Security Issue in Istanbul - Precaution for tourists.
As I promised in my previous post I want to share with Steemit community valuable information which can make life easier or at all can help to avoid unpleasant situations.
You will have heard untold story which happened few years ago with my comrades during their trip to Istanbul. I am not going to disclose their personalities and I am sharing this story from their behalf only.
Intro
"We arrived to attend an outstanding open-air show of Iron Maiden that took place on Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium.
As long as we were not restrained in time and capability to stay we had reserved enough days to walk through the city and to enjoy everything which is usual for conventional tourist trip (Architecture, local kitchen, museums, markets, etc.)
The day after Iron maiden show we decided to discover those parts of city which are normally left without particular attention of usual foreign tourists. After conversation with couple of street market traders we were advised to visit Taxim square. At night time certainly because it was declared as a "center of nightlife of Istanbul".
Plot
Taxim was quite far from our hotel therefore we took train, reached Erdogan Stadium and then made a lot by foot to reach that place. Square itself was free and almost empty because of enhanced security measures and lots of police with heavy vehicles there. (We attended in 2013 right after upheaval and fights that happened in Istanbul before).
But one of the streets adjacent to Taxim - Istiklal street was right that place we were aiming. It is the street with the red advertising board Levi's on the picture above. "Womb of Paris" in Istanbul version. It looked and sounded like the earth opened wide and all hell had a vacation on top of the street. Vast of night clubs, extremely loud music, drunk and devil-may-care people. Restaurants and discos, various street shows, drug dealers and so so on.. Street was crowded so much. Very first felling induced by that place was anxiety and second one is disgust. Nevertheless we decided to walk through a little bit and discover the surroundings.
As soon as we passed just few meters some man approached us and began to talk in a usual sweet-sly local manner. He possessed with English quite good and with our local language as well. Walking with us he was telling that he was a promoter of one of the night clubs there and he could offer a good pastime in their facility.
I don't know the actual reason we agreed.. From the first step on this street we decided do walk through a little bit and go back to hotel then, although thirst to adventures probably prevailed under the instinct of self-preservation.
Together with that man we entered some building and ascended the ladder leading to "night club hall". What immediately caught our eye is that all chamber was almost empty. Music played, bar was opened, just one girl was dancing on the stage and few people were sitting at the tables. We took a sits all together and our "guide" immediately arranged Bottle of champagne and some juice. It was completely surprising for me because we were not asked for this and moreover we were not see any menu. The second after few girls joined us and took a seat nearby from the open side of the sofas. Apparently they were prostitutes. Some of them opened bottle (which was black by the way and nobody of us actually knew what was inside) filled their glasses and offered us. We refused although my friends for some reason decided to drink a juice. I have tried latent to tell them not to do this but with no result unfortunately. After couple of minutes of talk-about-nothing they offered their "service". We refused politely insisting on fact that aim of our visit was completely other and decided to complete this "horny performance", stand up and go out of there... But! Nothing of the sort! "Waiter" has emerged with the bill and put in front of us on the table. It was 800 US Dollars there. Just like this. Bottle of fizz (drunk by prostitutes) and juice for my fellows.
Few newspaper stories that I had reading just a few days before have came to light in my head.. That was exactly the same style just with different circumstances. Scam and blackmail.
Cul-de-lampe (Ending)
I tried to argue the bill but next moment girls "evaporated" and their vacant places few strong men took. There were no chance just to stand up and go out. They threatened us and blackmailed money for paying the bill. In reply to objection that we were not ordering and we were not aware about the price, they brought fake-menu were was clearly stated that all those stuff cost 800 USD. No chance. When they realized that we were not going to pay they applied some force and deprived wallets and cash from our pockets. One of them even checked our socks for cash and told to put off the shoes. It was disgusting and comic at same time. We had about 350 USD all together. Most I was afraid of that they would deprive debit cards or will enforce somebody to visit ATM until everybody else will be hostages. Marvelously it was not happened. Moreover after couple of minutes of my "hot" speech they left us 50 USD for taxi and other corresponding spends.
Than they let us go.
Outcome:
1. Train coins from hotel to stadium and back - 40 $
2. Lovely talk with fancy-women and couple of soft drinks - 800 $ (-500 $ Tourist discount)= 300$
3. Intact teeth, kidneys, ribs and faces as a bonus from deputies of "Ministry of Tourism" of Turkey.
4. Experience - Priceless.
Happy end."
From my side I want to earnestly advise every visitor of Istanbul to be extremely aware of this kind of robbery. It is disgusting and primitive techniques which neither me nor my friends have never heard about from another tourist cities all over the world. Luring of people under the pretence of hospitality and consequent robbing of them is one of the most vile approaches which is not appreciated even among other criminals in their society.
So, let us summarize.
What to do in order not to get in same trouble?
1. Never accept new acquaintance on the streets, night clubs and restaurants. Especially with the offers to continue socializing in some other non-public places.
2. Always ask the price before somebody want to treat you. (It is common practice in Turkey when you attend markets and shops. Nothing wrong could happen daytime when you are offered a cup of tea from the master of the store. Although in certain places it might turn into huge problem for you.)
3. Never drink something which is not prepared or opened in front of you. This and other similar stories could have more miserable final if drinks were mixed with tranquilizers.
4. Avoid filthy places. Unless you are adventure-seeker like heroes of above story. There are a lot of lovely places in Istanbul which can be attended maximum with a risk of pocket-picking. So no matter to complicate own life by visiting suspicious and dirty quarters.
5. Take with you only necessary minimum of money. Avoid debit cards to be carried with you. Few similar cases were reported when victim was enforced to withdraw all available amount of day-limit from ATM.
6. Enhance your negotiation skills. =) It might save you bit money for back route to hotel and save a at list a little bit dignity. Remember: Turkish people do not respect those who is not bargaining! ))))) Even in such seemingly hopeless circumstances keep bargaining! It increases your chance to get "discount" and not to be hauled over the coals.
For those who need more - here in a link for similar poor experience ow another guy visited Instanbul
Take care!