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Showing posts with label FAQs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FAQs. Show all posts

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Don't Believe Everything You See and Hear About Istanbul

Istanbul may not be the heaven on Earth, but it isn't that hell either. The thing I realize about Istanbul photos that they are mostly from more traditional and conservative sides. The number of women are few or none.

This photo is from Istiklal Street at time time of Gezi Park events. I didn't take close-up photos in order not to include them in any blacklists. The men and women were all together. Istiklal Street has always been and is still so.

All photos below are really gorgeous, but will you notice something missing?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/istanbul-is-so-beautiful-it-actually-hurts#.wfd13pZbN

The answer: women! Istanbul can sometimes be a hard place for women, but we are not missing from the public sphere. And we are trying not to.

Those photos were from 2014. These photos are from 1971. Thankfully, there are more women present.

https://yadi.sk/d/uRHhhe8BdSsXW

Here is an older aerial shooting from British Pathé. It is from 1967. On the Galata Bridge, the guy says that there are no women. Today if you walk on the bridge, you won't probably see any women fishing, but there are many women walking, including tourists. That part of Istanbul is usually crowded, and despite a couple of words from some tackless men, it is quite safe.



I accept that recent years have been harder and harder, especially for women, but there is no reason to think that women, especially single women are invisible. You should always be careful, of course. However, except some notorious places, Istanbul is just like other metropoles.

Wednesday, 7 January 2015

How is the Weather in Istanbul

One of the first things that a traveller checks is probably the weather. Luckily, the weather in Istanbul usually isn't harsh. Keep in mind that humidity lasts for four seasons, because it is surrounded by Marmara Sea and Black Sea. If you are disturbed by humid weather in some way, take proper precautions, then everything will be allright.

Spring


Spring is my favorite season in Istanbul. Trees start to blossom, the sky is bright blue and the air is fresh. The typical spring scene in Istanbul is the pink blossom of judas trees all around. Especially the view from Bosphorus is spectacular. Spring is ideal for long walks along the European or the Anatolian coast. The angle of the sun is the best for photography. By this time, don't forget to visit the Prince Islands. The weather is usually warm and it doesn't rain much (particularly due to global warming, the spring period is getting shorter).



Summer


Summer is the time of sea! Istanbul hava some beautiful beaches (some of them aren't so clean, beware). You can try Kilyos, Sile and the Prince Islands. In my opinion, Kilyos beaches are the best, given the golden sands and the services. (You can see a relatively old photograph from Kilyos). The Prince Islands are in Marmara Sea, whereas Kilyos and Sile are in Black Sea. Marmara Sea has more dirt, but Black Sea can get crazy from time to time (thankfully, not frequently in summer). The weather is getting hotter every year. The experts say that it is half tropical now. Be careful about your time under the sun, especially if you have a light skin.



Autumn


Autumn feels like a sad season, because everything starts to fade away. However, it is also a feast of colours: greens, browns, reds, yellows, oranges... Although it may be rainy from time to time, you can take fantastic photos and walk along the coasts. It isn't chilly almost until the end of October, so feel free to wander around. If warm weather disturbs you, autumn will be a better option for you.



Winter


Istanbul doesn't have harsh winters, so you can conveniently do a city tour. The prices will fall down after autumn, which means you have a chance to make a cheaper holiday. It is true that Turkey is having hard times recently, but I must admit that I see more and more tourists, including winter. Every season has its beauty and Istanbul is no exception!

Thursday, 4 December 2014

General Tips About Istanbul

There are many tips about Istanbul. Here some of them I remembered at first thought.

Is Istanbul Tap Water Drinkable?


Here's one of the first things I search for before I go to a city. As for Istanbul, don't drink tap water. Use it just for cleaning. You can buy table water from markets at very reasonable prices.



Is the Traffic Jam Really Bad in Istanbul?


Traffic is one of the first things that requires to keep your eyes open. Unfortunately in Istanbul, everyone is in a hurry, especially the drivers. Unlike other cities in Europe, etc. pedestrians don't have priority at traffic, although they should. The tip here is that: Look both at traffic lights and the cars. Wait for all the cars to stop. And don't trust the pedestrian crossing, because most drivers are unaware the meaning of it. Try not to argue drivers about this, because some of them may be unexpectedly aggressive.

Should I Bargain Whenever I Buy Something?


Bargain with the seller when you like to buy something, especially a traditional carpet, etc. They may take the prices a little high, so there is almost always a chance for a discount.

Are There Some Tricks I Shouldn't Fall For?


Don't believe in shoeshine boys when they drop their brush and offer to shine your shoes. Try to say no, if you don't want to pay high prices. After they shine your shoes, you don't have much chance to refuse to pay money.

Is Istanbul Safe?


Istanbul and especially central places, don't pose danger to women or men. But people aren't the same and you can come across strange people at any part of the world. If you feel like you're being followed, try to find a crowded place or walk in a market and stores like that. If the person is too close, you may try to turn back suddently and start to scream. These people are usually very coward and the dwellers are usually helpful.

I don't mean to scare you and I've never been in such situation, but carry a couple of cigarettes and 1 liras with you in case a thinner addict asks you. They don't mean to do harm, they may be furious about being rejected. So be prapered. As I said, it is rare but being cautious won't hurt you.
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