Rick Steves’ Istanbul by Lale Surmen Aran & Tankut Aran

Reviewed by Bridget

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Synopsis
Amazing Travel Guide.  Rick Steves’ travel philosophy is, “We travel all the way to Europe to enjoy differences-to become temporary locals.  You’ll experience frustrations.  Certain truths that we find “God-given” or “self-evident,”  are suddenly not so true.  One of the benefits of travel is the eye-opening realization that there are logical, civil, and even better alternatives.  A willingness to go local ensures that you’ll enjoy a full does of local hospitality.  A tight budget forces you to travel close to the ground, meeting and communicating with the people.  Travel can make you a happier American, as well as a citizen of the world.  It’s humbling to travel and find that other people don’t have the “American Dream”-they have their own dreams.”
“Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities, period.  For millenia, this point where Europe meets Asia has been the crossroads of civilization.  Few places on earth have seen more history than this sprawling metropolis on the Bosphorus.  Once called Byzantium, then Constantinople, Istanbul boasts the opulent trappings of an epic past–from the Byzantine emporers and the Ottomoan sultans to modern Republic-builders and “Eurocrats” of our time.  And as the biggest city of a moderate Muslim nation, Istanbul also offers the inquisitive traveler a unique opportunity to grapple with the rich and inspiring Islamic faith.  As the Turks prepare for European Union membership, they are more Western-facing and welcoming than ever.”
Istanbul was the highlight of our entire journey abroad.  We spent three short days in Istanbul and we can’t wait to return.  (We gorged ourselves on Turkish Delight, which by the way, looks nothing the the Turkish Delight from “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” movie.)  We used Steves’ guide religiously.   We also used a guide he recommended for a walking tour of the city.  We have found his recommendations for tourist sites, guides, lodging and food to be spot-on.  We spent many hours reading this book aloud before departing the U.S.  I appreciated reading the history synapses of each site in the city.  I felt we were in a position to better navigate and appreciate our experience.  If you’re headed to Istanbul, don’t forget to bring this book along.