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[dmb]

My Turkısh ıs c r a p. Receptively it's stıll ok. But when I try to cut into comnversation I spend ages tryıng to remember the word. Hopefully ıt's like rididng a bike. You never forget. Time will see.

To be honest it's quite a difficult one to answer. After all it has been two years and I've only been here four days. Also I haven't really left Istıklal Cad. ( Although I did venture into Osmanbey today to meet up with an old colleague(Big changes but that's a different story)

It would be easier to write a Ghostesque comparrison between Qatar and Turkey- but as everything is different and few people think about going to Qatar-I won't

On the surface nothing has changed but there are lots of small things. So has it canged? Yes and No. A typical Turkish respose. Maybe why that!s why we like it.

Somethıngs haven!t changed.

Food- delivered to the door,cheap and wonderful to taaste.

People- still as friendly as ever. For example I went to the bakal this morning and he,the bakalci, noted I was new to the area, he gave me his card and if I ever needed anything, give him a rıng and he would deliver. Brilliant.

Atmosphere- All the hustle and bustle of the back streets of Beyoğlo. It has always captured the senses and fascinated me. No change there.

Friends- Some are here. Most are still here. The ones I've met still seem sane( or at least as sane they ever have been)

Turkcell- They told me that my new cep number would be ready in two hours. It took 26 hours. The same.

Things that have changed

Cafes and Bars_obviouslySome have gone and some are still here. Lots of new ones to explore I've also noticed that Nargile cafe have become more popular.


However the two biggest things that seem to have changed. This is not from an observation but repeating what friends have said.
Basically teachers' salaries have gone down and rent has gone up.
The result is that teachers are generally poorer or are having to do alot more privates.

A friend gave me some advice that might be useful for people coming to Istanbul.
''If you're not going to buy a house here, make sure the job you take offers accommodation''

The price of things in general is difficult for me to comment on at the moment. I don't remember how much things were 2 years ago. When you have lived in Turkey for a while and lived through so many 'zam geldi' . It's difficult.

Anyway, these are just a few thoughts on my return.
The big question. Am I glad to be back? Sure am. I do need to make more of an effort to get out of Beyoğlu and Taksim areas.

PS Sorry about the spelling and typos but I,m still getting used to the layout of the Turkish keyboard.

[vre]

Get your bloody keyboard sorted mate

Welcome back to the land of şeys and yanis. Yes, everything is so much more expensive than last time you were here. And yes the salaries are really draining and putting many people off staying. But the weather is getting better (actually, today it's bloody awful!). But soon

How did you feel when you flew back in? What was it like to have your first efes again?

Enjoy!

[dmb]

Sorry about the keyboard thing. I'm just so used to an Arabic layout.
And the first Efes was wonderful( and the second and the third and.....)

[Laura777]

dmb if you like turku music, which I love!! I am learning the baglama now... go to Cafe Sal in Taksim. Near the Benetton shop. Great music, fun band. All conservatory professionals!