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I came to Istanbul almost by default. Though I became determined to leave the US the instant my job allowed me to work remotely, the realities of the pandemic meant that there were very few places an American could escape to. Istanbul was the most attractive destination available despite the fact that I knew nobody in the city and had time to learn only the most basic Turkish. Two weeks into my stay and I don't know that I ever want to leave. That's not to say that Istanbul is perfect, far from it. As the title of this thread suggests, walking anywhere means navigating insanely steep streets that will grind your legs into submission. Scammers are persistent and prevalent, especially around the main tourist attractions. The traffic is ridiculous and the crowds are inescapable. Rent is so sky-high that I can only afford a one-room flat even with a salary that goes a long way when converted into Turkish Lira. I love it here despite all of that. I love that I can walk twenty minutes in any direction and be on the doorstep of a great cultural site or a world-renowned museum. I love crossing the bridge over the Golden Horn and relaxing on one of the many boats that cruise up and down the Bosphorus. I love the food, I love the stray cats that rule the streets, I love losing myself in the crowds that pack the squares and the markets and the dense, twisting bazaars. So, I thought I'd make a thread where I can share pictures and stories of my experiences here. I'd also be happy to answer any questions folks might have about the city, limited as my knowledge is given that I haven't been here very long. For brevity's sake I won't go into everything I've done so far, but I will leave some of the best shots I've snapped since coming here. Hope you enjoy them!                   
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Oct 26, 2020 09:54
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| # ¿ May 15, 2024 23:43 |
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God's honest is that I didn't even think about the Europe thread (since the city's almost as much Asian as it is European) until after posting. Then I look at said thread and see that practically all the posts on the last page are about Istanbul. Oh well! And yes, you're correct in that I can only stay for ninety days on a normal visa (I don't know if Turkey offers a special rich guy visa but I super duper wouldn't qualify if they do). I'm planning on going home for Christmas (which will coincidentally be about two and a half months after I first arrived) so I can return with new documents. I'd rather not go back to America every three months, but that unfortunately might have to be the case until borders start opening back up. Hopefully then I can take weekend jaunts into Bulgaria or Greece instead, both of which would be great places to visit in their own right.
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Oct 27, 2020 22:13
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Well, poo poo. I don't know how I missed that when I was making my plans, but I'm extremely glad I found out now instead of while trying to re-enter the country illegally! Thanks very much for the breakdown - I'm definitely not going to overstay my visa but I also don't think I'm going to apply for a residence permit, as it apparently takes three to four months to get one done in Istanbul. So, uh, after I go home for the holidays maybe I'll just go somewhere else for the other 80 days or so. In the meantime... Ortaköy Mosque (Büyük Mecidiye Camii), Beşiktaş      Basilica Cistern, Fatih   Sultan II. Mahmut Tomb, Fatih    Cats    Those are two different black cats, I swear. I saw a few others while out today but I unfortunately came across them in crowded areas, i.e. where I would be immediately identified as a tourist if I stopped to take a picture. Maybe that happened anyway with the two I stopped to pet, but in that case it's a risk I'm willing to take. Barry Bluejeans fucked around with this message at 20:56 on Oct 28, 2020 |
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Oct 28, 2020 19:10
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Thank you for the guidance - I'm a beginner globetrotter so I'll take all the advice I can get, especially with COVID making things so complicated. After doing some initial research I'm leaning towards Malta - mild climate, widely-spoken English, lots of stuff to see and do, and it's fairly close to Turkey so it'll be easy to get back should I decide to return here. The only downside is that it'll cost much more to stay there, but I'm saving enough money living in Istanbul that I should be able to swing a three month excursion. I'll also have to return to Istanbul for at least two weeks before going there (which means spending just as much time in the US beforehand), as Americans have to spend that much time in an approved Corridor Country (of which Turkey is one) before they can be let in. Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Mausoleum, Eyüpsultan        Cats    
Barry Bluejeans fucked around with this message at 13:27 on Oct 30, 2020 |
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Oct 30, 2020 13:25
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