Visiting Turkey for Fun and Adventure, Oasis or Chaos
Dec 6th, 2015, 11:28 AM
#161
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My husband and I wish to travel to Turkey (Istanbul and Cappadocia) in January 2016.
However, we want to know whether it is safe to travel now considering the political scenario and terrorist threats.
Also if we do go to Istanbul and Cappadocia would the climate be very bad, I mean too cold ? How cold is it during January in these two places and is the balloon ride possible during these days ? Please guide.
However, we want to know whether it is safe to travel now considering the political scenario and terrorist threats.
Also if we do go to Istanbul and Cappadocia would the climate be very bad, I mean too cold ? How cold is it during January in these two places and is the balloon ride possible during these days ? Please guide.
Dec 7th, 2015, 04:16 AM
#162
Hi varshaupen,
The following gives a good summary of January weather :
http://www.istanbul.climatemps.com/january.php
If number of clear days increase, then number of days with below 32 F at night increases.
Cappadocia is another matter :
This is a more academic site but good:
http://cografya.ege.edu.tr/14-1-2-TURKES.pdf
Kayseri is the closest large city :
http://www.kayseri.climatemps.com/january.php
As you can see, January is not usually a wet month, but you never know. Precipitation is more likely to be rain or sleet in istanbul and definitely snow at Cappadocia.
Although I have not been to cappadocia in the Winter, I expect that it will be quite beautiful but your mobility would be rather less than at a Summer or Spring visit due to the cold and the short daylight hours.
Refarding safety, nothing much is going on at this time, except for the usual.
The Southeast is definitely out of bounds not only due to PKK activity but even more due to trigger happy security forces who seem to consider all Kurds and foreigners in the area their enemies.
Follow United States travel warnings but unless they mention specifics, you should be aware that they cannot ever tell you everything is very safe at almost any place in the World because of their responsibilities regarding American citizens.
I would consider that currently Istanbul is safer than Paris, any city in Brussels, any city in Holland and London.
Cappadocia should be very safe because there really are no targets there for terrorism.
Stay away from Russian related sites. Currently, Russia has replaced all other countries as the number one enemy of Turkey after Turkish F16s shot down a Russian bomber over Syria (claiming that it had crossed into Turkish airspace for all of 12 seconds) and the Russians retaliated by stopping all imports from Turkey and by banning touristic visits to Turkey by Russians.
Both sides have also been causing difficulties at customs and ports for trucks and shipping bearing each other's flags and licence plates.
Russia did not get the official apology it demanded and immediately installed air-to-air missiles on its bombers as well as land to air missiles in Syria.
United States administration appears to love the situation, goading Turkey to impose new sanctions on Russia and advising the Turkish president and Prime Minister to be tougher and demand an apology from Russia instead for the 12 second encroachment over the Turkish border.
Unfortunately all these nincompoops play around with the lives and life styles of millions of people and enjoy these games too much to find time to combat climate change or any other really serious matter.
I will post again when I see or feel in my bones that there is any change.
The following gives a good summary of January weather :
http://www.istanbul.climatemps.com/january.php
If number of clear days increase, then number of days with below 32 F at night increases.
Cappadocia is another matter :
This is a more academic site but good:
http://cografya.ege.edu.tr/14-1-2-TURKES.pdf
Kayseri is the closest large city :
http://www.kayseri.climatemps.com/january.php
As you can see, January is not usually a wet month, but you never know. Precipitation is more likely to be rain or sleet in istanbul and definitely snow at Cappadocia.
Although I have not been to cappadocia in the Winter, I expect that it will be quite beautiful but your mobility would be rather less than at a Summer or Spring visit due to the cold and the short daylight hours.
Refarding safety, nothing much is going on at this time, except for the usual.
The Southeast is definitely out of bounds not only due to PKK activity but even more due to trigger happy security forces who seem to consider all Kurds and foreigners in the area their enemies.
Follow United States travel warnings but unless they mention specifics, you should be aware that they cannot ever tell you everything is very safe at almost any place in the World because of their responsibilities regarding American citizens.
I would consider that currently Istanbul is safer than Paris, any city in Brussels, any city in Holland and London.
Cappadocia should be very safe because there really are no targets there for terrorism.
Stay away from Russian related sites. Currently, Russia has replaced all other countries as the number one enemy of Turkey after Turkish F16s shot down a Russian bomber over Syria (claiming that it had crossed into Turkish airspace for all of 12 seconds) and the Russians retaliated by stopping all imports from Turkey and by banning touristic visits to Turkey by Russians.
Both sides have also been causing difficulties at customs and ports for trucks and shipping bearing each other's flags and licence plates.
Russia did not get the official apology it demanded and immediately installed air-to-air missiles on its bombers as well as land to air missiles in Syria.
United States administration appears to love the situation, goading Turkey to impose new sanctions on Russia and advising the Turkish president and Prime Minister to be tougher and demand an apology from Russia instead for the 12 second encroachment over the Turkish border.
Unfortunately all these nincompoops play around with the lives and life styles of millions of people and enjoy these games too much to find time to combat climate change or any other really serious matter.
I will post again when I see or feel in my bones that there is any change.
Dec 16th, 2015, 11:56 AM
#163
The following is a copy of the mail I sent to my former int'l Studies professor :
Things are heating up rather too fast here :
- proceedings have started against a CHP MP because he talked about the Sarin Gas shipments to Syria that took place inn 2013 and was actually publicly recorded by the prosecutors who arrested 5 for the crime but released them for an unspecified reason a week later.
- All teachers at Silopi, Cizre, Nusaybin, Yuksek Ova, dar Gecit and parts of Diyarbakir were ordered to abandon their schools and go home or to some unknown training by the Ministryof Education.
- The above mentioned cities resemble Aleppo and other towns badly hit by heavy weapons. about two hundred thousand people have already left or are in the process of leaving. The cities or certain parts are totally destroyed and an unknown number of the residents, including women and children, have been killed by the security forces who have left anti-Kurdish graffiti on the ruined walls. Even a video of a supposedly PKK militant dragged on a road at the end of a roap tied to a police vehicle was released by the Ministry and then pullde back after the outcry.
- The Russian embargo against Turkish products and the complete drying up of Russian tourists have hit farmers, traders, hotels, resorts, the Istanbul Laleli luggage tourism tarade, leather goods manufacturers and Turkish contractor with projects in russia.
- The expectation is that Turkey will face price increase and/or cuts of Natural Liquid gas.in the very near future.
- Turkey decided to investigate the three and a half thousand Iranian companies set up in Turkey in the last year or two, hence alienating not only the Iranian government more but also Iranian people.
- Two popular books written on Kurds were were banned after they were found at home of two young men shot by the security forces 5-6 years after publication, possibly to justify the shooting.
- Both the PM and the President give hate speeches and make ethnocentric and authoritative declarations every day.
- They also continue with untruths to defend against Iraqi and Russian government demands.
- A strange entity called the "Islamic Army" was puportedly established today with 34 nations signing. However, very few, including the signatories, have any idea what it is all about.
- Even the most liberal or anti-AKP journalists, writers and talk show hosts are afraid of criticizing the government re the downing of the Russian plane and the action against the Kurds forcing them into a corner where they may all decide that their only hope is to fight along the PKK.
I very much regret that I was somehow too lazy to visit those areas and will probably never be able to in the future. This is the same feeling I had about Syria in early 2011.
Here are some recent tweets :
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler
#IslamicArmy is established by 34 countries. Is this to replace ISIS and/or to fight the Christian Crusaders? Or a response to Donald Trump?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 2h2 hours ago
Can #Turkey a secular(?) #NATO member become member of another regional military org. especially one established on a religious basis?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 2h2 hours ago
Is new #IslamicArmy to fight #Islamaphobia or set up new battlegrounds to settle differences between each other? Loser on loser for no gain.
Things are heating up rather too fast here :
- proceedings have started against a CHP MP because he talked about the Sarin Gas shipments to Syria that took place inn 2013 and was actually publicly recorded by the prosecutors who arrested 5 for the crime but released them for an unspecified reason a week later.
- All teachers at Silopi, Cizre, Nusaybin, Yuksek Ova, dar Gecit and parts of Diyarbakir were ordered to abandon their schools and go home or to some unknown training by the Ministryof Education.
- The above mentioned cities resemble Aleppo and other towns badly hit by heavy weapons. about two hundred thousand people have already left or are in the process of leaving. The cities or certain parts are totally destroyed and an unknown number of the residents, including women and children, have been killed by the security forces who have left anti-Kurdish graffiti on the ruined walls. Even a video of a supposedly PKK militant dragged on a road at the end of a roap tied to a police vehicle was released by the Ministry and then pullde back after the outcry.
- The Russian embargo against Turkish products and the complete drying up of Russian tourists have hit farmers, traders, hotels, resorts, the Istanbul Laleli luggage tourism tarade, leather goods manufacturers and Turkish contractor with projects in russia.
- The expectation is that Turkey will face price increase and/or cuts of Natural Liquid gas.in the very near future.
- Turkey decided to investigate the three and a half thousand Iranian companies set up in Turkey in the last year or two, hence alienating not only the Iranian government more but also Iranian people.
- Two popular books written on Kurds were were banned after they were found at home of two young men shot by the security forces 5-6 years after publication, possibly to justify the shooting.
- Both the PM and the President give hate speeches and make ethnocentric and authoritative declarations every day.
- They also continue with untruths to defend against Iraqi and Russian government demands.
- A strange entity called the "Islamic Army" was puportedly established today with 34 nations signing. However, very few, including the signatories, have any idea what it is all about.
- Even the most liberal or anti-AKP journalists, writers and talk show hosts are afraid of criticizing the government re the downing of the Russian plane and the action against the Kurds forcing them into a corner where they may all decide that their only hope is to fight along the PKK.
I very much regret that I was somehow too lazy to visit those areas and will probably never be able to in the future. This is the same feeling I had about Syria in early 2011.
Here are some recent tweets :
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler
#IslamicArmy is established by 34 countries. Is this to replace ISIS and/or to fight the Christian Crusaders? Or a response to Donald Trump?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 2h2 hours ago
Can #Turkey a secular(?) #NATO member become member of another regional military org. especially one established on a religious basis?
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 2h2 hours ago
Is new #IslamicArmy to fight #Islamaphobia or set up new battlegrounds to settle differences between each other? Loser on loser for no gain.
Dec 21st, 2015, 01:19 PM
#165
The following link is to a leftist news portal possibly owned and run by some labour unions/syndicates.
http://sendika8.org/2015/12/governme...d-in-one-week/
Unfortunately the violence of the occupational forces is increasing in the Southeast just as the local public reaction.
People are learning handicapped. This is true of decision makers especially.
The government is saying "We cannot allow the terrorista rule over our towns, therefore we will send soldiers, commandos and tanks to finish them off and clean all those towns. We expect that the residents will forgive us for leaving them without water, food, medical care, schooling, etc. due to the 24 hour curfew we have to impose for weeks and weeks, because we are doing all this to protect them and we promise to make up the losses of the inhabitants."
How many do you think will cheer this after having lost their business, homes, personal belongings, starved, and with all schools for their children closed and all teachers in the region told to report to Ankara for training?
Even if the government manages to control these towns, will they be able to pull back the tanks and rest in their dream of a supplicant, meek local population whose youth will all become neo nazis and/or islamists all of a sudden?
I find it terrifying that the columnists and those supposed intellectuals or opinion leaders who appear on TV, are all saying that what the government is doing in the Southeast had to be done (and too bad for the locals who do not support terrorism and those "accidentally" killed by the security forces.)
They are also supporting the government decision to shoot down the Russian bomber which infringed on Turkish airspace for 12-17 seconds, even thogh Russia was a friendly economic partner, supplying almost 50% of all natural gas, 20% of all tourists, and 30% of the international market for fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Their argument is that legally the Turkish airforce did the right thing and that all countries would have acted similarly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is some increase in protest marches on Istiklal Street on weekends, in Istanbul.
The old city and the "rich city" (meaning Nisantasi, Tesvikiye, Ulus, Etiler and the Bosphorus coast are fine.
People in Istanbul, the stock market, the housing industry, land development, seasonal sales are all going strong as if there is nothing going on elsewhere.
Eser spends time on seasonal romp on FB and re-doing tens of old photograph albums when she has time from our grandson who listens carefully to my lectures on the social and political situation in Turkey and the rest of the world.
http://sendika8.org/2015/12/governme...d-in-one-week/
Unfortunately the violence of the occupational forces is increasing in the Southeast just as the local public reaction.
People are learning handicapped. This is true of decision makers especially.
The government is saying "We cannot allow the terrorista rule over our towns, therefore we will send soldiers, commandos and tanks to finish them off and clean all those towns. We expect that the residents will forgive us for leaving them without water, food, medical care, schooling, etc. due to the 24 hour curfew we have to impose for weeks and weeks, because we are doing all this to protect them and we promise to make up the losses of the inhabitants."
How many do you think will cheer this after having lost their business, homes, personal belongings, starved, and with all schools for their children closed and all teachers in the region told to report to Ankara for training?
Even if the government manages to control these towns, will they be able to pull back the tanks and rest in their dream of a supplicant, meek local population whose youth will all become neo nazis and/or islamists all of a sudden?
I find it terrifying that the columnists and those supposed intellectuals or opinion leaders who appear on TV, are all saying that what the government is doing in the Southeast had to be done (and too bad for the locals who do not support terrorism and those "accidentally" killed by the security forces.)
They are also supporting the government decision to shoot down the Russian bomber which infringed on Turkish airspace for 12-17 seconds, even thogh Russia was a friendly economic partner, supplying almost 50% of all natural gas, 20% of all tourists, and 30% of the international market for fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Their argument is that legally the Turkish airforce did the right thing and that all countries would have acted similarly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is some increase in protest marches on Istiklal Street on weekends, in Istanbul.
The old city and the "rich city" (meaning Nisantasi, Tesvikiye, Ulus, Etiler and the Bosphorus coast are fine.
People in Istanbul, the stock market, the housing industry, land development, seasonal sales are all going strong as if there is nothing going on elsewhere.
Eser spends time on seasonal romp on FB and re-doing tens of old photograph albums when she has time from our grandson who listens carefully to my lectures on the social and political situation in Turkey and the rest of the world.
Dec 27th, 2015, 11:26 AM
#166
What appears as civil war in parts of Southeastern Turkey is getting worse. All teachers have left the targeted towns, over 200,000 children will have no school this year. Possibly more than that many residents have left just as the Armenian residents had to during the Ottoman Empire rule in early Twentieth century.
The government increased their hate speeches against the Kurdish representative in Parliament as individuals and as the political party itself (HDP). In response, HDP leaders have now beome fully radicalized, calling for the local population to stay and disobey the security forces, who are patrolling the streets in tanks and armoured carriers.
There have been some small episodes at SAW airport in Istanbul (three explosions on the runway) and one on a busy road skirting one of the streams which feed Golden Horn (A city bus burned by a molotov cocktail)
However, I feel that the threat of violence is rapidly increasing while our friends and the people we speak to on various occasions live and act as if everything is normal.
Difficult to understand while the Russian measures are causing steep increases in inflation and cost of living in addition to their very effective cyber attacks on Turkish government sites and all major Turkish banks.
SO the Turkey that was an oasis is fast drying and the watering holes are being dominated by violent wild animals.
The government increased their hate speeches against the Kurdish representative in Parliament as individuals and as the political party itself (HDP). In response, HDP leaders have now beome fully radicalized, calling for the local population to stay and disobey the security forces, who are patrolling the streets in tanks and armoured carriers.
There have been some small episodes at SAW airport in Istanbul (three explosions on the runway) and one on a busy road skirting one of the streams which feed Golden Horn (A city bus burned by a molotov cocktail)
However, I feel that the threat of violence is rapidly increasing while our friends and the people we speak to on various occasions live and act as if everything is normal.
Difficult to understand while the Russian measures are causing steep increases in inflation and cost of living in addition to their very effective cyber attacks on Turkish government sites and all major Turkish banks.
SO the Turkey that was an oasis is fast drying and the watering holes are being dominated by violent wild animals.
Dec 27th, 2015, 12:06 PM
#167
Very sorry to read of your increasing woes, OC. That all sounds very frightening.
in the meantime I read that your President is being painted as rather a hero:
https://www.rt.com/news/327112-erdog...uicide-bridge/
in the meantime I read that your President is being painted as rather a hero:
https://www.rt.com/news/327112-erdog...uicide-bridge/
Dec 28th, 2015, 12:00 AM
#170
"And now for something completely different" :
Snow is expected over most of Turkey except the Southwest, South- Southeast and West-Southwest on New Years Eve and the first days of the New Year.
Thursday December 31 and Saturday January 2 are expecially bad days for traveling.
Happy, prosperous and wise New Year to all!!!!!!!!!!
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Dec 24
#Mithra's Moon over the Bosphorus, December 24. Lighting the sea route to 2016, a year of prosperity and wisdom..
Embedded image permalink
Snow is expected over most of Turkey except the Southwest, South- Southeast and West-Southwest on New Years Eve and the first days of the New Year.
Thursday December 31 and Saturday January 2 are expecially bad days for traveling.
Happy, prosperous and wise New Year to all!!!!!!!!!!
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler Dec 24
#Mithra's Moon over the Bosphorus, December 24. Lighting the sea route to 2016, a year of prosperity and wisdom..
Embedded image permalink
Dec 31st, 2015, 01:23 AM
#171
Snow depth about six inches and snow fall continues on and off, sometimes heavily. First white NYE in istanbul in many years.
Eser's dad will probably not be able to make it to our home tonight for the family dinner which also celebrates his 88th birthday.
Older DD, SIL and grandson may also not make it because access to our home may be risky the last 800 feet even for the Subaru Impreza.
here's a new tweet :
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 8 minutes ago
#LongPig continues to be a delicacy in the world even (especially?) where banned by religion. Just methods of capture & recipes have changed.
Eser's dad will probably not be able to make it to our home tonight for the family dinner which also celebrates his 88th birthday.
Older DD, SIL and grandson may also not make it because access to our home may be risky the last 800 feet even for the Subaru Impreza.
here's a new tweet :
Ahmet C. Celebiler @ahmetcelebiler 8 minutes ago
#LongPig continues to be a delicacy in the world even (especially?) where banned by religion. Just methods of capture & recipes have changed.
Dec 31st, 2015, 01:31 AM
#172
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pretty amazing snow on the webcams:
http://www.istanbuluseyret.com/TuristikKameralar/
http://www.istanbuluseyret.com/TuristikKameralar/
Dec 31st, 2015, 01:39 AM
#173
I loved the fact the president stayed in his car and kept his phone to his ear as he was introduced to the man his staff had talked off the bridge. One of the people indeed.
I also enjoyed the way he kicked the Russian bear and then went running to hide behind NATO's apron.
It must be very frustrating watching this from up close.
Have a happy new year.
I also enjoyed the way he kicked the Russian bear and then went running to hide behind NATO's apron.
It must be very frustrating watching this from up close.
Have a happy new year.
Jan 4th, 2016, 03:09 AM
#176
Thanks for all new year wishes.
Snow has started to melt and temperatures will suddenly rise up to 55-59 F on Wednesday. istanbul will be rainy and morose with overcast skies, short days, ugly politicians.
Southwestern and Western Turkey were also unusually cold. Orange, banana and lemon will probably have suffered from frost.
We in istanbul suffer more from witnessing, watching, reading and hearing about man's inhumanity to man.
(have a look at my last two Venice photographs on my travel blog)
Snow has started to melt and temperatures will suddenly rise up to 55-59 F on Wednesday. istanbul will be rainy and morose with overcast skies, short days, ugly politicians.
Southwestern and Western Turkey were also unusually cold. Orange, banana and lemon will probably have suffered from frost.
We in istanbul suffer more from witnessing, watching, reading and hearing about man's inhumanity to man.
(have a look at my last two Venice photographs on my travel blog)
Jan 12th, 2016, 12:03 AM
#178
There was a loud explosion at the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet about half an hour ago at 10:20 AM.
The police has cordoned of a very large area and are extending it towards the Cemberlitas column on Divan Yolu.
CNN Turkey says the explosion occurred in the vicinity of the Egyptian monolith.
The base of this monolith is about seven feet or so below ground leveland can be viewed through a low fence surrounding the hole.
There is no news of bodily injury but I can see multiple ambulances and fire engines in the area.
This is an area which has large numbers of security cameras, so the story should soon be made public by the authorities.
DW had just left home to deliver somethings to grandson and reported that she faced heavy traffic and large numbers of police vehicles going towards the incident.
The CNN reporter on site is told by witnesses that it was most probably a suicide bomber.
I will report again as more info becomes available
The police has cordoned of a very large area and are extending it towards the Cemberlitas column on Divan Yolu.
CNN Turkey says the explosion occurred in the vicinity of the Egyptian monolith.
The base of this monolith is about seven feet or so below ground leveland can be viewed through a low fence surrounding the hole.
There is no news of bodily injury but I can see multiple ambulances and fire engines in the area.
This is an area which has large numbers of security cameras, so the story should soon be made public by the authorities.
DW had just left home to deliver somethings to grandson and reported that she faced heavy traffic and large numbers of police vehicles going towards the incident.
The CNN reporter on site is told by witnesses that it was most probably a suicide bomber.
I will report again as more info becomes available
Jan 12th, 2016, 12:26 AM
#179
CNN Cameras show :
- Three unmoving bodies on the ground.
- Most ambulance and fire engines closer to the German (Willhelm II) fountain.
- Many tourists, sitting and crying close to the area. Why doesn't CNN interview them?
- Three unmoving bodies on the ground.
- Most ambulance and fire engines closer to the German (Willhelm II) fountain.
- Many tourists, sitting and crying close to the area. Why doesn't CNN interview them?
Jan 12th, 2016, 12:31 AM
#180
A tourism professional is now being interviewed as an eyewitness.
He says, he saw one dead with pieces scattered. Let us hope that that was the suicide bomber and not someone else.
He said that most of the tourists in the area were from Eastern Asia.
Oh, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first official report :
9 DEAD
May they rest in peace.
He says, he saw one dead with pieces scattered. Let us hope that that was the suicide bomber and not someone else.
He said that most of the tourists in the area were from Eastern Asia.
Oh, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first official report :
9 DEAD
May they rest in peace.
