Have been in Istanbul since Monday and have to say that this a great place to visit. So far I have seen the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market, the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, and took a cruise up the Bosphorus. The mosques and old Ottoman buildings here are amazing, making Istanbul a must visit destination for anyone with an interest in history or architecture. Although it was raining a bit on Monday evening, the weather has been great ever since - sunny and warm. Perfect sightseeing weather.
Turkey is a Muslim country, but it's much more progressive than it's Middle Eastern counterparts. Women are not required a wear a head scarf, although some do, and many restaurants serve alcohol. I have noticed that women are more modestly dressed in public - not a lot of exposed legs, arms, or cleavage - but that seems to be a matter of personal choice. The vast majority of people here look similar, dark hair and eyes with slightly tanned skin, although some people look more European and other more Middle Eastern in terms of their facial features (mostly the nose really).
This afternoon I'll be catching a plane down to Izmir and heading out to Ephesus, sight of a many old Roman ruins, then coming back to Istanbul on Sunday to finish out my trip before returning to the US on Tuesday.
Turkey is a Muslim country, but it's much more progressive than it's Middle Eastern counterparts. Women are not required a wear a head scarf, although some do, and many restaurants serve alcohol. I have noticed that women are more modestly dressed in public - not a lot of exposed legs, arms, or cleavage - but that seems to be a matter of personal choice. The vast majority of people here look similar, dark hair and eyes with slightly tanned skin, although some people look more European and other more Middle Eastern in terms of their facial features (mostly the nose really).
This afternoon I'll be catching a plane down to Izmir and heading out to Ephesus, sight of a many old Roman ruins, then coming back to Istanbul on Sunday to finish out my trip before returning to the US on Tuesday.
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