This is my actual

Istanbul, Turkey

10/97

Going to Turkey means going to Istanbul. Most of the population of Turkey is right in Istanbul. It it big, and jam-packed for miles on end as the photo below shows. It has the distinction of being a city on two continents. The Europe/Asia Border runs right through the middle of the city!! Their indoor "Bazaar" is a "warren" of, literally, hundreds of shops in a (sort of) enclosed area. No map has ever been made of this thing. And if you wander too far into it you will definitely get lost or worse! You needn't go far, though. Like France it's all clones after a while. Spices, leather, jewelry, carvings, spices, leather, jewelry, carvings, etc. UN-like France....I'd go back to Istanbul. I don't think I saw enough of it in the few days we were there.

Using their money is quite a trip in itself. You frequently hear yourself saying things like, "I won't give you a cent more than ten million for it!!"

	This is their money! Check out the denominations! What's this worth?? Think. How much could it be? I brought it home as a souvenir!! OK, ok 5,000,000 TRL = $7.41 US
	That's one hat I'm not anxious to try on.
	It goes on just like this for many, many MILES
	With the occasional mosque or ancient palace.
	The old Sultan's lived in opulence beyond belief
	The famous Topkapi dagger They made a movie about it
	I had to. (take the picture, I mean) It's a *solid gold* elephant, for crying out loud!!
	This "schmuck" also spelled "jewelry" wrong