Probably one of the most common complaints visitors have about their time in İstanbul is about the hotels. It is not uncommon to hear someone say: “The hotel where I stayed needed upgrading. It had old carpets and moldy smells. The bathrooms had drips and needed a good scrub. Often the bath towels were old with tattered edges...”
İstanbul has been designated the “City of Culture.” 2010 is around the corner. Will Turkey perform?
I imagine that many tourists will lose their passports, fall ill, have a minor accident and get lost. I wonder how many “angels” will appear to help in times of need.
Dear Charlotte: I read your article “The culture of corruption” published on Nov. 7 and wanted to share this experience. Some friends of mine were visiting İstanbul recently. They are a family with four children. One day they went on an organized tour to Sultanahmet to visit the sights. Just in case some people wanted to stroll off on their own the tour guide explained to the group that at such and such a time and at such and such a place they must return to the spot where the bus will bring them back to the hotel. The hotel was located just outside İstanbul beyond the airport. Well, the family was not back at the spot and the bus had to depart.
I am sharing this story because so many times we hear horror stories of bad things that have happened to tourists in Sultanahmet. In this case, it was just the opposite. A very nice Turkish man named Recep saw the American family in distress and came to their aid. He took them under his wing and helped them contact their organizer and even volunteered to drive them to their hotel, which was in Silivri. In the end the organizer sent a driver to pick up the family to bring them to the hotel -- with no extra charge. But Recep stepped in during their time of stress and showed what an angel Turks can be. Beth Y. (Georgia)
Turks are known for dropping everything to help someone out. In this case, Recep did just that.
Another reader writes:
Dear Charlotte: I was wondering how it all works! I was disappointed when after having a lovely day out on an organized tour to find that on the way home on the private tour transport the bus driver stopped somewhere which seemed in the middle of nowhere. Then the driver stood outside the bus for quite a long time. I’d say it was about 25 minutes. Then without any explanation or apology he got back on the bus and started to drive again. I complained to the tour agent and learned later that although she had paid the bus company, the bus company had not passed on the payment to him, and he decided to protest. So he refused to drive any further until someone came and paid him. I must admit it was all a bit unsettling to all of us on the bus tour. Does this happen often in Turkey? Jane (Ohio)
Dear Charlotte: I read your piece titled “The culture of corruption,” and it made me stop and think just what would I do for 10 million dollars. Well, it seems my local deli made a choice. I was surprised when I went to purchase a few items at the local delicatessen and found that it was completely locked up and looked like it was closed for good. In fact, a “for rent” sign was hanging down in front of the building. I noticed four men standing by the side of the building and asked them if they knew what had happened. They said they were vendors and their merchandise was locked inside and that they had not been paid. Also they added that their refrigerated goods were spoiling. It seems the owner of the company made a run -- they said to Canada. You hear situations like this happening a lot in Turkey, and who is there to protect the middle man?
Let’s hope that just as in cultural and in artistic terms, it will be worth its weight in gold to the world as a European Capital of Culture, that in hospitality Turks will warm the hearts of their visitors and that local companies will operate with integrity.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
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