Going to Greece & Turkey in September-Any tips?

[GoldEagle]

I'll be going to Greece (Athens, Thessalonika) and Turkey (Ankara, Istanbul, other parts) in September. I was wondering if anyone who lives there/has been there/knows some stuff about it, had any tips? Like, possibly learn basic Greek/Turkish, how to stay out of trouble, what not to eat, those types of things?

Thanks,
GE

 

[Mirc]

Greece and Turkey! Istanbul is a wonderful city, it has 10 million inhabitants and is full of culture and sights. I stayed just 5 hous in it, so i can't really say, but I know that you need at least a week to explore it all!!! Ankara is nice also. Be sure to visit the old center, the "ulus", where the first mosque of Ankara has been built, and visit that big great mosque (I don't know its name, but everyone there does, so you can ask). It's huge and wonderful and has Arabic writing written in gold. Also there is a plan of the most important mosque of Islam.
For Greece, I can only say it's wonderful, but the part I've seen from Greece is Kastoria, which is a city on a very nice lake, surrounded by hills and mountains, but not a typical greek city.
Do not eat poisonous animals. Good luck!!!!! I wish I were you.

 

[Rambuchan]

Here's one:

Remember which country you are in when ordering coffee.

VERY important not to get them mixed up (the names I mean, not the coffee itself ).

 

[Mirc]

Yes, Turkish coffee is very special, as well as Turkish tea. Also if you like hot food, you will be in heaven in Turkey. They have a fantastic food, but too much for my taste.

 

[warpus]

Make sure nobody can figure out that you're American.

 

[Mirc]

Why? The turks admire western people, are very polite and would do whatever you ask them, because they smelled business. Nothing bad in it IMHO.

 

[GoldEagle]

And I'll remember not to tell the Greeks I'm going to Turkey, and not to tell the Turks I'm going to Greece.

 

[Rambuchan]

Here's another one:

A hot Turkish chick is much more likely to have a big, hard-as-nails brother listening round the corner to your silken chat up lyrics, than a hot Greek chick would be.

Statistically proven. Clinically tested. Trust me, don't put your foot in it!

 

[GoldEagle]

Ironically, it's a Christian trip. Go figure.

I'll also be sailing the Aegean Sea on a cruise ship. Faking Christianity pays, b****

 

[nonconformist]

The standard way of greeting in the Mediterranean is to display your open palm at the end of your horizontally outstretched arm.
This should especially done to strangers.

 

[Mirc]

The standard way of greeting in the Mediterranean is to display your open palm at the end of your horizontally outstretched arm.

I though this is everywhere...

 

[BCLG100]

I though this is everywhere...

yer it is.........


anywhoo im going to Turkey as well end of July and beginning of August for 10/11 days

 

[Mirc]

In what part of Turkey?

 

[BCLG100]

crap i forgot, ill ask my girlfriend, its not a major part of Turkey and is about 2 hours away from the airport(not Istanbul airport).

 

[Kyriakos]

The standard way of greeting in the Mediterranean is to display your open palm at the end of your horizontally outstretched arm.
This should especially done to strangers.

Not a good idea (at least in the past, when people actually cared about it, it was seen as a very unfriendly gesture; not sure why but i trust that it symbolises throwing something negative towards the other person)

Most of the sights here are in the center; unlike Athens, Thessalonike has a very obvious central part, which is comparatively small, so the monuments are there as well.
But since you will have guides you wont have any problem; almost everyone speaks english anyway, and practically everyone in a working age.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

You are American? Take a gun. no wait: two guns, a bowie knife, and one of those little pocket pistols you see in John Wayne movies.

 

[Cuivienen]

Don't tell the Turks that you're going to Greece, and don't tell the Greeks that you're going to Turkey.

Unless you think it will make them compete to seem better rather than snarl at you.

 

[Kyriakos]

Not this stereotypical foolishness again :suicide:

You would just sound dumb if you were trying to say it in a way that was supposed to trigger any strong emotion, that is all.

Here is part of the infernal center of the city