Türkiye Master Thread

[nafnaf12]

Any recent trip reports?
Have a 12/24 hours stopover

[Kobe Bryant]

Any recent trip reports?
Have a 12/24 hours stopover

Feel free to PM

[Something Fishy]

I just spoke to Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, apparently the cemetery is closed due to covid along with "all Jewish institutions".

Anyone aware of a way to still go to the Semichas Chachomim?

[whacked1]

Any updated info?

[ponash123]

Anyone know if Turkey is safe to visit now?

[SuperFlyer]

Anyone know if Turkey is safe to visit now?

The danger isn't covid, but the extremists a bit all over.
If you look very Jewish, I'm not sure I'd go alone

[ponash123]

The danger isn't covid, but the extremists a bit all over.
If you look very Jewish, I'm not sure I'd go alone

I meant in regard to the high tensions between Muslims and Jews all over.
Not alone, but would be a group of maybe 3 or 4 young women.

I guess I'm really questioning if it's any more dangerous now than normal.

[Saulius]

I meant in regard to the high tensions between Muslims and Jews all over.
Not alone, but would be a group of maybe 3 or 4 young women.

I guess I'm really questioning if it's any more dangerous now than normal.

I was there before Covid for a few days in Istanbul -- and I walked everyday for countless of miles and took buses, metro, ferries with my kippa - nobody said a word to me except when exiting the shul there - everybody else took off their yarmulkes and made a comment to me that that this is not Israel.

To get into the shuls is time consuming, one has to pre-register / send them a copy of your passport beforehand, and then each time  (if one is not a local) one has to go through intensive time-consuming security controls to get in. And then under every seat in the main shul there is a helmet.

Turkey is a large country, but I think the issue in Turkey is not the locals - but the risk of terror from tons of Muslim nationals from various countries who have been in Syria, and have affiliations with ISIS and other terror organisations. It has been in the news recently that dozens of foreign nationals with links to ISIS were arrested in Istanbul by the anti-terror forces there.

I wouldn't say Turkey is dangerous, there are countless of millions of tourists that visit each year -- but better to keep a low profile and then the question why Turkey - there are so many other countries one can go to instead. How about Tbilisi, Georgia instead?

[SuperFlyer]

I was there while covid, a few month ago (see some pictures I've posted recently).

The danger is the 1 guy in x amount of people that is a radical.

So the question is, do you look very Jewish?

[ponash123]

I wouldn't say Turkey is dangerous, there are countless of millions of tourists that visit each year -- but better to keep a low profile and then the question why Turkey - there are so many other countries one can go to instead. How about Tbilisi, Georgia instead?

Thanks for your response.

I've tried getting myself interested in Tbilisi and I couldn't really drum it up.

[ponash123]

I was there while covid, a few month ago (see some pictures I've posted recently).

The danger is the 1 guy in x amount of people that is a radical.

So the question is, do you look very Jewish?

We're female so no Yarmulkas but we do dress modestly

[SuperFlyer]

We're female so no Yarmulkas but we do dress modestly

I know, I remember from the Morocco thread.

There are religious Christians that dress modestly too.

I don't see an issue.

[Kobe Bryant]

The question why Turkey - there are so many other countries one can go to instead. How about Tbilisi, Georgia instead?

Possibly a stopover. Besides Istanbul is one of my top all time favorite cities in the world and Turkey is a gorgeous and cheap country.
Georgia is definitely on the list of places to visit. Especially Paragraph Resort & Spa Shekvetili

[Saulius]

Thanks for your response.

I've tried getting myself interested in Tbilisi and I couldn't really drum it up.

Well Tbilisi, nothing there at all other than delicious Georgian cuisine - which I incredibly miss.  I went there to escape the Summer heat - as in the mountains it doesn't get hotter than high 60/low 70° F, amazing landscapes in the isolated mountains, and relatively inexpensive. Research Ushguli, Mestia, Kazbegi, Stepantsminda,  Uplistsikhe, Tusheti National Park, Shatili, Gudauri.

[SuperFlyer]

Any recent trip reports?
Have a 12/24 hours stopover

Ask me if needed. You know where to find me. ;-)

[ponash123]

I know, I remember from the Morocco thread.

There are religious Christians that dress modestly too.

I don't see an issue.

Appreciate it!

[YYZOGG]

Can someone  recommend a guide for Turkey?

[ExGingi]

https://twitter.com/mchitrik/status/1419529678805782529?s=20

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/311470

Oh. Do I wish I could have tagged along for that trip. I hope that in the future when I'm ready to travel, I would be able to do this trip (preferably with him).

[ponash123]

Trip report being posted here: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=126384.0

[jonesy]

Any recommendations on reliable driver in Istanbul for a half day stopover? No answer from Yusuf mentioned upthread. Thanks