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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]She died in Istanbul "touristing."  It is a dangerous place for women -- as evidenced by the research of several international organizations.  I was grabbed by random men on the street (boobs and butt).  And we stayed at a 5-star restaurant near the main mosque.  Hooray -- we were greeted to loud morning prayer howls broadcast at 5 AM PLUS cockroaches running all around the room.  There are stray dogs with open festering wounds wandering all over Istanbul.  The food places are disgusting, except for the Four Seasons.  The sales stalls are huge piles of stuff -- you want shoes?  Here's a big ass pile of shoes, unmatched, all sizes, all colors, why don't you find a pair (while one person pickpockets you and 16  carpet salesmen harass you).  A foul place... really.   Other parts of Turkey - great.  Istanbul?  FOUL. [/quote]

Wow, this could not be more opposite of my experience. I've traveled quite a bit to lots of different places so I'm used to cultural differences, but honestly I found Istanbul to be lovely, charming, and quite safe for a big city. The people are gregarious, esp the salesmen, but they are harmless, and anyone who's traveled a bit or lived in a big city will know how to nip any weirdness in the bud.  And the food is amazing!  I have no idea where PP ate or stayed but if it was close to the blue mosque (sultanahmet) it is definitely not one of the hip, vibrant neighborhoods with the more desirable hotels (other than the four seasons, which is the only nice hotel in that area).  That's like getting a hotel room in southwest DC and declaring you don't like DC :). (I know SW has come a long way but you get the drift.). You could have a bad experience anywhere if you don't know the right places to go, but I loved Istanbul and can't wait to get back!  [/quote]

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