My Unfiltered Thoughts On Living In Istanbul As An American

Camden David
31 May 202419:37

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the host explores Istanbul, discussing its vibrant culture, diverse neighborhoods, and rich cuisine. They address common misconceptions about scams and highlight the welcoming nature of Turkish people. The video also touches on local challenges like inflation and the city's unique aspects, such as the animal-friendly culture and the lively atmosphere. The host encourages viewers to visit Istanbul for its special charm and to experience Turkey's hospitality.

Takeaways

  • πŸŒ† Istanbul is one of the loudest cities in the world, with a rich and vibrant culture that varies significantly across different neighborhoods.
  • πŸš– The city has a reputation for scams, but the speaker has not personally experienced any and finds the locals warm and welcoming.
  • πŸš• Taxis in Istanbul operate differently compared to Uber; they are hailed through the Uber app but function like traditional taxis with meters.
  • 🌍 Istanbul's unique geographical location straddling two continents results in a blend of cultures, making it a fascinating city to explore.
  • 🍲 The city is known for its delicious cuisine, with a variety of dishes like balik ekmek (fish wrap), kebabs, and traditional Turkish breakfasts.
  • 🐾 There's a strong culture of community care for animals, particularly cats and dogs, which are well-integrated into the community and well-fed.
  • πŸš— The city is very hilly, which contrasts with the often rich and oily local cuisine, potentially impacting the lifestyle and health of residents.
  • πŸ’° Inflation has significantly increased the cost of living in Istanbul, with prices nearly doubling in the past year, affecting locals and the economy.
  • πŸ‘₯ Social interactions in Istanbul differ from other cultures, with groups of men of all ages often seen socializing in public spaces.
  • πŸ•Œ The city is very lively, with frequent honking, animal noises, and the call to prayer, contributing to its energetic atmosphere.

Q & A

  • What is the speaker's general opinion about Istanbul?

    -The speaker finds Istanbul to be a fascinating and vibrant city, rich in culture, and one of the most special cities in the world. They highly recommend visiting Istanbul at least once in a lifetime.

  • What are some cultural differences the speaker has noticed in Istanbul?

    -The speaker has noticed that Istanbul has a rich culture with multiple influences due to its geographic location on two continents. They also mention the unique smoking culture, the community-oriented approach to animals, and the importance of maintaining friendships as cultural differences.

  • What is the speaker's experience with scams in Istanbul?

    -The speaker has not personally experienced any scams in Istanbul and found the Turkish people to be warm and welcoming. They suggest that while there are stories of scams, it does not seem to be a significant issue unique to Istanbul compared to other tourist destinations.

  • How does the speaker describe the taxi experience in Istanbul?

    -The speaker describes the taxi experience as different from services like Uber, as the taxis operate on a meter system. They mention that the Uber app provides a price range, and they have never been overcharged by taxi drivers.

  • What does the speaker think about the cuisine in Istanbul?

    -The speaker enjoys the cuisine in Istanbul, describing it as phenomenal with a variety of dishes like fish wraps, kebabs, and Turkish breakfasts. They also mention the prevalence of street food and the use of oil in many dishes.

  • How does the speaker feel about the noise level in Istanbul?

    -The speaker finds Istanbul to be one of the loudest cities they have ever been to, with constant honking of car horns, animal noises, and the call to prayer from multiple towers throughout the city.

  • What is the speaker's observation about the smoking culture in Istanbul?

    -The speaker observes that smoking is quite common in Istanbul, with many people, including young individuals, smoking. This is a culture shock for them as it contrasts with their expectations and experiences in Western Europe.

  • How does the speaker describe the relationship between the community and animals in Istanbul?

    -The speaker describes a special connection between the community and animals, particularly cats and dogs. They mention that animals are well cared for by the community, with people providing food and shelter, and that animals are comfortable around people.

  • What challenges does the speaker mention regarding the local economy in Istanbul?

    -The speaker mentions that inflation has significantly increased the cost of living in Istanbul, with prices nearly doubling for accommodations, food, and attractions, which has impacted the local community.

  • What other parts of Turkey does the speaker mention experiencing?

    -The speaker mentions experiencing hot air ballooning and horseback riding in other parts of Turkey, indicating that there are many wonderful activities to enjoy outside of Istanbul.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ—£οΈ Istanbul's Vibrant Culture and Scam Perceptions

The speaker introduces the video by highlighting Istanbul's reputation as one of the loudest cities in the world. They discuss their personal experiences, noting the warmth and welcoming nature of the Turkish people, which contrasts with common stereotypes about scams. The speaker shares their positive interactions and mentions the city's unique geographical position straddling two continents, which contributes to its rich cultural diversity. They also touch upon the city's noise levels, the prevalence of smoking, and the distinct neighborhoods that make Istanbul a fascinating place to explore.

05:03

🐾 Istanbul's Unique Relationship with Animals

This paragraph delves into Istanbul's distinct culture regarding animals, particularly the widespread presence of stray cats and dogs. The speaker describes the community's caring attitude towards these animals, with people providing food and shelter. They mention the prevalence of cats in public spaces, such as restaurants and cafes, and the unique sight of large, well-fed dogs due to the abundance of food. The speaker also shares a personal anecdote about a local cat shelter, emphasizing the city's compassionate culture towards animals.

10:07

πŸš— Navigating Istanbul's Hilly Terrain and Traffic

The speaker discusses Istanbul's hilly landscape and the challenges it presents for both residents and visitors. They also touch on the city's traffic congestion and the frequent use of car horns, contributing to the city's overall noise level. The paragraph also covers the city's public transportation and the cultural aspect of honking as a form of communication on the streets. Additionally, the speaker reflects on the city's lively atmosphere, which is in stark contrast to the peacefulness of other European cities.

15:08

πŸ₯™ The Delights of Istanbul's Cuisine and Economic Challenges

In this paragraph, the speaker praises Istanbul's diverse and delicious cuisine, highlighting street food, fish wraps, kebabs, and traditional Turkish breakfasts. They also mention the city's economic challenges, particularly the impact of inflation on local prices and the cost of living. The speaker reflects on the changes they've observed since their last visit and empathizes with the local community's financial struggles. The video concludes with a recommendation for everyone to visit Istanbul at least once, emphasizing its unique cultural experiences and the warmth of its people.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Istanbul

Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. It is renowned for its rich history and cultural significance. In the video, Istanbul is described as one of the loudest cities in the world, indicating its bustling and vibrant nature. The speaker shares personal experiences and observations about the city's culture, scams, and lifestyle, positioning Istanbul as a central theme for exploring Turkish culture and urban life.

πŸ’‘Cultural differences

Cultural differences refer to the variations in customs, social norms, and behaviors between societies. The video script discusses the speaker's observations on cultural differences in Istanbul, such as the warm and welcoming nature of Turkish people and the unique practices around animal care. These differences are highlighted to contrast with the speaker's experiences in other parts of the world, emphasizing Istanbul's distinctive character.

πŸ’‘Scams

Scams are fraudulent schemes designed to deceive people, often for financial gain. The video mentions scams as a common concern for travelers to Istanbul. However, the speaker's personal experience suggests that scams are not as prevalent as some might believe, and they encourage viewers not to be overly concerned about them, while still being cautious.

πŸ’‘Tourism

Tourism involves the activity of traveling to and staying in places outside one's usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes. Istanbul's status as a tourist destination is mentioned in the context of potential scams and the impact of tourism on local culture. The speaker notes that while tourism can lead to some negative aspects, such as people trying to take advantage of tourists, Istanbul's rich history and attractions make it a worthwhile destination.

πŸ’‘Architecture

Architecture refers to the design, planning, and construction of buildings and other physical structures. The video script describes the varied architecture in Istanbul's different neighborhoods, which contributes to the city's unique character. The speaker's mention of architecture illustrates the visual diversity and historical depth of Istanbul, making it an interesting place to explore.

πŸ’‘Cuisine

Cuisine refers to a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques, and flavors. The video discusses Istanbul's phenomenal cuisine, highlighting the variety of dishes and the city's reputation as a food lover's paradise. The speaker's enthusiasm for Turkish food showcases an important aspect of the local culture and a key attraction for visitors.

πŸ’‘Inflation

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and subsequently, the purchasing power of currency is falling. The video script touches on the issue of inflation in Istanbul, noting that prices have increased significantly since the speaker's last visit. This economic concept is relevant to understanding the challenges faced by local residents and how it might affect the city's appeal to tourists.

πŸ’‘Community

Community refers to a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. The video emphasizes the strong sense of community in Istanbul, particularly in the care for animals and the social interactions among residents. This keyword highlights the collective spirit and mutual support that the speaker observes, which contributes to the city's charm.

πŸ’‘Hills

Hills are elevated landforms that are smaller than mountains and have a distinct summit. The video script mentions that Istanbul is a hilly city, which might be unexpected for some visitors. The speaker uses this geographical feature to explain the physical challenges of navigating the city and how it contributes to the city's distinct character.

πŸ’‘Public transportation

Public transportation refers to the systems of vehicles, such as buses, trains, and ferries, that convey passengers on fixed routes in exchange for a fare. The video mentions Istanbul's public transportation as a positive aspect of the city, providing a means to navigate through the busy and congested streets. This keyword is important for understanding the city's infrastructure and how residents and tourists move around.

πŸ’‘Prayer times

Prayer times are the specific moments during the day when Muslims perform their daily prayers. The video script refers to the Islamic practice of prayer times, noting the audible calls to prayer that echo through the city. This cultural and religious practice is highlighted to give viewers a sense of Istanbul's spiritual and cultural identity.

Highlights

Istanbul is one of the loudest cities in the world.

The city has been under construction for a month, but the noise has temporarily subsided.

Turkish people are warm, welcoming, and kind, contrary to common scams stereotypes.

Tourism in Istanbul can attract those looking to take advantage of tourists, but it's not a significant issue.

Taxis in Istanbul work differently compared to Uber, with a meter running throughout the trip.

Istanbul's culture is rich and varied, with a unique blend of European and Asian influences.

The city is located on two continents, with distinct neighborhoods on the European and Asian sides.

Istanbul is a city best experienced by wandering through its diverse neighborhoods.

The cuisine in Istanbul is phenomenal, with a variety of dishes like boric Durham and kebabs.

Smoking is a notable part of Istanbul's culture, with a high prevalence among the population.

Animals, particularly cats and dogs, are an integral part of Istanbul's community culture.

The city has a unique dynamic where groups of men socialize in public spaces, indicative of a community-oriented culture.

Istanbul is a hilly city, which contrasts with the rich and flavorful, but not the healthiest, cuisine.

Inflation has significantly increased prices in Istanbul, impacting the local community.

Istanbul is recommended as a must-visit city, rich in culture and unique experiences.

Turkey, including Istanbul, offers a variety of experiences like hot air ballooning and horseback riding.

The people of Istanbul have a unique and beautiful way of living that is worth experiencing.

Transcripts

play00:00

hey guys how's it going um Istanbul

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we're going to see if we can get through

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this uh this is one of the loudest if

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not the loudest City in the entire world

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that I've ever been to so I tried

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picking a time that uh hopefully you'd

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be able to hear me this place right here

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has been under construction all month uh

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and they just took a break so I don't

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know we're going to try to get through

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this but this is one of those unfiltered

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conversations just going to walk you

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through kind of a bunch of my thoughts

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um on Istanbul some of the cultural

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differences that I've noticed some

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things that I've liked haven't liked um

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I know a lot of people associate estol

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with like scams so I'm going to touch on

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that and just yeah my overall thought so

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um it's a fascinating Place uh ismol is

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it's and turkey as a whole we'll start

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with the scams if you look up online

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what to expect when coming to Istanbul

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there a lot of people who I guess have

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had experiences being scammed a lot of

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horror stories

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there I personally haven't experienced

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any of that it's not something that I'd

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be too worried about coming here I've

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had quite the opposite experience um I

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found that the Turkish people have been

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very well warm and welcoming um just

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very kind people overall and I think

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obviously there's a lot of Tourism here

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in Istanbul and anywhere that you go

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where there's a lot of Tourism there are

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also going to be people looking to take

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advantage of tourists so I'm not saying

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that that doesn't exist here but it

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doesn't seem to be happening at any

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higher rate compared to other places in

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Europe or anywhere else that I've

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traveled and I know a a lot of people

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talk about it with like the

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taxis yes it's a little bit different

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here because you know it's a regular

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taxi meter really no different but like

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you don't have as many options like if

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you call an Uber here you're not really

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calling an Uber you're calling a taxi uh

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the taxi will show up and it will be

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track through Uber the payment might go

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through Uber But ultimately there's

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still like a meter running but that kind

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of protects you in a way like as a

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tourist because when you open up the

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Uber app it's not going to give you a

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set price it's going to say hey it's

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going to be between 800 l and a thousand

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ler or you know whatever the rate is

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going to be it's going to give you a

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range and I have never had a taxi driver

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go outside of that range by the end of

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the trip so yes the meter will be

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running but I've never been shocked

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there's never been that you know feeling

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of being scammed on on my end but that's

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not to say that it doesn't

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happen uh you know certainly be on the

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lookout anywhere but I really don't

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think that's a big issue here uh in my

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experience in in

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Istanbul

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culturally this is one of like the rich

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culture that I've ever gotten to be a

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part of it it is just um it's

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fascinating I mean it is a beautiful

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beautiful just really interesting

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culture in so many ways so I I'll touch

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on just a couple one it's a fascinating

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City because you've got multiple

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cultures because of like the geographic

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location of it if you didn't know

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Istanbul is on two continents right uh I

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right now am on the European side but

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the boss for a trade is like right over

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somewhere back there and if you cross

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that which like the ferry takes like 15

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20 minutes to get across you're actually

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on the Asia continent and the

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neighborhoods are all so drastically

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different here um just on the European

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side there's a lot of differences

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depending where you are and then you hop

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over the Asian side and you very much

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feel that you are in Asia uh there's a

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lot of similarities because it's still

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turkey still the Turkish culture but it

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is a different pocket of the Turkish

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culture um so a lot of cities you're

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going to have kind of one culture

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throughout this is not one of those

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places and that's part of what makes it

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so special is like you just never know

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what you're going to get it's one of the

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best cities in the world to just kind of

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wander through because every

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neighborhood is going to be different

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there's going to be different feel

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slightly different architecture things

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to look at and it's just I don't know

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it's it's it's pretty spectacular the

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cuisine is phenomenal uh I really enjoy

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so much of just that constant like new

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action in in istable so I think that's

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something that doesn't get talked about

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enough

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and it's got to just make this one of

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the coolest cities in the world but

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culturally there are other differences

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that are really unique to see you can

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hear things getting a little bit louder

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um one of the most interesting things is

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like the smoking culture um it seems

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that you know as an American you always

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have this idea in your head that oh when

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you go to Europe people are going to be

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smoking more as a whole yes you know

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that's that's true but in Western Europe

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you don't see as as much smoking as you

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would expect and I think the rates would

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probably go down somebody will probably

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fact check me on that so let me know if

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I'm wrong but Istanbul and turkey as a

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whole that doesn't seem to be the case

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at all like it seems like everybody

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smokes and that is a bit of culture

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shock um just because it's different it

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really does feel like you're entering a

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whole new world in that sense I find

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that Western Europe feels very in some

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ways comfortable but all just kind of

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like the same like it the the the

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cultures move within one another they

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all kind of change at at similar rates

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so there's there's in general there's

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not going to be a huge culture shock

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anywhere in Western Europe where turkey

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and and istle in particular that's not

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necessarily the case and it's one of

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those things that makes this really cool

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um but yeah it's interesting seeing as

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many young people smoke uh as you do

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here because it is everywhere but beyond

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that like another big cultural

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difference is is the animals which is

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it's just one of the coolest cultures

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for this you know aspect you might have

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heard of like caten bull which is you

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know a lot of people on Instagram will

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you know post pictures of the cats

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because cats are everywhere here um and

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dogs and all kinds of animals but what's

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really unique is here yes some people

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have pets but there are just stray cats

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and dogs everywhere but it's not like in

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the US or other parts of the world where

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a stray dog or cat is just a Trey dog or

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cat it's more feels like it's a

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community animal and everybody does

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their part in like taking care uh of the

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animals there's the honking we'll get

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there in a second there there's some

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interesting things there um but

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everywhere you go you'll see like these

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little houses that people have built for

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the cats uh there's cat and dog food

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everywhere on the streets put out fresh

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like multiple times you know a day

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pretty much any store that you like walk

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down you're going to see big bags of you

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know cat dog food that you can buy and

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you know leave it out for you know the

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the the animals and the animals are just

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so accustomed to hanging out with the

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people there's more honking um with the

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people and uh it's just a completely

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different culture like it is completely

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normal to be in any sort of restaurant

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whether it's a hole in thewall kind of

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place or you know a somewhat nice

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restaurant cats are going to be walking

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through that's going to be normal um if

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you're sitting at a cafe cats will jump

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up on you sit there on your lap while

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you're working on a laptop um I mean

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they're just everywhere and they're

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really comfortable around people don't

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take it the wrong way in that like

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they're not going to bother you uh

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they're not going to you know try to

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jump on you if you don't want to be but

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most people here are just they're very

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friendly with the animals uh and I

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certainly am too I I really enjoy it and

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the Animals aren't shy like it there

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really is just a special connection here

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um between the community and the animals

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that live within the community that it's

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just a really different and and

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beautiful thing uh to get to be a part

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of and I don't know it's one of the most

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just interesting and uh fun things you

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know about IST and it's you'll see old

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cats and like ton of like baby kittens

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too like everything like there's just so

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much I think in one of my first videos

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that I done about like Istanbul had

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mentioned uh like Ali's cat shelter

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which is basically this guy who is

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retired and he's over kind of in this

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neighborhood that I'm staying in and

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he's built this little like almost like

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Hotel looking thing for cats and he just

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you know takes donations from from

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people and he takes care of all of these

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cats and it is just the cutest thing

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like this is just a happy old man who

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he's found what he loves in life and

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it's hanging with the animals and and

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taking care of them so you'll see so

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many different variations of that and

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the symol which um is really beautiful

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and speaks to the culture and and how

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kind you know the the people are um not

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just to other people but to the animals

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um another thing that is really

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interesting with that which I think I

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also mentioned in that first tips video

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is because there's so much cat food

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everywhere the dogs they don't moderate

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how much they eat as well as cats do so

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the dogs are like they're massive here

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um and it can be sad at at times and

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they're very like docile because I think

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they're just like full constantly but

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it's an interesting thing but yeah I

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expect to see you know food you know on

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on the ground for the animals and they

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will all you know partake um that's all

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you know really interesting and there's

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so many just cultural differences here

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uh another one is compared to other

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places in the world you see groups of

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men hanging out in ways that you don't

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see in other parts of the world trying

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to think of like a way to explain

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it it I don't know if it can be

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explained other than like you will see

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groups of like you know 8 to 10 men just

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hanging out whether it's you know high

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schoolers whether it's you know folks in

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their 20s and 30s whether it's you know

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uh elderly folks like there very much

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seems to be a focus culturally on

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maintaining friendships um and you'll

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see those groups of people being

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together and you don't see that all the

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time in in other cultures especially

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like in the US like I think if you go to

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a US Park if you were to see like a

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group of you know group of 60-year-old

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men sitting together you'd be like huh

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that's that's interesting like what's

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going on there um that's not the case

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here like that's just everywhere and

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everybody's just seems to be really

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friendly and it's just a very Community

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oriented culture um which again it's

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just it's it's very unique very

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interesting to to get to you know see

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these little glimpses of and and kind of

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experience for these short periods of

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time um but we'll talk about the honking

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might as well do this now so I mentioned

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like this is the one of the loudest

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places you know in the entire world and

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there's a few things you know with that

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um one the streets

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which I know the camera is doing an

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awful job with the exposure behind me is

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like the hoshia and G aot of tower it's

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all beautiful but these streets are

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really like really narrow I'm doing a

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bad job showing it but basically traffic

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gets backed up really really quickly

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here now it's okay cuz they have

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wonderful public transportation but for

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the cars that are going up and down

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these

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streets they're like traffic jams

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constantly and people are not shy about

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using their horns like you think New

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Yorkers their horns a lot no it's like

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here it it almost just feels like if

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you're in a car if you're driving and

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you're not honking every 15 seconds

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you're doing something wrong I really

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can feel like that at times um so I

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think that gets you know some people

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with with you know some culture shock is

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like it is just a noisy noisy place on

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top of you know all the other noises

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you've got animals you hear cat fights

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you know all the time um you hear the

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boats you know out on the water it's not

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happening right now but obviously this

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is you know a Muslim culture so there's

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a lot of you know prayer time that

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happens um I'll try to turn and and and

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show

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you that little Tower right here those

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things are all over the place and uh I

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think it's five times a day somebody

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correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's

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five times a day is prayer time um where

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somebody will you know be in that little

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you know be at the bottom of that Tower

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projecting you know prayer uh which is

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you know done in the form of song and

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that blasts through the neighborhoods

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and there are multiple Towers you know

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all over the place so so anywhere you

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are in the city you're going to hear

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that um when that takes place and it's

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it's just a lively culture with a lot of

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noise this is not one of those

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like peaceful European cities uh as you

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might you know find in in others it's

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beautiful it's it's wonderful well worth

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a visit but peaceful is maybe not the

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one that i' I'd use vibrant um and

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energetic and alive is or maybe some of

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the words that that I'd use there um so

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yeah you know you got to be

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ready for that and it's just again an

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interesting you know interesting thing

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culturally um and the other piece is

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like the differences between

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neighborhoods and how the culture shifts

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between them I already mentioned like

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you know Crossing you know continents

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but I'm in this neighborhood uh

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neighborhood called chahar um and it's

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kind of really artsy it's got a pretty

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young crowd but just like you walk 10

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minutes in any direction and you're just

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completely different area completely

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different feel um completely different

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groups of of people which is just I

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don't know it's fun the the

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nonuniformity is is refreshing uh at at

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times I've I've I've really enjoyed uh

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all of that uh I've got some other notes

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on on on cultural things I thought were

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interesting um so I want to go over

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these ah

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yeah so let's talk about the

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hills there's also a very hilly city

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which uh a lot of people aren't

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necessarily prepared for

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um and I don't really know what there is

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to say about that other than that

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there's a lot of hills and the food is

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so

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good and it's not like it's not the

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healthiest Cuisine ever it's not like

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particularly unhealthy but there is a

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lot of

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oil that seems to be used in a lot of

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the cuisine and it is really tasty it's

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a place that I feel like if there

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weren't this many Hills I'd probably be

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feeling like oh I'll probably putting on

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a little bit of weight spending a month

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here but um that's not really how I end

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up feeling the uh the hills are real

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that's that's that's all I'll say you

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know about that um speaking of like the

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cuisine a really interesting you know

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cuisine as well cuz again you're going

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to have different Pockets like

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everywhere um but really good street

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food right um one of my favorites is a

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dish called bolic Durham which I guess

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is a relatively new dish I think when I

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looked it up it was like kind of gained

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popularity over the last 10ish years I

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want to say it was and it's basically

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like a fish wrap um so on the boss for

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straight the body of water um that

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separates the two sides of vble lot of

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you know fish that are getting caught

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and it's beautiful like if you're

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hanging out near the bridges you'll just

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see like tons of fishermen you know uh

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just fishing all day long um and I'm

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sure they eat some of them themselves

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sell the restaurants I mean there's no

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shortage of fish here but big Durham is

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this wonderful fish rep that uh in some

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of the like hot spots in town over in

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like

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kcoy um their weights that are 30 40

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sometimes an hour you know long to to

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get these little wraps and they're you

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know wonderful and then there's you know

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a fish sandwich type of version

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obviously you have all the kebabs the

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kebabs are just you know Wonderful

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whether it's chicken or Lamour or just

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minced meat I mean all kinds of

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different meat and it's it's all really

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really you know tasty um the Turkish

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breakfasts are such an experience you're

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you know it's not like one dish it's

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almost like here's a little bit of bread

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here's some you know vegetables and then

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here are just like a bunch of different

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things to like dip so there's going to

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be like olives you're going to have some

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form of like I don't know like a peanut

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butter type thing some olive oil some

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you know cucumber tomato like just

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everything that you can think of like

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just this huge spread um and those are

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really you know fun to take part in um

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and are pretty filling uh or you can

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have just kind of like the Casual street

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food type of breakfast which is a simit

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here um the biggest comparison I guess

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like to us standards which be a kind of

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like a bagel it's like a

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bagel little bit thinner lot of Sesame

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seats on it and they're really good um

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there's just so many different types of

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of Cuisines that are are local are that

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are all just H it's it's it is not a

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city that you're going to come to and

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leave Hungary uh it is spectacular uh in

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that way and one of my favorite cities

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in the world to to eat in um I do want

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to talk about

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though one of the challenges I

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think for the locals

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um one of the things that seems to have

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changed quite a bit since the last time

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that I was here was inflation and I know

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for any American person out there I know

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you know we've seen you know some

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inflation um you know rise quite a bit

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you know over the last few years but not

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to this

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extreme in the year that has gone by

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since the last time I was here it seems

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like prices have pretty much doubled uh

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gotten close to doubling in a lot of

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ways that's happened with accommodation

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um certainly with food um and just kind

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of everything you know all over the

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place things are just more expensive

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even some of the tourist attractions

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like some things used to be free that

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are no longer free um some of the things

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that were very low cost are now just

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kind of big money to to to get into and

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that's just I don't know it's one of the

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things that I I feel very fortunate

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obviously being on the US dollar helps

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me tremendously when traveling around

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the world but getting to see how other

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people handle and are influenced and

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impacted by the same types of things

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that impact us back in the States and

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around the other world is is always

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really interesting um and I'd be lying

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if I said that I didn't think that the

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inflation has had a pretty big impact on

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the community um here things still seem

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to be open it it it doesn't seem like

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it's hit like a crippling point at least

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in this area but you can definitely see

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that folks are are tighter on on cash

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than they you know once were so I

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realized my camera is about to die so

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we'll see how much longer I can uh go on

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with this

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but I guess I'll I'll I'll wrap up there

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before prayer time starts here in the

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next five minutes with this just really

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is one of those places that I think is

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misunderstood a lot and that a lot of

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people don't have a desire to see for

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one reason or another

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and that shouldn't be your perspective

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uh I would recommend that everybody

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comes to istanb at least once in their

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life it is one of the most special

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cities uh in the entire world for me I

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think right now it probably ranks top

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three for me um there's a reason I'm

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back here a second time and you know I

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definitely want to come back a third

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time and this has just been about IST

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right there's so much other uh you know

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wonderful stuff throughout you know

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Turkey um that we got you know a little

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bit of exposure to uh you know in this

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trip with you know hot air ballooning

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horseback riding just all kinds of

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wonderful things so um definitely don't

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make the mistake of of thinking that

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istanbull and turkey should be missed it

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it really is a special place

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and definitely get to know the the

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people um because they have a really

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unique way of living that uh in a lot of

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ways is is just very beautiful so um I'm

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sad to be going but uh always

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appreciated my time and we love to hear

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your thoughts if you've been to to isol

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or turkey let me know what your

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experiences were down in the comments

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comment section let me know what you

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want to learn more about with these

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types of videos uh when I make them in

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the future so thanks for watching we'll

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catch you guys next time

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