Turkey

[Rod Hagen]

South Africa went out the door for the same reasons as Thailand: I just don't have the bucks to do the region right. We've booked 1st Class (gotta get rid of those United miles before they liquidate) on Lufthansa to Istanbul.

 

We'll be in Turkey for about I0 days total. We're going right around the time our war with Iran should be getting into full swing, the beginnning of November. I have some additional questions and appreciate all the help you've given me so far.

 

1. How is 1st Class on Lufthansa?

2. On the way we're spending a couple nights in Prague and Budapes (I've been). Looks like Four Seasons in both places (Budapest location should be open by then), anyother suggestions? Restaurants? (it's been a long time since I've been to either city).

3. This is the itinerary, courtesy Lonely Planet, that we're considering. If you know these places I'd love some input. Especially the best way to get there (usually by bus I assume, but I'd like to throw a train in here and there) as well as prefered hotel/place to stay in each location.

 

*Istanbul (4-seasons, because The Ciragan, an Andrew Harper location, looks Mega-Grotesque)

How many nights are best there?

**Troy/Gallipoli

**Bergama/Pergamum

**Selcuck/Ephesus (Priene, Miletus and Didyma)

**Kusadasi to Pamukkale and Hierapolis via Afrodisias

**Dalyan, Fethiye, Kas, Olympos or Antalya

**Capppadocia

**Konya or Ankara

 

THANK YOU

[+ nycman]

Ahhh...my first-class, luxury top, brother surfaces again!

 

AND he asks about my favorite little country...TURKEY!

 

First...Istanbul!

 

The Ciragan...you rightfully have decided to skip it.

Big, Dark and UGLY. Just not a pretty place to hang out.

Go for high tea overlooking the Bosphorus if you must

get in touch with your inner Imperial Englishman.

 

The Four Seasons...constantly rated one of the BEST hotels

in the world. OK...it's REALLY REALLY nice and THE place I would

recommend in Istanbul, but the BEST in the world? No.

Did some travel magazine editor have a major stroke and forget

the great hotels of NYC, Chicago, London, Paris and Hong Kong?

Anyways, try and get a room with a good view. Taking a long bath

overlooking Hagia Sophia is one of my favorite luxuries. Just

don't get used to it...the REST of Turkey's Hotels are not like this!

 

Do all the tourist stuff...Grand Bazaar...Spice Bazaar...Topkapi Palace

...Blue Mosque...Hagia Sophia.

 

My FAVORITE hidden place in Istanbul....The Yerebatan Cistern.

Kind of hard to find...enter a small above ground building near

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. HUGE underground cistern.

Weird but fun...and a cool break in summer..not so easy to

find in Istanbul.

 

Kusadasi...big port city. Lots of "resort" hotels along the coast.

Can't say there's a lot to do there...but it's not a bad base camp

for...

 

Ephesus...the best classical village I have ever seen.

It's truly stunning and worth the trip.

 

Pamukkale...Calcium Carbonate covered Mountains. One of the natural

wonders of the world. You need to see it once in your life.

 

Fethiye...the only real reason to go...is to go to Ölü Deniz

...one of my favorite places. I haven't been in a few years

and then it was just starting to get developed (not a good thing).

Nonetheless, the water is stunning and it feels like a secluded

paradise. I imagine it's what the French Rivera looked like

....before the French covered the whole place in asphalt and cement.

 

Afrodisias...kind of out-of-the-way...but impressive ruins.

If you didn't get your fill at Ephesus, it's worth the trip.

 

Ankara...kinda like Detroit...unless you have business there

...I don't see the point.

 

You didn't mention Bodrum. It's kind of a Turkish "Party" town.

Once you've gotten past THE WORLD'S BEST DISCO (you can't visit

Bodrum without going)...Bodrum is a nice clean port city.

It's also a good place to get a cheap rental on a beautiful yacht

for a couple of days of sailing along the coast.

 

Skip the Turkish trains. The Buses are the mass transit of choice.

By the tenth dosing of rose water (happens at EVERY stop) you'll be

feeling and smelling more "Turkish" than you've ever dreamed possible.

 

The Turks are some of the nicest people on earth. In general they

love Americans. Be aware that personal space doesn't exist in Turkey.

Just keep your hand on your wallet...and relax and have FUN!

 

Now when are we going to the annual Turkish Oil Wrestling Championship?

 

http://www.turkishwrestling.com/images/03-1/thumbnails/07.jpg

[chrismac]

I agree with nycman on everything he said. I'd further dump Antalya and make sure Bodrum is in the itinerary. If you want to "get away from it all" while in the Kusadasi area, visit Guzulchamli just south of there. It's the entrance town to a nice National Park and the Greek island of Samos is just off the coast.

 

From an airline marketing exec's point of view, LH's first class is definitely nice - not quite as nice as BA though, IMHO. But if you're burning miles, you won't go wrong there.

 

And the Cistern in IST is not to be missed. Very nicely done down there. Make sure to do Topkapi Palace as well.

[+ nycman]

>And the Cistern in IST....

 

I love it when you talk "airline".

[gulliver]

going with a friend for a short (8 to ten night trip) this October and will probably do Vienna, istanbul, and Prague and I dont know much about the rentboy scene there. I have been to brazil a lot this year and because of the tips on this board have really used my time well and enjoyed each visit.

 

I kind of wonder about how to organize such a short trip and perhaps some of you guys who know these areas might have some suggestions or comments. I realize that brevity means i wont be touring any area in depth this time - more like a overview familiarization tour. Also am interested in a rentboy scene at night that would kind of be "somewhat" similar to that i know in Brazil - ie being able to choose one from a group.

 

I was thinking 2 nights vienna, 2 nights prague, and 4 or 5 istanbul.

Will do the major tourist things in each city of course but would appreciate any tips about where to stay that might be close to some action, where are the most active places now, and any other tips or resources you may suggest. Based on recent postings will probably choose Four Seasons in Istanbul and follow the recent posts re Prague. any other tips?? thanks

[gulliver]

just wanted to mention I have already read the recent posts re Prague and vienne in the European escorts board at this site so I am familiar with that info.

[Rod Hagen]

Thanks NYCMan and Chris.

 

I have a few more questions. Regarding Fethiye and Bodrum, would they be worth visiting that first two weeks in November, or are they better suited to spring, summer, early fall?

 

Nobody had anything to say about Capppadocia?

 

And what are some favorite restaurants in Istanbul?

[chrismac]

Rod,

 

Re: Fethiye and Bodrum in November - could be a mixed bag weather-wise. That's why I would definitely avoid Antalya as it only has the beach life to offer. In Bodrum, at least you have the crusaders' castle (built in great part from stones taken from the great Massoleum - one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world), so at least there's some history there, and you can find the Chimera nearby (the eternal flame). I skipped Fethiye myself.

 

I was always with Turkish friends from the airline based in Istanbul when I went out to eat, and frankly don't remember the names of any of the places, but lots of good restaurants in the Ortakoy (pronounced "Er ta KUIY) and Besiktas (pronounced "Beshiktas) areas. In Sultanahmet, the old city section with the grand bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, etc there are quite a few restaurants, but most are very touristy.

 

Istanbul is a great walking city, and you can walk over the Golden Horn bridge from Sultanahmet through Eminonu to Beyoglu, where there are many good restaurants as well. Just over the bridge, in Beyoglu is the grand old hotel (not quite so grand anymore) where passengers from the Orient Express used to end their journey. Get used to LOTS of smoking everywhere. Have a cup of tea (chai) at sunset on one of the ferries looking back at the city, on your way to/from Cirigan Palace.

 

When I lived in Russia I found any excuse to visit Turkey, and would go for weekends just to get out of Moscow. The weather in Turkey in November was tremendously better than Central Russia that time of year, so I wasn't too picky. But the sea and beaches will probably be too cold to really enjoy. You can expect about the same weather as Southern California - so could be very nice, could be rainy.

[chrismac]

Oh, and regarding Cappadocia, the weather in November could be cold - as it is inland, but still worth seeing.

 

When you're there - just remember the weather is worse in Stockholm.