Middle East See the Promised Land, the Red Sea, magnificient ruins and mosques, oil-rich metropoles. When you're done with that, go skiing and rock climbing ! |
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07-11-2006, 03:54 PM
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#1
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Tpunk Senior Moderators
Join Date: May 2006
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So I am going to the Greek Isles for 3 weeks, island hopping, but want to stop in either Bucharest or Istanbul. I have friends from Bucharest telling me thats the place to go, but I've seen and read so much about Istanbul, I can't decide. What are your opinions on each? I will be staying in hostels, and know that Bucharest is very backpacker friendly, but does the Muslim state of Istanbul throw a wrench in? My wife will be with me, which is why Istanbul is of concern. Any and all opinions are welcomed. I am leaving in 11 days for 2 weeks in Holland, France, and Belgium, can't FREAKIN!!!!!!! wait, but the next trip is in the works as well.
Thanks Marc873
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When an adventure ends you can never go back, never relive it, never hope to feel the same emotion. The secret is to not try and go back but to keep searching for new adventure....
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07-11-2006, 04:16 PM
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#2
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Buenos Aires
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I don't think you'll have a problem in Istambul at all. It's a very open city for travellers, and they are quite used to tourism. Besides the Turks are not the same as the Arabs, entirely different culture. Don't worry about it. What I do recommend is wearing more conservative clothing (ie: no mini skirts, or tank tops or anything with spaggeti straps or something super short). This way you know you won't have a problem or some staring... Beisdes she'll be more comfortable.
I say go to Istambul (though I've never been to Bucharest) there's just soooo much to do, and you can be on Europe and Asia on the same day!!
The culture mix is great too, Christian meets Orthodox meets Muslim... The food, the markets, the sights, the Topkapi Palace... really a wonderful city.
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Been to: Argentina, Chile, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt. Greece, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Spain, Monaco, Czech Republic, Ireland and Uruguay.
Next trip: Still pondering the possibilities for January 2009... * OH THE MYSTERY!! *
The travel bug is insatiable
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07-11-2006, 07:25 PM
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#3
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Members
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hometown NYC, U.S.A.
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((( Spiritual Aura by DJ Rap ))) :greenguy:
Istambul, although same as Florencia, I have not been to Bucharest.
Turkish is the only lang that I simply know how to curse, Bom bok, Ah-mo-nah-ko-bee, Zin G, I can understand some stuff but I really only learned how to curse, Great times! One of my friends there is awsome and I can tell you people over there are so nice and polite, remember that you might dig digging a bit more into the dif cultures and adapt a bit of them to your stay, it changed my life as into not eating pork (in my case, no religion reason but still).
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Life comes and goes, stay in motion & it will never pass you by.
Live off your parents, until you can live off your kids.
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