THE HUMBLE HAMAL

ISTANBUL'S STRONG BACKED PORTERS

Even in modern times, you cannot walk down a street in Istanbul without seeing a man -- sometimes a man who looks to be into his 60s -- carrying an insane about of wares on his back.

This is the Hamal.

Porter, in English.

Tom Brosnahan's outstanding book Bright Sun, Strong Tea, chronicles his dealings with Hamals when his goods arrive on the shores of the Bosphorus.

This photo shows a gray-haired Hamal carrying a relatively light load up a steep back street not far from the Spice Bazaar.

These porters work in garment districts and others areas that require large loads to be carried up narrow passageways.

This photo shows a Hamal walking past a statue memorializing the Hamal, erected by the municipality of Fatih.

100 MOST USEFUL TRAVEL WORDS IN TURKISH

IN THE LAND OF BRIGHT SUN, STRONG TEA

We like free stuff.

We've read $100 worth of information for free at:

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/index.html

We've gotten so many nuggets from Turkey Travel Planner.com that we feel it's only fair to plug a couple products from our fellow travel scribe, Tom Brosnahan.

From Tom:

I've developed a special new ebook to help you learn The 100 Most Useful Travel Words in Turkish™. The book is 100 Travel Words – Turkish.\

Because it's an ebook, not an app, you can read it on any electronic device that can read ebooks: smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop, no matter what brand. 

Follow link to find out how to order this easy guide 

He's also got a book. We'll order it for the 12-hour flight to Istanbul from Miami.

In Tom's words:

Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea, my humorous travel memoir, tells how I got involved with Turkey in the first place (as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in the 1960s), how I became a travel writer, and what it's like to be one (best job in the world?)

I wrote the book to be both an entertaining story (a true one, no less) as well as a thoughtful introduction to Turkey, the Turks, and how to travel there.

It's now available as an ebook for your Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch on the iTunes Bookstore.

Read more about the book here

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TURKEY TRAVEL PLANNER WEBSITE EVEN UNDERSTANDS WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Sidewalk: not easily accessible.../TTP foto

BEST ONLINE GUIDE TO ACCESS WE'VE EVER SEEN THAT'S WRITTEN 
BY AN AUTHOR WHO DOES NOT USE A WHEELCHAIR FOR MOBILITY

Tom Brosnahan is my new email friend.

A veteran writer of guidebooks, he's my new guru of travel writing.

My wife and I have contributed travel stories, often focusing on wheelchair access, for more than a quarter century.

For us, it's easy, because my wife uses a wheelchair for mobility -- so she knows first-hand whether the curbcuts are graded properly, the roll-in shower functions without flooding, the promised shuttle with access really has a wheelchair lift, the airline follows federal law and allows onboard stowage of her wheelchair rather than letting it get broken in the cargo hold.

For others, we see a lot of well-meaning, but frankly lousy attempts at seeing the world through a wheelchair user's eyes while walking the streets at 5-10 height, with the ability to walk up short steps, walk around obstructions and generally not notice the barriers that prevent wheelers from maneuvering so easily.

Tom, who is brilliant on several counts, has managed to deliver the goods.

The link below leads to his advice on Istanbul access.

We've never been to the world city.

I'm planning on visiting soon, to scout wheelchair access for my wife.

Our dream is to return, for at least half a month, on our 30th wedding anniversary.

Tom has already advised me on a unique, family owned and operated property that has an outstanding room with 2 beds, roll-in shower and more.

The Turkey Travel Planner website author also knew that a property's location is as important as its on-site access.

Tom knows that a great property, located at the bottom of a steep hill, or several blocks of bumpy ride to main attractions, or isolated for accessible public transport -- is as bad as a property with substandard ramps, showers and general access within its grounds.

Few get it.

Tom does.

Visit his site

charming..but inaccessible/TTP foto

TURKEY TRAVEL PLANNER

EXPERT ADVICE, WRITTEN BEAUTIFULLY ON AN ENCHANTING WEBSITE

My travel writing friend and colleague Tom Brosnahan has created the most delightful site.

It may not be as flashy and graphically-oriented as some sites, but TurkeyTravelPlanner.com
delivers pure steak -- when other sights barely deliver the sizzle.

Tom has been to Turkey so many times, he should be able to run for office.

His expertise on Istanbul alone is worthy of Hall of Fame honors as an informative sharer of practical information.

Before the events of July 15, I began planning a trip to Istanbul.

There is no shortage of online information about the historic and fabled city.

Read Orhan Pamuk's autobiographical book on his beloved city and you will want to book the next flight on Turkish Airlines.

I research and write about travel all the time, so I think I'm a pretty good finder of facts and hidden secrets.

Let's just say, I barely knew the European side of the Bosphorus from the Asian, nor the Sea of Marmara from the Golden Horn...until I stumbled upon Tom's site.

I'll write more in the coming days.

But I truly don't have words grand enough to endorse this site.

It has the basics, it has the quirky, it has the practical.

Links are logical and allow you to expand from the basics on the Hamam (Turkish Bath) to learning the lowdown on the famous, most expensive, most beautifully-designed and most inexpensive local facilities.

I quite possibly could have, even after my savvy research, been staying on a noisy street, surrounded by tourists and paying $150 per night more for a relatively cookie cutter lodging.

Through Tom's site, I found a place that is well-located, in more authentic surroundings, operated by a family legendary for hospitality expertise and booking for a nightly price that will just about pay for my airfare in savings vs. staying at a chain hotel.

TurkeyTravelPlanner.com has this kind of in-depth information on the entire nation, not just Istanbul.

Even if you have no immediate plans to see the great mosques, museums, vistas and people...Tom's site will over some of the most-entertaining armchair travel you've ever found yourself lost (that's a good thing) in.

click to visit the Istanbul section of Turkey Travel Planner