The first article in the series can be found here.
After arriving in Istanbul, your first task will be getting from the airport to your hotel. Do a little research before you leave, because you have many options. A lot of hotels in Istanbul have a complimentary airport pick-up, so check first to see if that is possible. If not, start looking at other options. This website is invaluable for finding your way from either Sabiha Gken or Atatrk to your hotel.
The Hava, a private airport transfer bus, is almost always the easiest option. It stops at a metro stop and in Taksim, is quite cheap, and with luggage is much easier than taking the subway. Also, it leaves every half hour between 4:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Taksim is far more central than either airport, so even if you just take the Hava bus to Taksim and then get a taxi to your hotel, it will likely be much cheaper than taking a taxi all the way from the airport to your hotel.
You will need cash for these endeavors; conversion from any currency to the Turkish Lira (TL) is available at the airport. If the currency exchange counter is closed, ATMs are easy to find at the airport. Finally, make sure you carry the address, name, and phone number of the hotel you are staying at with you. Turks are, as a rule, quite friendly and helpful, so if you get hopelessly lost don't be afraid to ask someone for help.
Once you get to your hotel, find yourself some food! Again, make sure you have some cash with you. A meal usually costs less than 10 TL (USD $5) with drink included. In Turkey, tipping is not obligatory like in the U.S., but an extra lira or two after your meal will still be appreciated.
Turkish food is another fusion of cultures, just like the city of Istanbul itself. The dishes have Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan influence, and more recently Western food trends have appeared. Regardless of their origin, there are some things it is essential for you to try in Turkey. Dner, usually about 2 TL or $1, is a sandwich of slow-roasted meat with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, french fries, mayonnaise, ketchup, and a number of other mysteriously delicious condiments. Ask for everything and enjoy! Kumpir is a giant baked potato stuffed with things like potato salad, canned corn, chopped hot dogs, and olives. Some restaurants also offer fancy things like chicken curry in your kumpir, but go for the traditional first. "The important to budget travel is to plan in front. When it comes along to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved holidays and/or going to see new spots we have never been before, the actuality of expense and budgeting is always in the back of our mind. Organizing and expending our travel budget carefully is a concern for most families. Reducing consuming and charges, while still enjoying your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed success and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The reasoning regarding protecting money while travelling is simple: Even if your personal finances is really limited, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or departing the homestead! Also remembering that while traveling, no matter whether on a funds or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel expenses!..". Kfte is a very popular meatball dish. Mercimek (pronounced "mare-juh-mek") is a lentil soup that is served quite often, and pilav is rice cooked in boullion with chick peas and sometimes chicken. As for drinks, request ay (pronounced "chai"), practically the national drink of Turkey, or ayran, a salty yogurt drink. Efes, a domestically brewed beer, and rak, an extremely popular black licorice-tasting alcohol, are also a must. If you still have room for desert, try stla, a baked rice pudding, baklava, or waffles stuffed with everything from Nutella to kiwis. This list is far from complete. Ask an Istanbulite what else you should try after you've exhausted this list.
Finally, learning Turkish for a short trip is not necessary. However, knowing a few things will help! Merhaba is "hello", teekkrler (pronounced tuh-shek-you-lar) is "thank you", naslsn (pronounced nah-sil-sin) is "how are you?", iyim (pronounced eem) is "good", and tamam is "okay". As for pronunciation, c makes a "j" sound, and are "ch" and "sh", is usally silent, and the scary-looking vowels ( and ) sound a whole lot like their English siblings.
Spend the rest of your time exploring the neighborhood around your hotel and preparing for the rest of your vacation. The must-visit sites in Istanbul are next!
Istanbul pictures - Aya Sofya pictures Photo Gallery by Dick ...
www.pbase.com/dosseman/istanbul_aya_sofiaIstanbul Mosques Pammakaristos Church in Istanbul Istanbul Kariye - Turkey Istanbul pictures - Aya Sofya pictures Mausolea of some sultans near Istanbul's ...
Istanbul travel guide - Wikitravel - Main Page - Wikitravel
wikitravel.org/en/IstanbulIstanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and ...
Tour Greece, Cruise Greek Islands, Visit Athens, Istanbul (2013 ...
www.gct.com/Trips/2013/Treasures-of-the-Aegean-Greek-Island-Cruise...Grand Circle Foundation. Simply by traveling with Grand Circle, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation. Alan and Harriet Lewis created the ...
Istanbul - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IstanbulIstanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With a population of 13.9 million, the city forms one of ...
International News World News - ABC News
abcnews.go.com/internationalGet the latest international news and events from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and more. See world news photos and videos at ABCNews
The Istanbul EDITION (Turkey) - Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
www.tripadvisor.co.uk Turkey Istanbul Istanbul Hotels"Ok, so as a frequent business traveler I have stayed in MANY nice hotels around the ..." "I stayed at the Edition this june 2013 for a little over 2 weeks and ...
Hagia Sophia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_SophiaHagia Sophia (from the Greek: , "Holy Wisdom"; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia ; Turkish: Ayasofya) is a former Orthodox patriarchal ...
American Tourist Trapped in Turkey - Need Your Help: Part 2 -
setjasonfree.blogspot.com/2013/04/part-2-end-of-vacation-beginning...79 posts By American Tourist Trapped in Turkey - Need Your Help
Apr 17, 2013 Sunday, 14 April 2013 - Part 2 Antalya, Turkey Once we arrived at the Police Precinct, I was shuffled through their entrance and came face
Health News & Articles Healthy Living - ABC News
abcnews.go.com/healthGet the latest health news from Dr. Richard Besser. Here you'll find stories about new medical research, the latest health care trends and health issues that affect ...
CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com
www.cnn.com/videoVideo U.S Live Schedule Politics JusticeIf you get CNN at home, you can watch it online and on the go for no additional charge.
one of my best friends lives in Turkey, and she sent me this, she ...
www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1fh8bn/one_of_my_best_friends_lives...reddit: the front page of the internet ... use the following search parameters to narrow your results: subreddit:subreddit
THonline.com: Home
www.thonline.comCurrent Obituaries Tri-state NewsDesigned to fit your life ... NEW Wisconsin governor signs abortion bill requiring ultrasound; NEW Slain Iowa teens family to push for 1-strike law
LIFE Photos Classic Pictures From LIFE Magazine's Archives ...
life.time.comPhotos HistoryClassic and unpublished photos of the 20th century's major events and public figures from LIFE magazine. Pictures from World War II, the Space Race, Vietnam, the ...
Facebook
www.facebook.com/photo.phpWe would like to show you a description here, but the site youre looking at won't allow us.
Travel - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/travelTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
Weebly - Create a free website and a free blog
www.weebly.com/weebly/main.phpNamed one of TIME's 50 Best Websites, Weebly gives everyone a surprisingly easy way to create a unique site. Make a free website, blog or online store with our ...
The top 10 sights in Istanbul Travel guardian.co.uk
www.guardian.co.uk Travel Istanbul city guideThe city's most unexpectedly romantic attraction, the Basilica Cistern, offers an insight into the complicated system that once brought drinking water into Istanbul ...
Istanbul: City Guide, weather and facts galore from Answers.com
www.answers.com/topic/istanbulIstanbul The largest city of Turkey, in the northwest part of the country on both sides of the Bosporus at its entrance into the Sea of Marmara
Relationships & Family - How To Information eHow
www.ehow.com/relationshipsTake your career to new heights. Our expert advice will help you land a job, navigate complicated work situations, get a raise or promotion or jumpstart a new career.
INQUIRER.net Latest Philippine News for Filipinos
www.inquirer.netNews Entertainment Sports OpinionWebsite of Philippine Daily Inquirer updated daily to provide the latest news.
Tour Greece, Cruise Greek Islands, Visit Athens, Istanbul (2013 ...
www.gct.com/Trips/2013/Treasures-of-the-Aegean-Greek-Island-Cruise...Grand Circle Foundation. Simply by traveling with Grand Circle, you support the work of the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation. Alan and Harriet Lewis created the ...
New York City mom murdered on vacation in Turkey - World News
worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/03/16820467-new-york-city-mom...A New York City mom who went missing while visiting Turkey was killed by a blunt trauma wound to the head, Turkish officials said early Sunday. The body of Sarai ...
New Jersey Sports News, Blogs, Photos, Scores & More - NJ.com
www.nj.com/sportsGet breaking news on New Jersey high school, college and professional sports. Find scores, statistics, photos, videos and join the forum discussions at NJ.com.
What is Happenning in Istanbul? nsanlik Hali
defnesumanblogs.com/2013/06/01/what-is-happenning-in-istanbul"Her insanda insanln tm halleri vardr". Montaigne ... To my friends who live outside of Turkey: I am writing to let you know what is going on in Istanbul ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Click to see the code!
To insert emoticon you must added at least one space before the code.