Hi Turkey hands - what's the latest thinking on this weekend's bombing in Istanbul? I asked a question about tourist safety last winter and the conventional wisdom was stay in the west. Is there any change in attitude? Thanks for sharing yr thoughts.

So far, be it the consulate bombing or the latest one, it has been far from the tourist areas. I was in France during the 1962-63 <i>plastiquages</i> and life continued normally, albeit with a much higher police presence--it's already high in Turkey.

&quot;it has been far from the tourist areas&quot;

What complete and utter twaddle.

Were the tourists murdered by terrorists in Antalya on August 28 2006 &quot;far from a tourist area&quot;? Or the 21 tourists injured in the Marmaris bombings the same day?

Or the four tourists murdered in the Antalya bombs six weeks earlier?

Terrorists in Turkey murder different kinds of people at different times. Sometimes it'll be the first British investment they can find: other times it'll be bus stations few foreigners are likely to use, other times it'll be tourists.

Turkey's still safe: it's a huge country, tourists get affected by crime or civil disorder far less often than in Italy or Spain (actually: probably less than anywhere in Europe except Switzerland), and terrorism's the last thing on earth worth worrying about when travelling - but making up downright falsehoods about tourists not being affected doesn't help anyone.

I am concerned about this as I twisted my husband's hands to go. Now he's giving me this reason. The bombing happened in Istanbul and we're supposed to be staying in Istanbul 4 days and the rest of the cities for 8 days or total of 12 days (excluding flying time)in Oct. Should I be concerned? Paging Murat and other helpful Turkey contributors.

Thanks.

I'd wait for the news on Wednesday to see how the political situation develops.

The terrorists won't go away whatever happens.

<i>What complete and utter twaddle.</i>

Not according to my map, as I was referring to the latest two bombings. If you are worried, don't go. I would.

We are going in September, and we are concerned as everybody else. However, I am not sure how any Turkey expert can help in this matter. How could anyone know or predict what is going to happen or not happen next? I am sure there were thousands of tourists in Istanbul at the time of the terrorist act, but they were not at that square, and felt perfectly safe in Istanbul. So, I think it is strictly personal decision whether to go or not. We went to Thailand right after the tsunami, another time to Bangkok right after the terrorist act there, went to Peru right after the earthquake, flew to Europe right after the Sept, 11, etc. It only counts if you are there/or not there when something happens – and this is something no one can guarantee…

&lt;&lt;Should I be concerned? Paging Murat and other helpful Turkey contributors.&gt;&gt;

Only you have the answer to that question. Is your husband concerned? Will he agree to go? Will you be worrying about an attack or will you be able to go and relax and enjoy your vacation?

Thanks for all the replies; Luisah those are very good questions to ask oneself; Helen 63 I agree with you about chances but I believe one should minimize exposure (fyi -I work around the vicinity of World Trade Center). One can also look at it another way....the terrorist would know that there'll be a tighter security, so maybe Turkey could be safer? Or, would they be bold enough to do it again soon in Istanbul or other cities in Turkey? Actually, we're also thinking of going to China......so we'll see how it goes within this week and decide whether it'll be Turkey or China.

The question we ask ourselves is, if we cancel our trip, what risks will we still be comfortable with - and ultimately how small will our world become? Will we still take speeding taxis in Brazil or Italy? Will we visit my brother who lives over the San Andreas fault? Will we snorkle in fresh water in Mexico or body surf off the Cape where Great White sharks are sometimes seen hunting for seals? Will we take a chance on exposure to dende fever or avian flu? (There's an awful lot of Lyme-infected ticks in my own back yard!) I'm pretty terrified of flying if I let myself think about it, but I try not to think about what could go wrong because the alternative is not to fly anywhere. To Michael and Luisah's points, which is better - feeling &quot;safe&quot; or feeling &quot;free&quot;? (both being just a state of mind.)

Lydie, what a great post! This is what I was trying to say, but could not express it as good as you. I don't think we can reduce the risk by minimizing the exposure to it, because no one knows where the exposure is. I wanted to go to Turkey for years, but my husband always worried about going there. So last year, we planned Turkey, but went to Peru instead - and they had an earthquake! Another time we planned Turkey, but went to Greece - and the roof on Acrotiri archeological site has collapsed killing the tourist - it was soon after we visited the site. So, you never know....At the same time, I have my parents calling me asking us to cancel the trip now, and I am giving them the same arguments, and they don’t want to listen

Ha! I'm waiting for my mother to call!

My husband so far (as expected) would rather go to China. I am still hopeful I can twist his arm again, LOL!

&lt;&lt;To Michael and Luisah's points, which is better - feeling &quot;safe&quot; or feeling &quot;free&quot;? (both being just a state of mind.)&gt;&gt;

It's a big world out there and there are lots of places where I can feel relatively &quot;safe,&quot; I always feel &quot;free.&quot; I don't see &quot;safe&quot; and &quot;free&quot; as mutually exclusive.

I've traveled to more than twenty countries and don't intend to stop now, but would also consider the feelings of my family when making a choice; why worry them needlessly when there are so many other places to go?

There are political issues in Turkey now, I'll go another time and I'm free to make that choice. Others are free to make theirs.

Would you go to London or Madrid? If that answer is yes, then the answer is don't worry.
Of course, I am glad I went in April so my own mother isn't going mad with worry.

<i>Would you go to London or Madrid?</i> or NYC.

Luisah, I have been wanting to go to Turkey for years… So, I have been looking at the situation in this country since 2003, and it NEVER been that stable. So, there may never be a better time. Besides, a lot of the terrorists acts go unnoticed here in US. I looked it up, and they had two explosions with people killed in January of this year, and one smaller one in June of this year – only in Istanbul.
So, obviously, there are a lot of places in the world to see, but I want to see Turkey, and trying to time the safest time to visit, it is like timing the stock market….Unpredictable.

The point of my original post wasn't about safety for tourists in Turkey, it was about the OP's tolerance for stress. Her husband doesn't want to go and she questioned safety. I suggested that it's up to her to decide whether she would be able to relax and enjoy the vacation.

Helen, Turkey is high on my list too, I've been planning a trip but my thoughts now are that it may not be the best time (at least for me) to go because of the current situation 1. The July 9 attack at the U.S. Consulate (six killed), which the U.S. Ambassador calls &quot;an act of terrorism&quot; and 2. Sunday's bombings (two terrorist groups suspected) so that's two terrorist attacks in one month and 3. the political issues: &quot;Turkey’s top court to rule whether popular ruling party must be banned.&quot; The court started deliberations today. It's a power struggle and someone is going to lose.

Washington Post: &quot;The bombings and the legal challenge to the government highlight growing uncertainty in Turkey, where the government, which won a strong mandate in elections last year, is locked in a power struggle with secular circles in the military and judiciary.&quot;

It's not a matter of personal safety, I just don't want to be in a country in the midst of political turmoil, so I choose to wait and watch for a few months.

If you go, I hope you have a great time and post a report when you return.

If it makes you feel any better, sweetie darling, many of the top hotels in Istanbul--Ritz-Carlton, Divan, Hyatt, etc.--have metal detectors (and guards who search you) that you have to pass through to get inside.

If you are worried, maybe you should book one of these hotels.

I, by the way, was in Istanbul when a bomb killed a tourist in a restaurant under the Galatea Bridge. We never knew about it until we read about it in the newspaper. Istanbul is such a huge city.

I wouldn't be afraid to go to Istanbul tomorrow. Think of the millions of people who live there who are going about their day right now--working, eating in restaurants, shopping. They are not fleeing the city.

Thin

I too am in agreement with all the members here..We cannot make your decision for you..and my heart goes out to all the TURKISH familes hurt, injured and killed in the blast....however once again I cannot stress enough that TURKS died in this recent bombing...the chance of you as a tourist getting into a similar situation are so very slim...in a large metropolis city like Istanbul with a poplulation of ( 2007 11,372,613 )...There is no where in the world that is 100% safe these days....UK ??? NYC ?? the US etc...

keep in mind that on that same horrible day...A man opened fire in a church in the US state of Tennessee, killing two people and wounding seven others.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07...ing/index.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07...ess/index.html