to catch my breath. I wonder what disabled Turks do if they're in wheelchairs -- I didn't see any ramps or anything like that. When I visited Athens they had a ramp for wheelchairs up to the Parthenon but it was so steep I bet it's still one challenging climb!
dullnboring, you're absolutely right about how hilly Istanbul is! I'm young and in good shape but sometimes even I had to pause to catch my breath. I wonder what disabled Turks do if they're in wheelchairs -- I didn't see any ramps or anything like that. When I visited Athens they had a ramp for wheelchairs up to the Parthenon but it was so steep I bet it's still one challenging climb!
I have to say, that is one area that from what I've seen, the U.S. really earns high marks with; handicapped accesibility. It seems most places in the U.S., come with ramps and handicap accessibile entrances, whereas from what I saw, it was an extreme rarity abroad.
Istanbul's hills really surprised me. I remember the area around Galata Tower being among the worst. Like you, I'm young and in good shape but I was huffing and puffing during my time in Istanbul, no doubt also due to my being there in the midst of a horrific heat wave.
I will be visiting Istanbul soon looking for a friend. Can you tell me about the local customs?
I'm assuming from your username that you're a woman. As far as dress goes, Istanbul is a bit more conservative than your average big American city, but you don't have to go about veiled or anything. Just wear pants or skirts that hit knee-length or longer, and try to keep your shoulders and cleavage covered. People might not say anything to you if you walk around with your cleavage hanging out, but the men will definitely stare and you'll feel uncomfortable. Bring along a scarf or bandana to cover your hair when you visit mosques. I used a regular little pink bandana and got into every mosque, no problem.
Try not to go into the mosques during prayertime. You'll know it's prayertime because you'll hear the "adnan", call to prayer, ringing out over the city. The adnan goes "Allahu Akbar, allahu akbar!" In Turkish a mosque is a "cammi" (pronounced jammi). Cover your head and go in, you'll probably be escorted to a screen-offed area with beads for you to pray with, if you choose. In the Blue Mosque and Fatih Cammi they let you walk around and explore the mosque a little.
To order food, say "_____ istiyorum, lutfen." That's pronounced "ist-ee-yor-um loot-fan". The blank spot is for the name of whatever you want, whether it's cola or a sandwich ("tavukburger" means chicken burger, "ekmek" is bread). I liked to order "tavukburger itiyorum, ve mayonaise, lutfen." That means "I would like a chicken burger with mayo, please." You'll see ads for "dondurma" everywhere, which is ice cream and desert. Turks make delicious ice cream! Definitely try kebaps, pide, and my favorite, kofte, which is kind of like spicy burgers. Don't eat the korkorec though, which is sheep entrails and really, you don't need to know more than that.
If you bump into someone on the street, say "Pardon, pardon." To greet someone, say "Merhaba!" or "Salaam!" You can introduce yourself by saying "Ben Jezebel" (I am Jezebel). If you use the internet, watch out for the undotted "i" -- it's pronounced like "uh" and it's on the place on the keyboard where the regular "i" is, but it's not the same and so hunt around a bit till you find the regular "i" on the keyboard.
Your Turkish friends may kiss you on the cheeks. Turks are more affectionate with friends than Westerners are, you'll see men and women holding hands with their same-sex friends as they walk down the street, kiss on the cheek, etc. Very cute! I highly doubt you'll have any problems with the Turkish men, I never did, other than some flirting. It's very unlikely a man will try and touch you or anything. You can get around Istanbul pretty handily by bus or boat. You don't buy your ticket on the bus, you get them at little shops near the bus stop that should have a sign saying something like "Billet" in the window.
Your Turkish friends may kiss you on the cheeks. Turks are more affectionate with friends than Westerners are, you'll see men and women holding hands with their same-sex friends as they walk down the street, kiss on the cheek, etc. Very cute!
That was one thing that surprised me when I went there. I had read about men in Arab countries walking arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand and there being nothing sexual about it, but didn't realize the practice extended to Turkey. It was fairly commonplace to see two men walking arm in arm and for nowhere to bat an eyelash, and I highly doubt that most of the men I saw doing so were gay. It's just a part of their culture where they're more touchy-feely, even amongst members of the same sex. I personally thought it was sort of cool.
I talked to some Turkish friends about the Russian women thing -- Turkey is a major tourist destination for Russians, and the Russian girls have a tendency to hit the bars, get drunk, and sleep around. So of course the Turkish guys think they've died and gone to heaven.
One thing I was telling a friend about today was "Allah Korusun" painted on the rear windows of all the cars -- probably because they drive so crazy. Turks drive on both sides of the street, the sidewalk, wherever's handy. Stop signs and redlights are merely suggestions. It was odd going from Turkey back to the USA, where we drive like good little sheep!
Sorry if my english is not perfect but i have read your posts about russian women... I'd like to say that maybe some girls are like those you described. But not all of them. Most of them are quite ordinary and come to Turkey only to have rest. And we face with the problem when turkish guys behave themselves rather bad.They aways gaze at us, try to touch, to pinch... As if they were crazy.I donno why they think that it is allowed, but it is really unpleasant. The number of turkish-russian marriages has increased much recently. But turkish guys loves us not for our blonde appearance but for our way of life.Our mentalities are very close,similar. Cos russian girls are more asian (if it is possible to say like that) than european. We are grown up with the ideas that we must be good mothers,good wives,and our carreer is not important thing,we are less ambitious.Turkish men knows that,they like that.Turkish girls try to be like european ones,they are very exacting.So turkish guys choose less difficult ways in making up their family life.I am engaged with a turkish guy.I dont drink spirits,i dont smoke.And there are millions of this kind of girls in Ukraine,Russia... And it really hurts when people use wrong stereotypes in describing this or that nation.
Hi bellka! I'm sorry if my post offended you. I was just repeating what my Turkish friends told me. I'm sure you're right, most of the Russians girls are probably nice girls. Probably a few give the rest a bad name.
Noo, i dont feel myself offended
I realize that if people say that then these acts of some girls really take place.Some girls just dont know (or dont want to know) that if you come to a country you should accept its rules and traditions.They dont understand that they are in muslim country and make people around think that we are all the same.I heard some girl said that they had to follow strickt rules,dress-codes of their companies for so much time that when they came to have rest they wanted just to relax.That is their "way of relaxing"
That was one thing that surprised me when I went there. I had read about men in Arab countries walking arm-in-arm or hand-in-hand and there being nothing sexual about it, but didn't realize the practice extended to Turkey. It was fairly commonplace to see two men walking arm in arm and for nowhere to bat an eyelash, and I highly doubt that most of the men I saw doing so were gay. It's just a part of their culture where they're more touchy-feely, even amongst members of the same sex. I personally thought it was sort of cool.
It is common in South Korea, too. I made several Korean friends and they would hold my hand as we walked. Naturally, it felt weird to this American, but I finally realized that it had nothing to do with sexuality, only friendship. I've always regretted not getting to Turkey while I was in the Air Force. I have friends who were stationed there and have wonderful memories of their time in Turkey. Maybe some day...
Just tripped over this thread and now I'm wanting to go back to Turkey. One of my favorite places. Wonderful friendly people, amazing things to see, and world class shopping. I always wanted to bring dishes back to the US but I never had room. I guess I just need to go again. Reading these posts brought back a lot of memories. MMMMM, dessert!
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