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dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Yesterday I was completely brainwashed about how fantastic Izmir is and now know all the positive points about living there.
So what are the good things about living in Istanbul? The bad things about Izmir? 99% I will have to decide between the two and could need a bit of input!

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Both are beautiful.

Frizzie Lizzie · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:34 am Post subject:

Istanbul is addictive...once you're there, you'll find yourself renewing contracts after contracts. It happened to me, and to many of my friends.
And there are so many reasons why you can't get enough of it - which I'm sure the other posters will mention. People on this forum will offer a personal opinion, but you will find that it differs greatly from individual to individual, and yet everything is true.
For me, Istanbul is beautiful because I've managed to adapt so quickly, because I feel at home, and because I get the most wonderful view of the Marmara Sea from the Bakirkoy-Taksim dolmus.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

The view certainly does compensate in a small way to the daily misery of public transport in Ist.

I love the way Turks talk about a daily commute from say, Pendik or Gebze to Taksim with nothing but I only have to use one bus. As if having to change buses would make the hellish journey across the bridge every morning and evening so much worse.

Frizzie Lizzie · Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

Luckily people don't have to change buses ON the bridge itself - that would freak me out! I love the view, especially at night, but I get restless in traffic jams when the bus has to spend more than 15 minutes on the bridge...

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

Ages ago I used to commute by bus from Kadikoy and you had to leave by 6.30 am or you would get stuck in the bridge queues for ages. I imagine it is even worse now.

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Word is that when the tunnel is up and running and the third bridge operational, you'll be able to get from Kadikoy to Otogar in under 4 hours ...

It always amazes me that the roads that feed the main arteries are only just wide enough for a Fiat Uno and only then if the driver is breathing in ...

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 7:02 am Post subject:

If I had to list the down sides of Izmir I would have to think for a while ,but off the top of my head I think the summer heat is one of them luckily the coast is pretty close .Another thing would be how like a village it is ,if you get on someones nerves in one part of the ciy it quickly spreads esp through the xpat community . There is a definite lack of cultural events here as well.Trying to see a good live act for example is just a dream ,those in Ist have a lot of choice in that department . Everything else is cool really .

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Ok, if it turns out I move to Izmir I will go to every single concert in the Milkyway or Paradiso until I leave!
It's one of the things I will surely miss, just hopping on my bike, cycle to the centre, see a nice band on a week day and be back home by midnight.
Luckily there's fabchannel to watch some of the concerts online Smile

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I've experience with both cities(Although Izmir was when birinci kordon was on the seafront!)Sure the size of Istanbul can be infuriating, but it is because of the size that it gets all the concerts. The biggest advantage that Izmir has is that is a better place for weekend aways. It takes almost 2 hours just to get out of Ist.(yes Thrifty in a bus)
However, I've just spent the long weekend in Assos and as beautiful as it is... I missed all the noise hustle and bustle of Ist. I guess I am just a city boy.

Golightly · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 10:16 am Post subject:

good things about Izmir:
sitting on the Kordon
watching the amazing sunsets
quick escape to everywhere sunny
relatively compact centre and good nightclubs
the b*ll*ck-achingly beautiful women
wandering around the Kemeralti
the wonderful 'manana' attitude
saying 'Ne Is?' rather than 'N'haber?'
Bad things about Izmir:
Winter
Summer
lack of events
lack of consulates
the smell of open sewers (is this still true?)
good things about Istanbul
It's Istanbul
you can be an intercontinental commuter
Kumkapi
nightlife
the (old) architecture
wandering round the old city
shopping and haggling in the pazars
the views
the Islands
Bad things about Istanbul:
It's Istanbul
the infrastructure
knuckle-dragging f*ckwit magandas
the (new) architecture
airport taxi drivers
feel free to add to this list, I've got to get back to class now.

Golightly · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 10:17 am Post subject:

DMB, when were you in Izmir? I was there 93-94.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

92-94. 3 days a week in Izmir, 4 days a week in Akcay except the summer when it was 7 days a week Akcay Cool

Golightly · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:46 pm Post subject:

I worked for that *nice* Mr. Ferhan Cinar Ege at Cinar Ingilizce in Konak and Bornova - it had wonderful advert, portraying a silhouette of a man and woman in vaguely Edwardian Garb, with the strapline 'Dream in English!'

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397