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Photo Sets » Turkey - 2007

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We left Switzerland on a Wednesday and arrived in Istanbul on a Tuesday. That is moving. Pretty fast.

As we arrive cross the border from Greece into Turkey, it quickly becomes obvious that Turkey is no backwards country. It is truly modern.

Especially interesting is how well-planned it seems. Not in the Soviet-inspired style that we've seen in the other countries so far, but in a "This is how it would work best for everyone" type of way.

As move from the border, it reminds me of Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Enormous fields full of crops. Enormous, as I've only ever seen in the States. But then you have huge cities in the middle of nowhere. Turkey's planners build UP. They don't let things spread. Everyone seems to live in a high-rise building.

As we approach Istanbul, the high-rises are more frequent and even larger. Mini-cities are sprouting everywhere. This city is huge. 18 million. And it works. Mass transit works. Traffic isn't as bad as you'd think. The place is clean.

Istanbul is beautiful. The markets, the Grand Bazaar are like I've never seen. When they finally invent smell-o-vision I'll tune to the "Istanbul Spice Market Channel" because that has to be the highest degree of sensory overload.

I visit the Blue Mosque. This is my first. Just so peaceful.

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