-This city is clean. Really clean. Like not one piece of garbage or scrap anywhere in the main areas.
-Turkey is built on hills, steep hills
-The people dress nicely.
- I have not seen a single wheelchair, probs bc of those hills.
- Taxis are decently priced and reliable.
- Food is the same price as the US, at least in all the main tourist areas
- there are cats and dogs everywhere but more cats. If you sit down and offer food up a cat a dozen more will appear.
-Calls to prayer are loud but really neat to listen to
- There is no shortage of masques and they are beautiful
- Baklava is to Turkey like the macaron is to France and it is everywhere
- Most of the people on the streets are men
- Turkish delight really is delightful especially the pomagranite
- You can pick up fresh squeezed juice all over for cheap
- everyone is very modestly dressed. Most women are in long skirts, full coats, and head scarves. If coming I would suggest bringing long skirts and nicer clothing. Jeans, leggings, pants in general and you will stick out.
- the stray dogs have tags in their ears. It's part of a program where they capture the strays, neuter them, tag them and release them. They've had a problem with strays forever and have tried managing them in different ways. Luckily the dogs are all pretty plump. Research says that the people feed them.
- I would bring a Baggie of cat food and sit in the park and feed the stray cats like pigeons :) Don't but those pretzels, the cats don't like them.
- Turkish breakfast consists of eggs, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, meats, breads and tons of spreads. Sunday is a big deal for breakfast and there will be lots of breakfast buffets open.
- The Golden Horn area is full of lots of neat ruins both ancient and new. You should walk that area and explore the streets.
- They have a sea bus that works with your transport card. You can take the sea bus to Asia. You can also use that card for the metro and tram.
- You should not visit the mosques during prayer time, go before or after.
- Definetly visit the Basilica Cistern.
- Turkish airlines weighs and checks your carry on at check in.
- Turkish delight can last 4 months and baklava 6 days, just incase like me, you want to take a ton home.
- Check out the city at night. The mosques are lit up and it's beautiful.
- bring ear plugs if you don't want to listen to cats, seagulls, and calls to prayer all night and morning.
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