Samantha Lafferty - Istanbul & Surroundings Travel Adventures

Istanbul & Its Surroundings Travel Adventures

Samantha Lafferty

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This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, liability for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank everyone who plied me with steaming tea during the bitter winter in the Central and Eastern regions; the children who made me laugh by constantly asking for their photos to be taken; everyone who put me up and fed me, who kept me amused with their stories and led me around the places that many travelers don't know exist.

In particular, I want to say ok sagol to Blent and Hasan, who became my friends as we shared a great adventure. Thank you both for the evenings of raki and endless conversation and, most of all, for your insight and energy.

I want to thank Hakan and his schoolchildren who sang and played music for me at their one-room school in Hasankeyf; Ibrahim, Sleyman and everyone else who made me part of their family in Ayvali and encouraged me to break the rules of the male-only tea house, and Murat for that great mountain drive.

Also, I wish to thank to zlem for looking after me in Safranbolu and Ankara; Glsen, for opening her beautiful house in Kastamonu; the Cosendere hotel in Maka, which opened its doors even though I was the only guest; Sena, for sharing her mansion with me in Data; Mustafa, for the race to the lighthouse so we could watch the sunset over the sea; Susanne, for the walk around the meadows near her ranch in Antalya; Yahya, for his exhaustive knowledge of the Eastern Black Sea region; Sharon, for kindly giving me the keys to her house; Deniz and Berna, for the moonlit evening at their secret cove in Bozcaada; Sedef, for showing me the ancient hamam ; and to Adem, for the clifftop walk and stories about the Russian outposts in Sinop. Finally, I wish to thank Atil and Karem for the hike along the

Lycian Way

, and Phil and Alison for making me feel at home in Ka s and for that killer bike ride. And to Joanna Marsh and the Turkish Tourist Board for all of their help.

Author Biography

For Samantha Lafferty, Turkey is like a love affair. It evokes powerful emotions and a yearning to get back to it. Her fascination with the country was triggered by photographs she saw of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul as a child. And it took just one look at the city - the view across the Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace - for it to become cemented as her favorite.

Samantha Lafferty has spent eight years working as a journalist in London. Her writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers, including Bloomberg , The Guardian , The Sunday Times and the International Herald Tribune . So far, her wanderlust has taken her to the US and Canada, Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong and throughout Europe.

1. Introduction
   1. History
   2. The Land
      1. Geographic Regions
      2. Rivers & Lakes
   3. Flora
   4. Fauna
   5. Climate
   6. People & Culture
      1. Population
      2. Education
      3. Family
      4. Military Service
      5. Religion
      6. Customs & Traditions
2. Travel Information
   1. The Facts
      1. Required Documents
      2. Customs
      3. Business Hours
      4. Public & Religious Holidays
      5. Travel Insurance
      6. Communications
      7. Embassies
      8. Time Zone
      9. Taxes & Tipping
      10. Water Supply
      11. Electrical Supply
   2. Planning Your Trip
      1. When to Visit
      2. Pack Your Bags
      3. Getting Here
      4. Getting Around
      5. Money Matters
         1. Currency
         2. Banks, ATMs & Exchange Offices
         3. Travelers' Checks
         4. Credit Cards
      6. Post Offices
      7. Staying Safe
   3. Special Concerns
      1. Terrorism
      2. Earthquakes
      3. Bird Flu
   4. Disabled Travelers
   5. Health
      1. Doctors & Dentists
      2. Pharmacies & Medication
      3. Vaccinations
      4. Hospitals
   6. Restrooms
   7. Media
   8. Food & Drink
   9. Accommodation
      1. Accommodation Options
   10. Shopping
   11. Useful Websites
3. Istanbul
   1. Getting Here & Getting Around
      1. Travel Around Town
   2. History
   3. Sightseeing
      1. Sultanahmet
         1. Topkapi Palace
         2. Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia)
         3. The Blue Mosque
         4. Calligraphy Museum
         5. The Grand Bazaar
      2. The Golden Horn
         1. Neighborhoods
         2. Eyup Camii
      3. Eminn
         1. Galata
      4. Beyoglu to Taksim Square
         1. Beyoglu
      5. Taksim Square
      6. Along the Bosphorus
      7. Asian Istanbul
         1. Neighborhoods
         2. Beylerbeyi Palace
      8. Excursions From Istanbul
         1. The Princes' Islands
         2. Sile & Agva
      9. Children's Istanbul
      10. Spectator Sports
   4. Adventures
      1. Adventures on Wheels
         1. Driving Tours
         2. Cycling Tours
            1. Bike Hire
         3. Motorbike Tours
      2. Adventures on Water
         1. Sailing on the Bosphorus
         2. Diving
         3. Fishing
      3. Adventures on Foot
         1. City Walking Tours
         2. Hiking & Trekking
         3. Golf
      4. Adventures on Horseback
      5. Adventures in the Air
      6. Cultural Adventures
         1. Music & Dance
         2. Theater
         3. Art
         4. Cookery Schools
      7. Adventures for the Body & Soul
         1. Turkish Baths
   5. Shopping
      1. Boutiques
      2. Markets & Bazaars
      3. Sports Stores
      4. Bookstores
      5. Food Shopping
         1. Pastry Shops
         2. Delicatessens
         3. Olive Oils, Nuts & Natural Products
   6. Nightlife
      1. Bars
         1. Bars with Views
      2. Nightclubs
      3. Taverns (Meyhane)
   7. Where to Stay
      1. Hotels
         1. Five Star
         2. Four Star
         3. Historic Hotels
         4. Apartments
      2. Hostels
   8. Where to Eat
      1. Restaurants
      2. Cafs
4. Appendix
   1. RECOMMENDED READING
   2. Recommended Tour Companies
      1. Turkish Tour Operators
   3. Information Sources
      1. Magazines
   4. Language
      1. Numbers
      2. Months
      3. Greetings
      4. Essentials
      5. Family
      6. Shopping
      7. Traveling by Car
      8. Places