Anthropology and Archeology for the Turkey Traveler
Nov 22nd, 2017, 10:59 AM
#61
Have also had first hand knowledge that you cannot just get to a Turkish consulate and have your visa. You must call for an appointment.
As part of the reprisal policy, Turkish consulates may be limiting visa issues to ten a day.
As part of the reprisal policy, Turkish consulates may be limiting visa issues to ten a day.
Nov 27th, 2017, 01:52 PM
#62
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On a lighter note, I've watched a delightful documentary about cats in Istanbul: https://www.kedifilm.com/. It is a beautiful meditative film that showcases Istanbul and its inhabitants.
Nov 29th, 2017, 03:12 AM
#63
Thanks 2016adventurer. I have always wished I had the ability to make such a documentary. There are so many cats of all types and individualities that one can actually make many interesting films.
No new changes in visas for Americans so far.
Waiting times are much shorter than those for Turks applying for tourist visas to United States. I will need to wait 206 days for appointment for renewal of my visa in Istanbul.
Things may actually get uglier depending on the current court case against a vice president of a Turkish state owned bank for using the bank to bypass the Iran embargo.
No new changes in visas for Americans so far.
Waiting times are much shorter than those for Turks applying for tourist visas to United States. I will need to wait 206 days for appointment for renewal of my visa in Istanbul.
Things may actually get uglier depending on the current court case against a vice president of a Turkish state owned bank for using the bank to bypass the Iran embargo.
Dec 12th, 2017, 10:11 AM
#64
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Good to see Altınapa Han above water level:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dro...rom-dam-123930
I saw just the top of it once.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/dro...rom-dam-123930
I saw just the top of it once.
Dec 28th, 2017, 07:50 AM
#65
Good news for travelers.
United States removed all barriers to visa applications in Turkey and Turkey is returning to the good old days. I hope the border police have been informed and will treat arriving American visitors accordingly.
In any case, on-line visa application should be possible for \americans now, and I strongly recommend that you get your visa on-line rather than trying your luck at the airport.
United States removed all barriers to visa applications in Turkey and Turkey is returning to the good old days. I hope the border police have been informed and will treat arriving American visitors accordingly.
In any case, on-line visa application should be possible for \americans now, and I strongly recommend that you get your visa on-line rather than trying your luck at the airport.
Jan 12th, 2018, 02:10 AM
#66
Venice Semplon Orient Express for the Wealthy
This post may be timely because of the remake of the film, "Murder on the Orient Express" and because it is time to make plans for Summer 2018.
Belmond Venice-Simplon Orient-Express Train travels once a year from Istanbul to Paris
It visits Bucharest and Budapest on the way.
travelers spend three nights on the train and two nights in hotels.
costs include all meals, but not the drinks, tours in Bucharest and Budapest in addition to the lodging.
Prices start at British pounds 7,200/person in double accommodation and reach BP40,000/person for a delux suit
Standard Twin
starting at 7.200 GBP Double Suit
starting at 11.520 GBP
Grand Suit (Double/Twin)
It would be great if a Fodorite took this trip and wrote a trip report.starting at 40.000 GBP’
This post may be timely because of the remake of the film, "Murder on the Orient Express" and because it is time to make plans for Summer 2018.
Belmond Venice-Simplon Orient-Express Train travels once a year from Istanbul to Paris
It visits Bucharest and Budapest on the way.
travelers spend three nights on the train and two nights in hotels.
costs include all meals, but not the drinks, tours in Bucharest and Budapest in addition to the lodging.
Prices start at British pounds 7,200/person in double accommodation and reach BP40,000/person for a delux suit
Standard Twin
starting at 7.200 GBP Double Suit
starting at 11.520 GBP
Grand Suit (Double/Twin)
It would be great if a Fodorite took this trip and wrote a trip report.starting at 40.000 GBP’
Jan 12th, 2018, 06:40 AM
#68
Of course the VSOE also travels Paris to Istanbul once a year, apparently it is very popular...
For info on the more regular London/Paris VSOE to Venice, with pix, see: https://www.seat61.com/Venice-Simplo...nt-Express.htm
More fun, if much less comfortable, by regular trains (the Belgrade to Sofia train was particularly memorable, not to mention the emergency Istanbul to Sofia train during the unpleasantness in 1974).
For overland travel from Ankara (or London) to Baku see: https://www.seat61.com/Caucasus.htm
For info on the more regular London/Paris VSOE to Venice, with pix, see: https://www.seat61.com/Venice-Simplo...nt-Express.htm
More fun, if much less comfortable, by regular trains (the Belgrade to Sofia train was particularly memorable, not to mention the emergency Istanbul to Sofia train during the unpleasantness in 1974).
For overland travel from Ankara (or London) to Baku see: https://www.seat61.com/Caucasus.htm
Jan 12th, 2018, 08:48 AM
#69
Talking of trains, the Dogu Express from Ankara to Kars is an interesting and inexpensive way to travel, if you have the time.
If there are two of you, the two person sleeper is bout $20/person and the dining room offers very good priced meals and snacks.
Three mels, breakfast and a snack should not cost more than $50/person including beverages. I do not know if the current islamist government allows wine or beer in the dining car
but nobody can stop you from having some wine, eau de vie or whisky in the privacy of your sleeper compartment.
Since Haydarpasa train station in Istanbul is permanently closed, the Dogu Ekspres does not start in Istanbul anymore,
If there are two of you, the two person sleeper is bout $20/person and the dining room offers very good priced meals and snacks.
Three mels, breakfast and a snack should not cost more than $50/person including beverages. I do not know if the current islamist government allows wine or beer in the dining car
but nobody can stop you from having some wine, eau de vie or whisky in the privacy of your sleeper compartment.
Since Haydarpasa train station in Istanbul is permanently closed, the Dogu Ekspres does not start in Istanbul anymore,
Jan 12th, 2018, 11:09 AM
#70
"Since Haydarpasa train station in Istanbul is permanently closed, the Dogu Ekspres does not start in Istanbul anymore"
Maybe after they finish building the new Istanbul station? I gather you can take a high speed train from near Istanbul to Ankara, but you have to get to the suburban station by bus. I once took the night train from Istanbul to Ankara but now the route only takes four plus hours, no night train.
Maybe after they finish building the new Istanbul station? I gather you can take a high speed train from near Istanbul to Ankara, but you have to get to the suburban station by bus. I once took the night train from Istanbul to Ankara but now the route only takes four plus hours, no night train.
Jan 18th, 2018, 11:07 AM
#71
Turkey is about to involve in a cross -border invasion of Syria.
There are a number of meetings and talks with Russia, EU and US.
Almost all the local media except for one serious newspaper are fomenting hatred of foreigners including United States.
I posted some tweets on these subjects and now finf that I cannot access Twitter.
Could they just cut my access to Twitter or is it a general ban, is not clear.
In any case, the whole of Turkey carries a warning now, until Turkish government and the obsequious media stop their anti-US propaganda.
There are a number of meetings and talks with Russia, EU and US.
Almost all the local media except for one serious newspaper are fomenting hatred of foreigners including United States.
I posted some tweets on these subjects and now finf that I cannot access Twitter.
Could they just cut my access to Twitter or is it a general ban, is not clear.
In any case, the whole of Turkey carries a warning now, until Turkish government and the obsequious media stop their anti-US propaganda.
Jan 18th, 2018, 12:37 PM
#72
oh dear, OC. this is not good news.
I was going to post that talk of the Orient Express always sets off thoughts in my head of Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells but things are suddenly too serious for joking.
Stay safe, you are needed.
I was going to post that talk of the Orient Express always sets off thoughts in my head of Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells but things are suddenly too serious for joking.
Stay safe, you are needed.
Jan 18th, 2018, 02:11 PM
#73
Thanks Ann.
Funny that the orient Express brings to my mind not Agatha Christie but Graham Green and "Travels With My Aunt" which I loved reading and listening to it read on stage in London.
The film was not as good as the book, though.
I have short essay in the Travel section of my book on Baghdad, in which I rue the fact that I never got a chance to visit it when it wassafe to do so.
I hope, you will not end up writing one in the same vein for Istanbul.
Funny that the orient Express brings to my mind not Agatha Christie but Graham Green and "Travels With My Aunt" which I loved reading and listening to it read on stage in London.
The film was not as good as the book, though.
I have short essay in the Travel section of my book on Baghdad, in which I rue the fact that I never got a chance to visit it when it wassafe to do so.
I hope, you will not end up writing one in the same vein for Istanbul.
Jan 19th, 2018, 08:11 AM
#74
oh me too, OC. I thought about Egypt for this winter but am glad I didn't decide to go. Apart from anything else I need to put my affairs in order so that if the worst happens, my kids would not be left with a mess. Daft I know as I am more likely to be run over by a bus, or to fall in a Venitian canal, but there it is. I don't remember the film of Travels round my Aunt but they did it on BBC radio where it was very good.
Jan 20th, 2018, 07:56 AM
#75
I am renewing the traveler warning to Turkey at least until the Turkish attack against the United States trained Kurdish forces in Syria is finished.
There will be a big increase in extreme nationalism in Turkey. Future issues against European Community loom in view of the very probable shelving of
Turkish membership abd tougher visa requirements.
New military operation will also mean new refugees coming into Turkey increasin the numbers fro three and a half million to four or more.
Unfortunately, some of these refugees will have hidden extremists within the groups crossing the border.
In the meantime, Turkey is having a very dry Winter following two previous dry seasons. If you visit Turkey for sun and beach, this may not effect you much, but it will definitely mean higher food prices.
There will be a big increase in extreme nationalism in Turkey. Future issues against European Community loom in view of the very probable shelving of
Turkish membership abd tougher visa requirements.
New military operation will also mean new refugees coming into Turkey increasin the numbers fro three and a half million to four or more.
Unfortunately, some of these refugees will have hidden extremists within the groups crossing the border.
In the meantime, Turkey is having a very dry Winter following two previous dry seasons. If you visit Turkey for sun and beach, this may not effect you much, but it will definitely mean higher food prices.
Mar 3rd, 2018, 04:50 AM
#78
Not much going on to effect the visitor to Istanbul and other touristic areas.
Turkey invaded part of Northern Syria having received Russia's permission, thus leaving US in precarious position; a position that Trump, Tillerson or the Pentagon have no educated means to defuse.
Turkish security forces have been successful in preventing any terrorist attacks in over a year.
The US government image is the worst it has ever been among the public due to the government, and even most of the opposition parties and almost the whole media.
I have not heard or seen anything against American tourists alone or in groups. However, I would not advise going beyond the regular tourist haunts.
A deeply conservative government supported TV anchor went crazy a few days ago when reading headlines of day's papers he came across one that
said that BBC had talked of and shown video of civilian casualties in areas attacked and occupied by Turkish army. He started laughing and dancing while shouting that if THEY(?) wished to hurt civilians,
they would start with attacking Cihangir, Nisantasi, Etiler districts of Istanbul or even the Turkish Parliament !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New statistics....available, showing that over one million preschool and elementary school children are attending Koranic schoolsand / or Madrassahs run by over four hundred different Sunni Islam sects in
Istanbul alone. Killing the questioning mind at an early age will allow tighter control of the population but how will such a country reverting back to the Middle Ages, survive without..valuable
natural resources accept clone-like unthinking labour?
CNN Turkey reported today that it is now possible to visit the extremely well preserved complete mosaics in two sarcophagi protected heavily in Perge, Antalya. You would need to apply to Antalya museum
which would assign card and chaperone to unlock the necropolis rooms and allow you to see. I do not know if they will allow photos..................
Turkey invaded part of Northern Syria having received Russia's permission, thus leaving US in precarious position; a position that Trump, Tillerson or the Pentagon have no educated means to defuse.
Turkish security forces have been successful in preventing any terrorist attacks in over a year.
The US government image is the worst it has ever been among the public due to the government, and even most of the opposition parties and almost the whole media.
I have not heard or seen anything against American tourists alone or in groups. However, I would not advise going beyond the regular tourist haunts.
A deeply conservative government supported TV anchor went crazy a few days ago when reading headlines of day's papers he came across one that
said that BBC had talked of and shown video of civilian casualties in areas attacked and occupied by Turkish army. He started laughing and dancing while shouting that if THEY(?) wished to hurt civilians,
they would start with attacking Cihangir, Nisantasi, Etiler districts of Istanbul or even the Turkish Parliament !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
New statistics....available, showing that over one million preschool and elementary school children are attending Koranic schoolsand / or Madrassahs run by over four hundred different Sunni Islam sects in
Istanbul alone. Killing the questioning mind at an early age will allow tighter control of the population but how will such a country reverting back to the Middle Ages, survive without..valuable
natural resources accept clone-like unthinking labour?
CNN Turkey reported today that it is now possible to visit the extremely well preserved complete mosaics in two sarcophagi protected heavily in Perge, Antalya. You would need to apply to Antalya museum
which would assign card and chaperone to unlock the necropolis rooms and allow you to see. I do not know if they will allow photos..................
Mar 3rd, 2018, 06:37 AM
#79
OC, thank you as ever for your valued insights into Turkish life.
May I ask what happened to the TV anchor - was he led off by the people in white coats and sent off to spend more time with his family or is he back at his post?
May I ask what happened to the TV anchor - was he led off by the people in white coats and sent off to spend more time with his family or is he back at his post?
