Turkey - Where Two Continents Meet - Europe and Asia

Istanbul, situated along the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, is the only city in the world bridging two continents, Europe and Asia; it is as old as civilization itself and as modern as carrying cell phones.

Suami saya dan saya sangat senang tentang berlibur di Istanbul. My husband and I were very excited about vacationing in Istanbul. Kami terbang dengan Lufthansa Airlines dari Vancouver, BC, berhenti di Frankfurt, Jerman untuk pindah pesawat dan sekitar 15 jam kemudian, kami ada di sana. We flew with Lufthansa Airlines from Vancouver, BC, stopping in Frankfurt, Germany to change planes and approximately 15 hours later, we were there.

Masuk persyaratan untuk Turki adalah Paspor dengan tanggal kadaluwarsa satu bulan lalu keluar kita tanggal, dan Visitor's Visa. The entrance requirement for Turkey was a Passport with an expiry date one month past our exit date, and a Visitor's Visa. Visa dapat dibeli di Bandara Ataturk setelah tiba di Istanbul. The Visa can be purchased at the Ataturk Airport upon arriving in Istanbul. Biaya adalah US $ 45,00 per orang. The cost is $45.00 US per person.

Kami bertemu di bandara oleh Bell Hop dari The Hotel Zurich, hotel kami telah memesan melalui Internet. We were met at the airport by the Bell Hop from The Hotel Zurich, the hotel we had booked over the Internet. Kami berteman dengan hotel general manager, Mr Turan islam, saling berkirim e-mail sampai kami telah sepakat untuk US $ 50,00 per malam. We became friends with the hotel's general manager, Mr. Turan islam, exchanging e-mail messages until we had agreed to $50.00 US per night. Tingkat termasuk sarapan pagi setiap hari, semua layanan di hotel dan transportasi dari bandara ke hotel. The rate included a full breakfast daily, all the services in the hotel and transportation from the airport to the hotel. Bell Hop telah tiba di sebuah taksi untuk menjemput kami. The Bell Hop had arrived in a taxi to pick us up.

Berkuda sepanjang di bagian belakang taksi, kami agak cemas mengenai apa yang kita perkirakan selanjutnya, kami pada belas kasihan orang Turki. Riding along in the back of the taxi, we were somewhat apprehensive as to what we should expect next, we were at the mercy of the Turks. Kita tidak bisa berbicara bahasa dan kami tidak akrab dengan mata uang atau kebiasaan mereka. We couldn't speak the language and we weren't familiar with the currency or their customs. Yah, kita tidak perlu khawatir, kami disambut dengan keramahan yang terbaik. Well, we didn't need to worry; we were greeted with the very best in hospitality. Sebuah mangkuk buah-buahan, sebotol anggur, sebuah botol banyak pasokan air dan jus, dan sebuah tangan catatan tertulis dari manajer umum semua menunggu kami pada saat kedatangan. A fruit bowl, a bottle of wine, an ample supply of bottled water and juice, and a hand written note from the general manager were all waiting for us upon arrival.

Kami sangat gembira dengan kamar kami. We were delighted with our room. Kami berada di lantai 6, sebuah ruangan besar dengan jendela-jendela besar yang memungkinkan kita suatu pandangan terhalang Laut Marmara dan kamar mandi modern besar; tangan sabun, wajah kain dan jaringan tidak termasuk. We were on the 6th floor, a large room with huge windows that allowed us an unobstructed view of the Sea of Marmara and a large modern bathroom; hand soap, face cloths and tissues were not included. Kami hanya beberapa langkah dari hotel kolam renang, ruang olahraga dan tangga menuju Dining Room. We were only steps from the hotel's pool, exercise room and the stairway to the Dining Room.

Aku merasa lega melihat bahwa perempuan tidak diharapkan wisatawan untuk menutupi kepala mereka dengan syal tradisional disebut basortusu, atau mengenakan celana panjang longgar panjang tradisional disebut salvar. I was relieved to see that female tourists were not expected to cover their heads with the traditional scarf called basortusu, or wear the traditional long baggy trousers called salvar.

Menemukan jalan di Istanbul kami adalah mudah (peta membantu jika Anda ingat untuk mengambil satu); transportasi dengan taksi, bus atau Tram yang efisien dan murah dan penghemat hidup dalam panas. Finding our way around Istanbul was easy (a map helps if you remember to take one); transportation by taxi, bus or Tram was efficient and inexpensive and a life saver in the heat. Tiket untuk Tram dapat dibeli di kios yang terletak di sudut-sudut jalan di mana-mana berdekatan dengan Tram berhenti. Tickets for the Tram could be purchased at the kiosks located on street corners everywhere adjacent to the Tram stops. Istanbul hanya melakukan perjalanan kereta api hanya sekitar bagian luar kota. Istanbul's only train travelled only around the outside of the city. Itu bersih tapi lama dan lambat. It was clean but old and slow. Kami naik kereta sekali dan bertemu dengan seorang dokter berbahasa Inggris yang lahir di Toronto dan telah tinggal dan bekerja di Istanbul selama sepuluh tahun terakhir. We rode the train once and met an English speaking doctor who was born in Toronto and has lived and worked in Istanbul for the last ten years.

Kami menemukan diri kami kehilangan banyak kali sehingga kami akan meminta seseorang di jalan untuk arah; dengan sedikit Bahasa Isyarat kami selalu mendapat informasi yang kami butuhkan. We found ourselves lost many times so we would ask anyone on the street for directions; with a little sign language we always got the information we needed. Saya akan merekomendasikan bahwa setelah menjelajah keluar, Anda mengambil kartu dari kamar Anda dengan nama hotel dan alamat di atasnya. I would recommend that upon venturing out, you take the card from your room with the hotel's name and address on it.

Kamar mandi umum tidak banyak. Public washrooms were not plentiful. Ketika kami menemukan satu, seorang pria Turki akan duduk di luar pintu untuk setara dengan 25 sen ia akan memberi saya dua kotak kertas toilet, yang mirip kertas pasir. When we did find one, a Turkish gentleman would be sitting outside the doorway for the equivalent of 25 cents he would give me two squares of toilet paper, that resembled sand paper. Ide yang bagus adalah untuk membawa jaringan Anda sendiri. A good idea is to carry your own tissue.

Saya tidak bisa mengatakan cukup tentang berbelanja di Istanbul. I can't say enough about shopping in Istanbul. Covered Grand Bazaar memiliki lebih dari 4000 toko, menjual segala sesuatu mulai dari karpet Turki ke barang-barang kulit, bordir indah seprei dan perhiasan. The Grand Covered Bazaar has over 4000 shops, selling everything from Turkish rugs to leather goods, beautifully embroidered linens and fine jewelry. Bukan hal yang aneh untuk melihat toko yang menjual pernak-pernik wisata yang terletak di sebelah toko yang menjual kain sutra halus. It was not unusual to see a shop selling tourist trinkets located next to a shop selling fine silk fabrics. Kami bertanya-tanya selama berjam-jam naik dan turun banyak jalan dan lorong-lorong dan masih tidak melihat semuanya. We wondered for hours up and down the many lanes and alleyways and still didn't see it all.

Ketika kita bosan belanja di Bazaar, ada toko-toko, butik dan kios menuju ke Bazaar dan di setiap jalan. When we tired of shopping in the Bazaar, there were shops, boutiques and kiosks leading to the Bazaar and down every street. Ini adalah surga belanja. This was a shopper's paradise. Jarang sekali melihat wanita yang bekerja di toko-toko walaupun; laki-laki mendominasi pasar bahkan di toko-toko di mana hanya pakaian dalam wanita dijual. It was rare to see women working in the shops though; men dominate the market place even in shops where only women's undergarments were sold.

Turki adalah tuan di tawar jadi bersiaplah. The Turks are masters at bargaining so be prepared. Tidak membayar harga yang ditandai pada item atau Anda akan memiliki menghina pemilik toko. Don't pay the price marked on the item or you will have insulted the shopkeeper. Jika kita meninggalkan rumah memikirkan hal terakhir yang kami butuhkan adalah karpet Turki, pikirkan lagi. If we left home thinking the last thing we needed was a Turkish rug, think again. Kita akan diundang ke sebuah toko, menawarkan secangkir teh apel manis, atau kopi hitam disajikan dalam cangkir demitasse kecil yang lucu, dan tawar-menawar akan dimulai. We would be invited into a shop, offered a cup of sweet apple tea, or black coffee served in a cute little demitasse cup, and the bargaining would begin. Jangan terkejut jika Anda pergi ke rumah dengan karpet, kami lakukan. Don't be surprised if you go home with a rug, we did.

Juga dikunjungi adalah Spice Market. Also worth visiting was the Spice Market. Sebelum memasuki menutupi sebagian besar wilayah, bau kayu manis, mint dan thyme menyambut kami di pintu. Before entering the huge partially covered areas, the smell of cinnamon, mint and thyme greeted us at the door. Setelah masuk, aku terhipnotis oleh cemerlang indah merah, jeruk, dan kuning dari setiap rempah-rempah dan herbal dibayangkan. Upon entering, I was hypnotized by the beautiful brilliant reds, oranges and yellows of every spice and herb imaginable. Mereka ditampilkan dalam karung goni besar rapi ditumpuk di lantai di pintu masuk untuk masing-masing toko kecil atau dalam wadah kaca di rak-rak yang berjajar di dinding toko. They were displayed in large jute sacks neatly stacked on the floor at the entrance to each little shop or in glass containers on shelves that lined the walls of the shops. Aroma biji kopi, teh dan segar curah dipanggang dibuat air mulut kita. The aroma of coffee beans, bulk tea and fresh baked goods made our mouths water. Pastikan untuk membeli Vanilla Saffron dan murni sementara Anda berada di sana, harga yang wajar dan membuat untuk hadiah indah untuk keluarga dan teman-teman di rumah. Be sure to purchase Saffron and pure Vanilla while you are there, the prices were reasonable and makes for wonderful gifts for family and friends back home.

Ada banyak wisata tersedia di Istanbul dan mereka menawarkan panduan berbahasa Inggris. There are many tours available in Istanbul and they offer English speaking guides. Dia Wisata menjemput kami di hotel kami dan membawa kami kembali tanpa biaya tambahan. She Tours picked us up at our hotel and brought us back at no extra cost. Pemberhentian pertama wisata kami adalah Istana Beylerbeyi indah di pesisir Asia dari Selat Bosphorus. The first stop on our tour was the beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus Strait. Itu adalah kediaman musim panas Sultan Ottoman, dibangun pada tahun 1865 dan sekarang menjadi Museum untuk umum. It was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, built in 1865 and is now a Museum for the public. Ketika kami memasuki Istana, kami diberi sepatu bot plastik untuk menutupi sepatu, tas kami digeledah dan kami melewati detektor logam sebelum memulai wisata. As we entered the Palace, we were given plastic boots to cover our shoes, our purses were searched and we went through a metal detector before starting our tour. Melanjutkan, kami menyeberangi Jembatan Tol The Bosphorus menghubungkan Eropa dan Asia, dan kemudian berhenti di Camlica Hill, titik tertinggi di Istanbul. Continuing on, we crossed The Bosphorus Toll Bridge linking Europe and Asia and then stopped at Camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul. Pemandangan kota yang mempesona. The view of the city was breathtaking. Wisata ini berlangsung selama lima jam, biaya US $ 30,00 masing-masing dan sangat bernilai uang. This tour lasted five hours, cost $30.00 US each and was well worth the money. Dia Tours menawarkan berbagai wisata, satu untuk menyesuaikan setiap bunga dan jadwal waktu. She Tours offer many tours, one to fit every interest and time schedule. Hotel yang lebih besar senang mengatur tur untuk Anda. The larger hotels are happy to arrange the tours for you.

Kita tidak membutuhkan pemandu wisata untuk mengunjungi Museum Haghia Sophia atau "Kebijaksanaan Ilahi" yang dibangun pada abad ke-6 atau Masjid Biru biru bernama untuk menutupi ubin dinding interior dan dibangun pada abad ke-17. We didn't need a tour guide to visit The Museum of Haghia Sophia or “Divine Wisdom” that was built in the 6th century or, The Blue Mosque named for the blue tiles covering its interior walls and built in the 17th century. Masjid Biru merupakan satu-satunya masjid di dunia dengan enam menara dan merupakan yang paling indah dan megah masjid di Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in the world with six minarets and is the most beautiful and grand mosque in Istanbul.

Kami juga mengunjungi Masjid yang Beyazit masjid tertua di Istanbul, sedangkan biaya masuk adalah US $ 2,00 per orang tetapi kami temukan di kemudian hari seharusnya gratis masuk. We also visited The Beyazit Mosque the oldest mosque in Istanbul; the entrance fee was $2.00 US per person however we found out later it should have been free admission. Masjid ini adalah satu-satunya di mana kami harus menghapus sepatu kami, dan aku diberi syal untuk menutupi rambut saya. This mosque was the only one where we had to remove our shoes, and I was given a scarf to cover my hair. Syal berbau apak dan tidak terlalu bersih. The scarf smelled musty and wasn't terribly clean.

Turki yang puritan dalam selera kuliner mereka sehingga makanan tidak disiram saus dan sangat sedikit jamu atau rempah-rempah yang digunakan dalam masakan kami mencoba. The Turks are purists in their culinary tastes so food wasn't smothered in sauces and very little herbs or spices were used in the dishes we tried. Makanan laut itu terasa segar dan lokal dan biasanya disajikan dengan nasi, melainkan sangat lezat. The seafood was local and tasted fresh and was usually served with boiled rice; it was very tasty. Sebuah makanan favorit penduduk setempat adalah Kebap; gulungan besar daging kambing atau sapi yang dimasak perlahan-lahan pada tusuk vertikal di depan sebuah elemen pemanas. A favorite meal of the locals was a Kebap; a large roll of mutton or beef cooked slowly on a vertical skewer in front of a heating element. Ketika kita memesan Kebap, kita bisa menonton seperti yang bercukur dari gulungan dan dihidangkan dengan roti yang terbuka. When we ordered a Kebap, we could watch as it was shaved from the roll and served on an open bun. Kami tidak memerlukan apa-apa dengan hal itu, hal itu sangat lezat dengan sendirinya. We didn't need anything with it, it was very tasty all by itself.

Makan malam dapat dibandingkan dengan hiburan malam. The evening meals could be compared to an evening of entertainment. Kami wined dan makan selama berjam-jam di AC restoran atau di luar di teras dan kami akan meninggalkan penuh dan merasa seperti kami telah membuat teman-teman baru. We were wined and dined for hours in air conditioned restaurants or outside on the patios and we would leave full and feeling like we had made new friends.

Sarapan bukan makan populer di Istanbul. Breakfast was not a popular meal in Istanbul. Jika Anda tidak menawarkan hotel itu, bersiaplah, restoran tidak terbuka untuk bisnis sampai terlambat di pagi hari. If your hotel doesn't offer it, be prepared, restaurants don't open for business until late in the morning. Kami beruntung bisa tinggal di hotel yang menawarkan berbagai besar segar item sarapan setiap pagi; item seperti roti manis, yogurt, sereal, sup panas dan orak-arik atau telur rebus. We were fortunate to be staying in a hotel that offered a large variety of fresh breakfast items every morning; items like sweet buns, yogurt, cereal, hot soups and scrambled or boiled eggs. Pagi mereka minum adalah Tang pernah populer jus jeruk. Their morning drink was the ever popular Tang orange juice.

Air di Istanbul aman untuk diminum, tetapi tidak ingin mengambil risiko, kita membeli air botolan kita sendiri sangat murah (5 liter untuk setara dengan 90 sen). The water in Istanbul was safe to drink but not wanting to take chances, we purchased our own bottled water very cheap (5 liters for the equivalent of 90 cents).

Setiap malam, kami akan menonton dari jendela hotel kami sebagai vendor mendorong gerobak mereka menyusuri jalan-jalan, menawarkan boneka kerang, bakso yang terbuat dari gandum, dan kue dadar diisi dengan daging mentah, serta gerobak lain penuh dengan segala macam kebun sayuran segar dan lokal mengambil kacang-kacangan. Every evening we would watch from our hotel window as vendors pushed their carts up and down the streets, offering stuffed mussels, meatballs made from barley, and pancakes filled with raw meat, as well as other carts loaded with every kind of fresh garden vegetable and locally picked nuts. Dan, tidak boleh diabaikan, Istanbul memang memiliki MacDonald's Restaurant bagi mereka yang ingin mencoba Turki hamburger, perancis-kentang goreng dan es krim. And, not to be overlooked, Istanbul does have a MacDonald's Restaurant for those who want to try Turkish hamburgers, french-fries and ice cream.

Kami tidak pernah menemukan Laundromat manapun di kota. We never found a Laundromat anywhere in the city. Dengan menggunakan bahasa isyarat dan banyak tawa, pembantu di hotel kami mengerti bahwa kami perlu melakukan beberapa cucian. With the use of sign language and lots of laughter, the maid in our hotel understood that we needed to do some laundry. Ia menerimanya dengan dia dan membawanya kembali keesokan harinya, disetrika dan tergantung di hanggar atau dilipat sangat rapi. She took it with her and brought it back the next day, ironed and hanging on hangars or folded very neatly. Kami menggunakan layanan dua kali dan biaya adalah US $ 100,00 Saya akan merekomendasikan pembelian pakaian bersih sewaktu anda membutuhkannya; turkish membuat pakaian itu sangat murah untuk membeli, dan menyenangkan untuk berbelanja. We used the service twice and the cost was $100.00 US I would recommend purchasing clean clothes as you need them; Turkish made clothing was very inexpensive to buy, and fun to shop for.

Istanbul adalah kota terbesar di Republik Turki. Istanbul is the largest city in the Republic of Turkey. Ini memiliki penduduk lebih dari sembilan juta orang dan dapat memiliki sebanyak delapan juta wisatawan yang berkunjung pada satu waktu. It has a population of more than nine million people and can have as many as eight million tourists visiting at one time. Itu agama utama Islam; lima kali dalam sehari dan malam, di tepat waktu, kami akan mendengar panggilan untuk doa dari berbagai masjid. It's main religion is Muslim; five times during the day and night, at precise times, we would hear the call to prayer from the various mosques. Pada awalnya, terutama ketika kami terbangun di malam hari, kita akan mendengar ratapan bergema di kota, tetapi setelah beberapa hari dan setelah kami tahu di mana suara itu datang, kami menjadi terbiasa untuk itu dan benar-benar mendengarkan untuk itu. In the beginning, especially when we were awakened in the night, we would hear wailing echoing through the city, however after a few days and after we knew where the sounds were coming from, we became accustomed to it and actually listened for it.

Mata uang adalah Turki Lire. The currency is the Turkish Lire. Ada banyak bank di Istanbul; yang paling populer menjadi Yapi Kredi Bank dimana kita bisa menukar uang kita atau jika bank-bank ditutup, kami tidak memiliki masalah dengan menggunakan banyak ATM yang terletak di sekitar kota. There were many banks in Istanbul; the most popular being the Yapi Kredi Bank where we could exchange our money or if the banks were closed, we had no problem using the many ATMs situated around the city.

Tip bukan norma tetapi hanya seperti di rumah, ketika kami diberi pelayanan yang baik, kami merasa mereka telah mendapatkan tip. Tipping was not the norm but just like at home, when we were given good service, we felt they had earned a tip. Di hotel kami, pada saat kami berangkat ke rumah, kami telah melatih staf untuk menerima tips kami, mereka sudah pasti diterima mereka. In our hotel, by the time we were leaving for home, we had trained the staff to accept our tips; they had definitely earned them.

Liburan ini merupakan pengalaman yang luar biasa. This holiday was an amazing experience. Aku hampir tidak menyentuh pada banyak tempat menarik yang kami kunjungi. I have barely touched on the many interesting places we visited. Itu tidak perlu mengetahui sejarah, bahasa, adat-istiadat atau mata uang sebelum memulai perjalanan ke Istanbul. It wasn't necessary to know the history, the language, customs or currency before embarking on this trip to Istanbul. Kita diciptakan untuk merasa diterima oleh semua orang dan rintangan bahasa, hanya sebuah ketidaknyamanan kecil. We were made to feel welcome by everyone and the language barrier, only a minor inconvenience. Saya akan salah kalau aku tidak mengatakan bahwa kadang-kadang ada tanda-tanda yang aneh terorisme tetapi tidak ada yang mempengaruhi kita dengan cara apapun itu tidak akan menghentikan kita kembali ke Istanbul. I would be amiss if I didn't mention that at times there was the odd hint of terrorism but nothing that affected us in any way nor would it stop us from returning to Istanbul.

Ketika kami sedang memuat barang-barang kami ke dalam taksi untuk membawa kita kembali ke Airport untuk Atutark perjalanan kita pulang, staf bertugas dan yang tidak bekerja di The Hotel Zurich malam itu keluar untuk tawaran kami menyukai perjalanan perpisahan dan aman. As we were loading our luggage into the taxi to take us back to the Atutark Airport for our journey home, the staff on duty and the ones not working at The Hotel Zurich that evening came out to bid us a fond farewell and safe trip. Apakah yang pernah terjadi di negara lain? Has that ever happened in any other country? Aku tahu kita belum pernah mengalaminya, dan itu seperti perasaan yang indah untuk tahu bahwa kami diterima, dihormati dan dianggap teman-teman mereka. I know we have never experienced it, and it was such a wonderful feeling to know we were accepted, respected and considered their friends.

Jika Anda mencari tujuan wisata yang eksotis, dengan ramah, orang-orang yang ramah, iklim yang ideal dan pemandangan indah atau jika Anda ingin menjelajahi sebuah kota yang penuh dengan situs-situs kuno dan reruntuhan dicampur dengan meningkatnya modernisasi, atau bagaimana kalau hanya belanja liburan yang hebat baik , Istanbul adalah tujuan untuk Anda. If you are looking for an exotic holiday destination, with friendly, hospitable people, an ideal climate and beautiful scenery or if you want to explore a city filled with Ancient sites and ruins mixed with increasing modernization, or how about just a fabulous shopping holiday well, Istanbul is the destination for you.