- Drink lots of water. From bottles, not faucets.
- Wear good walking shoes. The city is pretty much a cobble-stoned mountain.
- Brush up on some key Turkish phrases. Merhaba means hello. Tesukkur ederim means thank you. Pislik means asshole.
- Get to know Rick Steves on a personal level. His videos on the major tourist attractions, like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace are short, informative, and interesting. It’s good to have some historical context when you are taking in these grand sites.
- You can wear whatever you want in Turkey. But, if you’re a woman and don’t want to be stared at, you should dress accordingly. Go for conservative pieces that will allow you to stay cool, like loose, linen fabrics. Pants like these are also quite nice to have in your wardrobe arsenal.
- Bring a camera. Duh X1000.
- If you’re going to carry a lot of cash on you, be smart about it. Purchase a money-belt or necklace to keep important items safe. They look kind of dorky, but whatever, at least you will be safe from potential pickpockets.
- Be open. Say yes to the opportunities that will allow you to try new things, the ones that will challenge you. Soak in the sunshine and calories, and perhaps some culture in between.
Me + Istanbul
Hi! Hope you had a great time in my too-big-to-live-in-but-fun-to-visit hometown. One typo correction: it’s “teşekkür ederim”.
Yes, I had a great time. It is truly an amazing city! Thanks for the tip, I will fix that. 🙂