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Turkey to Iran, Istanbul


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Travel time: Jan.1998, Feb.2003

Turkey to Iran 1998:
There´s no more train from Ankara to Iran. From the new bus terminal (5km southwest of Ankara) there is once a day a bus to Dogubeyazit at 2pm available (3.500.000 L, 18h). Be there at noon!

To get a taxi form Dogubeyazit to the border is a problem because the taxi driver will be paid exorbitant. I could manage to pay "only" 750.000 L by speaking to the "Mafia boss" of the village I met accidentally.

Crossing the border itself is easy. From the border you can take a taxi to Makou bus terminal(3.000 rial). The night bus to Teheran is leaving at 5pm (11.000 rial, 16h).

Istanbul 2003:
Booked this short 5-days-trip at www.berge-meer.de. for 205€. Flight from Stuttgart, 5-Star-Hotel (customary category ;-) including breakfast and 3 days guided tour to the most well-known sights inclusive.

What we got was a flight from Stuttgart with the reliable SunExpress flight company which is joint venture with Lufthansa. Good plane, space and nice service. Return we where transferred to Atlas Air run by Öger Tours: Old plane with the most short space I never experienced even in Asia.

Hotel Akgün Istanbul has 5 stars but not worth it. It´s located at Adnan Menderes Bulvari, Topkapi, 34270 Istanbul, Tel.: 0212 5344879, www.akgunotel.com . Normal rate is 175USD for a double to hold the five star category. Breakfast was basic too and included. How cares for that price?

When we arrived at the hotel we where forced to buy one of their tour programs otherwise we hardly would see all premised sights. 40€ for the entrance fees of all significant sights, 59€ including lunch and 99€ with a dinner with belly dance.

Sights to see (or not):
- Hagia Sophia: must (15.000.000 L). A scaffold blocks part of the dome. Closed Monday.
- Blue Mosque: impressive size (free entrance). Closed 1/2 hour before praytime.
- Museum of Turkish and Islamic art: boring (5.000.000 L). Carpets and potteries.
- Hippodrome: not worth a visit (free). Just a place.
- Sehzade: Just another mosque (4.000.000).
- Archeological Museum: must (5.000.000). Good restored displays.
- Egyptian Bazaar: Scenic but touristy (free). Find better prices just outside of the building.
- Covered Bazaar: Ancient hardware store (free). Good place for touristy items.
- Topkapi: nothing special (15.000.000). Extra charge to see the Harem and Jewelry.
- Yerebatan Cistern: must (8.000.000). Have a coffee in a huge ancient underground swimming pool. Closed 5 PM.
- Bozdogan Aqueduct: impressive (free).
- Boat trip on the Bosphorus: chill out trip. Quite nice.

If you book that trips with a local agency it will cost you double or triple. Check out www.shetours.com .

Good shopping for clothes and a good place for nightlife too is Taksim. Try to find the underground bar Teken just 200 meters east from the main square: Incredible atmosphere and live music for free. Beer is 3.000.000. Up


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