I visited Istanbul for the first time in October 2009. My first impression – huge! Endless neighbourhoods and flyovers, masses of people and very very modern. Istanbul was not what I expected at all, I had imagined it far more exotic and mysterious but in the end had the perception that the city is just another Mediterranean port with mosques instead of churches. The neighbourhood called Sultanahmet is something special though, a curious fusion of the Balkans and the Middle East. I did see some tourists going into mosques dressed in mini skirts and what was even more shocking is that they were being let in! Please don’t do this but show some respect.
Turkish people are lovely and very hospitable and I never had one weird moment or misunderstanding with anyone. In some of the shops they have a delicious rice pudding but I forget the name. Across from the Hagia Sofia – on a street called Divan Yolu Cd – there are some restaurants, nothing special really but avoid them too as they are tourist traps and charge way too much. I paid EUR 29 for a sandwich and a cup of coffee! Also avoid the cafe after passport control in Ataturk Airport, again outrageous prices.
