Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

There are places where you can swim where the local Turks go, and should cost much less than the private clubs. Some of the Universities might also have pools, and you could work out a deal with those.

If you go to the tourist places, you will pay tourist prices. Go local, plead poverty, and you will get much better deals. If not....take a walk....with mini weights in each hand....(power walking). Great for aerobics, and some muscle tone work in the arms.

[31]

[quote="ghost"]There are places where you can swim where the local Turks go

It is called the sea.

[molly farquharson]

The sea is fine in summer if you don't mind dodging the garbage, but it's kind of hard during any other season

[31]

[quote="molly farquharson"]The sea is fine in summer if you don't mind dodging the garbage and the Turkish men in their underpants.

[molly farquharson]

And note that you don't see many girls. I guess they have more sense...

[justme]

I've seen at least 2 cases of a nasty, yellowish, weeping face fungus from swimming in the sea in or near Istanbul. Don't think I'll be trying that any time soon. Same goes for the low-price public pools (I've seen one case of said fungus from one of those), which I imagine to be too packed for lap-swimming anyway. It's like swimming in the Rio Grande, which has seen an explosion in the number of anencephalitic babies (babies born without brains) in the surrounding areas. Well, maybe it's not that bad, but the face fungus is pretty gross and takes weeks to clear up.

31, thanks for the advice about the Ramada, though. It's not far from my house but I didn't know they had a pool. Where is Hotel Malibu?

[dmb]

I've just remembered there is some open air pool in Ortakoy somewhere. Obviously not for the winter. I can't remember how much it was but it was cheap. it's also a salt water pool.

[31]

Justme

In Buyukcekmece the road that runs parallel to the ''corniche.'' Say you are driving down the hill from Beykent as far as BIM and turn right. Next to BIM is a kebab restaurant that serves acohol and opposite it is a pastane. Go along that road where the red minibuses and the Cekmece buses go. The gym is half way along. Towards the end of the road is The Wild Rose birahane.

[justme]

Again, thanks 31! I think my service bus goes along that way, I'll try n check it out this afternoon...

[31]

[justme]

That is so cool, especially since I've sworn off my school's gym until the students go away for summer!

I live in Beylikd�z� and work at Fatih U in B�y�k�ekmece-- the Ramada is in between, and not an impossible walk from my house. A few months ago there were signs all over about a sports club to be opened soon near Bizimkent, but the wind blew all the signs away and I haven't heard anything since. I was hoping something would turn up in the mailbox...

[31]

There is a gym in one of the blocks of flats behind Migros in Beylikduzu. Some of my wife`s friends go there. They say it is good but I am not sure if it really is very good. It certainly isn`t expensive but it doesn`t of course have a pool. If you want I can get the address and phone no.

[justme]

Yes, thanks. You can PM it to me-- I'll check it out!

[molly farquharson]

What about Buzada, formerly known as the Galatasaray island? is that the one near ortakoy you were thinking of? I think Buzada is only open in summer anyway.

[31]