Most Of you know at least something about Istanbul. I just want to add some of my experiences. These are my Notes on Istanbul. I have a preference for where I stay and it’s near Taksim Square. Buses from either of the airports leave very close nearby every 30 minutes and there are quite a few hotels in the area which you’re not that expensive and which are well equipped. And you also have a good bus hub as well as the metro right nearby. The one thing you need to watch in this area it’s really geared towards the incoming and outgoing tourist which means most of the people who come to these shops in this area will never show up again. And that creates a very touristy attitude which is not typical of much of anything outside of Istanbul. Here I will give you some examples.
as you’re walking down the streets here you are constantly being requested to eat in the restaurant or come into the store so it can be a little bit irritating. Since it happens in almost every Second store, going to the metro station you may pass 20 of these people asking you to come in. I just smile politely and keep walking. One thing I should add, out of all of the restaurants I’ve been to in this little area near my hotel which I explained is near the bus station, all of the food was very good and of good quality except for one restaurant which I will never go back to again. So even if you’re facing the tourist tricks here I think the food will still be pretty good.
There is an area of Istanbul I really like. The Uyghur and Mixed Race Chinese people from that area (a colony of Communist China) live in this area and have a variety of very interesting restaurants which are for the local people so you don’t get the frustrations of the tourist atmosphere. The food is really excellent in all the restaurants I visited and it’s very interesting food. It’s much different than Turkish food and you can get the Uyghur Style food or the Chinese types of food in this area. I opted for the Uyghur Style food since it’s new to me. The prices are very reasonable and as I mentioned before it’s all very delicious.
From my hotel near Taksim Square I walk about five minutes to the bus stop and get on a bus that takes me directly to this restaurant in about 20 minutes.
Overall Istanbul is a great place to visit. You just have to slink past all of the people who are trying to pull you into their shops especially the ones trying to sell carpets. They are unrelenting. But just know that the rest of the country isn’t really like Istanbul. It’s much more relaxed, you don’t get the tourist treatment except for a few of the big tourist attraction areas, and the people are really Gracious , kind, honest and friendly. It’s a fantastic country to visit and spend time in. If you’re used to driving a car in Thailand then you can definitely drive a car here in Turkey And Car Rental prices are Reasonable.
