Orient Youth Hostel Istanbul

The Great Train Escape... WARNING: Kids, this is something you don't want to try at home. Waking up in our claustrophobic couchette train compartment and looking out the window we realized this wasn't Europe any longer... this was Eurasia. The Mosques peppered throughout the countryside was our first sign that we would be arriving at our train stop in Istanbul soon. Looking down at the map in our Lonely Planet guidebook, we noticed that there may be a quicker way to get to our hostel in Istan...

The Orient Hostel in Sultanhamet had been recommended to me through a few different mediums, it boasted good, cheap accommodation with great food and entertainment most nights. In my head I was already a resident, but physically, I was still at the train station with a rather strange English couple who I had met onboard, who very vague as to their next movements and totally inept at putting any plans into motion. Everything from getting all the luggage together, making a phone call and going ...

On arrival in Istanbul one would think that the favourite band of Turkey is the Pet Shop Boys, particularly the song "Go West!" I say this because this country is clearly seized with the idea of joining the EU and all the real or supposed benefits this will bring. The English language daily here trumpets in its banner that it is your Guide to Turkey becoming part of Europe. The paper, which I must say is not very good, is filled with stories of the Turkish people and government trying to marc...

Istanbul is Awesome! Loads to see, loads to do and an incredible energy. We turned up without at all realising that it was the middle of Ramadan so there were festivities plenty everywhere. Our hostel wasa 5 minute walk away from the blue mosque which appeared to be the centre of all the fun.

The day we arrived we played the tourists. Taking in the sites, paying way to much for a kebab and got ourselves some shisha. We got ourselveslost for several hours in the bazzaar. Not sure how it...

Istanbul (not Constantinople) - another for my 'Favourite Cities In The World' list. The view from the Orient Hostel rooftop is incredible. The Marmara Sea stretched hazily ahead, dotted wtih cruise and container ships. Behind is the jumble of rooftops and terraces that is Sultanahmet, the historic and touristic suburb of Istanbul. The domes and spires of the Aya Sofia and Blue Mosque project above the urban skyline. Striking landmarks that make it incredibly easy not to become lost, yes, eve...

The long feared and awaited day of trying to get our Azeri visas. It involved a lot of faff, running around to banks, photocopiers, waiting in very fancy (surreally fancy) shopping centres, and drinking free tea in cafes. Dave got locked in the Embassy temporarily while the consulate officer disappeared for 2 hours without warning. It took all day and $303, but in theory we can pick up our visas tomorrow! In the evening we met a travelling American musician called Navid who had been on tour, ...

Visas! Whoop! Bought a guitar called Sanchez who will no doubt help while away a few

holy moley, istanbul is BIG. where to start, i have no idea. first off, this is a funky weird keyboard that ièm using (case and pont!). the flight from luton was fine and uneventful, other than the surprise when i landed that i had to buy a visa... €45 later (or i had the option of paying $60 USD), i was allowed to enter. welcome to turkey! i met a super nice englishman here on business who was in the line for the visa behind me and took pity on me, so let me hop in his €70 cab ride...

the alternate title is 'turkısh delıght'. so. first day day out ın sultanahmet. dıd half of it. lots of people. amazıng smells (in the good way, although lots of ones in the bad way too). but what can i say about the bazaars? you have to see it - shops selling mannequiıns, automatic rifles (separate shops in case you were worried), a mini-photocopier on wheels, and stall after stall of the same junk. the turks are so friendly too! everyone wanted to be my friend ...