Jaunted - Tag: Istanbul
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The Pop Culture Travel Guideen-usCopyright 2006 - SFO MEDIA2008-12-04T05:01:34ZJauntedJauntedJauntedhttp://www.jaunted.com/images/jauntedw.jpg
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Istanbul: Dining Out in Istanbul
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/16/45250/604
Henry Shukman does Istanbul the foodie's (or maybe just the hungry person's) way in this Sunday's Times. His search for the true Turkish stuff turned up a hidden, exquisite hole in the wall (the kind of place Tony Bourdain would probably bust an artery over), a formal hotel joint serving recipes born in 1539, a retro-minimalist place with six-storey ceilings, and an eight-decade old family business with out-of-this-world lamb.
He found that first restaurant, the Bourdain place called Tarihi Karakoy Balikcisi, not in the Kumkapi district (famous for its abundance of fish restaurants), but in Karakoy. It's lunch-only, and the owner is just the kind of guy you want to entrust your belly to: a fish-freak obsessed with freshness to the point that he only sources his catch from a secret bay "where the currents keep the water the cleanest in the eastern Mediterranean."
The hippest of Shukman's picks is Lokanta, the place with the mega-ceiling (it also has an outdoor space). With its club-ish atmosphere and hip, pretty clientele, this is where you go for a mix of style and substance that won't compromise your palette's cred: shrimp on chili spinach, and chocolate soufflé, anyone?
Related Stories: · Istanbul: Fresh as the Morning, or Rooted in Centuries Past [NYT] ]]> djk2006-10-16T08:47:58-05:00Istanbul: Flyertalker Gets Scammed in Istanbul
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/9/194610/405
We read about travel scams and think such things could never happen to us. Often, we "know" scammers are "out there," somewhere, but no way are they right in front of us. Truth is, there's no unifying, world-wide petty scammer underbelly, and though we don't want to fear monger...it's more likely that a crook who's looking to rip you off will be sitting right next to you in a cafe, rather than in a fiery lair fifty feet below the surface of your destination.
With that in mind, here's a reminder that some of the world's more popular scams on travelers, including the classic "guy tricks you into paying for his friends' night on the town," can happen to the best of us. Yes, even Flyertalkers fall victim. PresRDC, a forum member with nearly 10,000 posts to his name, describes a sad chain of events in Istanbul in which he gives the benefit of the doubt to a seemingly friendly "Iranian" man, all in the name of diplomacy:
Soon enough, two of the women come over and sit down and, before I know it, my "friend" has ordered a bottle of champagne. At this point I knew I was in deep water, but felt trapped (because I probably was).
We were only there for less than an hour, when I finally said I am leaving. The bill comes and it is 2800 Turkish Lira, or slightly over $2000. Of course, this time my "friend" suggests we split it, but I protest that I don't have that kind of money on me (which I don't). The manager comes out and escorts us into a back office.
After wrangling police, he finally got out with $300 in the hole. By the way, this elaborate scheme started with the "friend" buying the victim dinner first. Click through for endless Flyertalker advice, and remember, it might not happen to you, but it can.
We've warned you about the ills of Cancun before. There you are, you've graduated from Brown with your fancy Ivy League degree and your dreams of a high-paying job, or at least a classy internship in the fall. So you may be tempted to snag this fare to Cancun from Providence for under $300 bucks (via Travelocity Flex Search) and have a last hurrah before you start work.
Cancun still isn't a good idea, Mr. I-heart-tequila. The younger generation has a bad rep: self-centered, spoiled, feel entitled, doesn't know the value of hard work, and so on. Heading south of the border for one last party won't improve that image.
We here are looking out for you, young students; we value your learning and knowledge, and want to protect each and every one of your precious brain cells after graduation. Now go stuff some envelopes and remember--we like our coffee with soy milk.
Related Stories: · Previous Bad Fares [Jaunted] · Aghast at Agave [Jaunted]]]> AVB2006-05-24T12:13:03-05:00Jaunted Good Fare: Not Constanstinople
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/5/24/11250/3906
Istanbul's Ataturk airport may be the tiniest bit on fire today, but that's all the more reason that this fare to Sabiha, Istanbul's second airport--which is quickly becoming the airport of choice there for the low-cost carriers--is a good one. You'll be flying from one of Milan's smaller airports as well, Orio al Serio.
A long weekend fare, departing Friday and Returning on a Monday will run you about $140 RT with taxes (you can guess which end has the higher taxes). MyAir, an Italian LCC, debuts this service with twice-weekly flights on July 7th. There may be some debate among European politicos as to whether Turkey can be part of the European Union, but there's no doubt that they consider it a part of their vacation plans.
Related Stories: · LCC News [FlyCheapo] · Previous Good Fares [Jaunted] ]]> AVB2006-05-24T11:25:00-05:00Frou-Frou Choo-Choo
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/4/21/114444/528
While train travel via Amtrak is pretty miserable over here, Orient-Express (not just the famed route, but the company) is making a go of fancy train travel abroad. The Times of London recently checked out their Eastern & Oriental Express, which runs from Bangkok, through Malaysia to Singapore in super swanky luxury. Compartments have their own showers and toilets, and the food is freshly prepared at every meal in thai-continental fusion style.
It's expensive, though; the four-day journey costs $1, 780 for a one way ticket, assuming you travel with accompanying passenger in a Pullman cabin, the smallest available. Sure, there's afternoon tea, an open-air verandah-style observation car, and a bustling bar car, but it's still quite a bit of scratch.
Besides, if you're really intent on dropping a bundle for train travel, why not do the original Orient Express? For a mere $7, 380 (it includes day trips and two nights in hotels), you'll experience a super-luxe six-day journey between Paris and Istanbul, with stops in Budapest and Bucharest. It's very much in the same vein as the Eastern & Oriental, but there are no private bathrooms on this train, though. For authenticity's sake, perhaps?
It's hard to say when luxury train travel will hit the northeast corridor--the Acela doesn't count--but in the meantime, some extra legroom would be nice. And we wouldn't object to an open-air verandah, either.
Related Stories: · The Elegance of the Far East [Times of London] · Rail World [NY Post]]]> AVB2006-04-21T11:44:44-05:00Istanbul: Hey Hey, Cripple Creek Ferry
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/4/13/153254/881
Istanbul! Bridge between East and West! Home to extremely thick coffee! City from whence you'd better not try to smuggle hashish! And also the subject of some great photography.
Elif Ayse's photostream on Flickr of the Turkish burg is just stunning. And authentic--all the titles and comments are in Turkish. Anyway, we like this pic of the ferry, which is working cool light/seagull/public transportation trifecta in terms of photos that grab our attention. Only shiny objects can distract us now.
[Image via Elif Ayse/Flickr]]]> AVB2006-04-13T15:32:54-05:00Search JauntedSearch Jauntedstring
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