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Istanbul, Turkey
Saturday, Aug 20, 2005

Turks

David Murray
2007-02-21 19:40:08

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We were standing on the platform, awaiting to get on a train. Don't know where we were, as we were somewhere near the border of Greece and Turkey. A girl walked past with a GB passport and Thai pants, so we said g'day and had a new travelling partner. She said her name was George and she was going to Istanbul. Good enough for us.

We were on that train for hours. Fucking hours actually. Swapping stories and telling each other what we were going to do. She was ok, so we let her stay !!! Eventually, we pulled into Istanbul. She had a room booked, as usual, we didn't. However, we were grabbed and led away. The guy wanted 50 Euros. I told him to fuck off and the price became 30 Euros. Good old Aussie lingo works sometimes !!!!!

Next morning, we should have gone to the Iran consulate to apply for our visas, but as George had not been to Isatnbul before and it was 7 years since we had, we decided to go site seeing together. Also, we now have a guidebook, so I feel a little better. Its old though. 5 years. Expect nothing else from us !!!!!

Topkapi Palace and Harem

We found it quite easily. You can't miss it. 7 Years ago, you bowled up to the front door, went through, lined up for theHarem tour, and it was done. Times change over the years. Now you have to pay to get into the Palace. Basically, it was a fucking rip off. We paid, went in and lined up for a tour of the Harem. The line was huge. Whilst waiting, a band came walking through. They were dressed in Ottoman style costumes. If they did not have their own moustache, they had a dodgy fake one !!!!! There were guys with swords and others with instruments. By the time we had our tickets, they were performing. It was fun for a while, then it ended. Luckily, out tour was about to begin. Also, you could take photos. Inside, the first room you came to was this place where these black servants lived. ...