Expat party

First of all, this isn't at all like "Rick's" in "Casablanca" :-) A DJ instead of a pianist. We requested a salsa song and the DJ's name isn't Sam. People aren't trying to escape. The bartenders don't know what a dirty martini is...in fact most of the expats don't know what a dirty martini is!!!

3/4 of the expats are from the UK. I was told last night that aside from the consulate people, there are usually between 30-50 Americans living in Istanbul at any given time. I am quite the minority! The only other American there has been living in Istanbul for a long time and wrote a popular book last year entitled (popular both here and in the US): Tales of the Expat Harem: Foreign Women Living in Modern Turkey. You can check it out at Amazon if you wish! It's interesting -- all the varied experiences of foreign women living here.

People ask, do I get bothered a lot by the Turkish guys. The answer is YES. Unwanted attention. First of all I'm blond...I look like a foreigner and to them that means "easy". I have not had to slap anyone yet but I have come close! Maybe if I knew what they were saying in Turkish I would have slapped some already :-) I was advised not to make eye contact with them, and to just ignore them. Last night I was warned about a few things that happen in the Taksim area - especially the places run by Russians. They have a trick - they hand you a drink as you come in...most people think it is hospitality...like an Italian thing. Well, it's not. After you drink it they will say "That is $300.00" If you refuse to pay, several big Russian gorilla types appear. Then the owner will approach and act like "good cop" and say "Ok you didn't know, you only have to pay $200.00.) I was also warned not to let my drink out of my sight for even a second. If I lose sight, just order another one.

I am heading to Ayvelik with the family today...we will drive. It's about 5 hours. It will be interesting to see the Turkish roads and countryside. I will stay about a week...will write from there!