Visiting Turkey for Fun and Adventure, Oasis or Chaos
Oct 10th, 2015, 12:47 PM
#66
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I woke up this morning with the news alert from BBC, just terrible!!
Our heart goes to all Turks...esp family and folks that are harmed!
We are scheduled to visit Turkey from Nov 2 for 12 days..
I am getting email and msg from friends to cancel..
Our heart goes to all Turks...esp family and folks that are harmed!
We are scheduled to visit Turkey from Nov 2 for 12 days..
I am getting email and msg from friends to cancel..
Oct 10th, 2015, 01:17 PM
#67
Samuel, unless you are likely to suffer losses for not canceliing immediately, I suggest that you wait to see how things develop.
The British foreign office warnings are exactly like mine.
My perspective is that none of the usual suspects have anything to gain from causing damage to tourism or tourists. Nor have there been any threats.
November 2 is the day after the elections and possibly the best day for arrival in Istanbul.
If you are arriving at a resort, you should feel perfectly safe in any case.
But watch this thread and the British foreign office warnings which are more pragmatic than the American ones.
The risks in Istanbul have increased almost as much as the ones in Paris and London in the last seven months, however, the risks are related to the large modern malls and possibly football games and protests which are automatically avoided by sightseeing tourists because of the accumulation of most shistoric sites in the old town where the touristic boutique hotels are. The Bosphorus cruises are also likely to be quite safe.
I would cancel attendance at conventions, major conferences and similar gatherings in Istanbul and Ankara but enjoy my stay otherwise.
The British foreign office warnings are exactly like mine.
My perspective is that none of the usual suspects have anything to gain from causing damage to tourism or tourists. Nor have there been any threats.
November 2 is the day after the elections and possibly the best day for arrival in Istanbul.
If you are arriving at a resort, you should feel perfectly safe in any case.
But watch this thread and the British foreign office warnings which are more pragmatic than the American ones.
The risks in Istanbul have increased almost as much as the ones in Paris and London in the last seven months, however, the risks are related to the large modern malls and possibly football games and protests which are automatically avoided by sightseeing tourists because of the accumulation of most shistoric sites in the old town where the touristic boutique hotels are. The Bosphorus cruises are also likely to be quite safe.
I would cancel attendance at conventions, major conferences and similar gatherings in Istanbul and Ankara but enjoy my stay otherwise.
Oct 10th, 2015, 01:26 PM
#68
Thank you for your kind words, everyone.
It is a terrible feeling and the knowledge that ignorance and evil can cause so much damage everywhere in the world in the name of religion, race, power, greed, revenge, fear and even supposedly lofty ideals is difficult to accept even at this age.
I will not allow my and your "pursuit of happiness" to be marred or hindered by these disgusting cretin. We shall all continue to travel and enjoy life and enjoy knowing of each others' happiness even if we do not get a chance to always meet each other.
It is a terrible feeling and the knowledge that ignorance and evil can cause so much damage everywhere in the world in the name of religion, race, power, greed, revenge, fear and even supposedly lofty ideals is difficult to accept even at this age.
I will not allow my and your "pursuit of happiness" to be marred or hindered by these disgusting cretin. We shall all continue to travel and enjoy life and enjoy knowing of each others' happiness even if we do not get a chance to always meet each other.
Oct 10th, 2015, 01:28 PM
#69
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Dear OC,
We have cut this trip short (6 night each in Istanbul and Cappadocia, flying between cities) to pacify some of the concerns from friends and family, we have no intention of cancelling so far..
Will definitely take your advice to be vigilant, stay clear of protests and any large public gathering..
Appreciate your updates.
Thank you.
We have cut this trip short (6 night each in Istanbul and Cappadocia, flying between cities) to pacify some of the concerns from friends and family, we have no intention of cancelling so far..
Will definitely take your advice to be vigilant, stay clear of protests and any large public gathering..
Appreciate your updates.
Thank you.
Oct 10th, 2015, 02:23 PM
#72
There will be meetings of the parties, some to gloat, some to lick wounds and all to plan for how to act according to the results.
Many people will be glued to the media at home or the office.
It is not likely that there will be a winner. There will be some contention about a number of seats to keep people busy.
So :
1. there will be no gatherings, riots, conferences, concerts, sports meets.
2. The security and intelligence forces will be calculating the effect of the election results on their job security, and will not be up to any tricks to provoke any incidents and draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
3. There will be no mediatic targets for anyone.
4. Traffic will be better than most week days.
5. You can strike up some interesting coversation with English speaking Turks you meet anywhere on their views re election results because they will be dying to talk.
Many people will be glued to the media at home or the office.
It is not likely that there will be a winner. There will be some contention about a number of seats to keep people busy.
So :
1. there will be no gatherings, riots, conferences, concerts, sports meets.
2. The security and intelligence forces will be calculating the effect of the election results on their job security, and will not be up to any tricks to provoke any incidents and draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
3. There will be no mediatic targets for anyone.
4. Traffic will be better than most week days.
5. You can strike up some interesting coversation with English speaking Turks you meet anywhere on their views re election results because they will be dying to talk.
Oct 11th, 2015, 04:56 AM
#79
Again thanks for all the messages of sympathy.
here is a speech of condemnation by the leader of HDP after the meeting of the organizers of the disrupted march earlier and the following press conference of the Primeminister.
It has English subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni8W_WT5KDk&app=desktop
here is a speech of condemnation by the leader of HDP after the meeting of the organizers of the disrupted march earlier and the following press conference of the Primeminister.
It has English subtitles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni8W_WT5KDk&app=desktop
