Comments by "My Namename" (@mynamename5172) on "How Investing in Istanbul Real Estate Can Work" video.

I was harassed constantly in Istanbul, and I dress modestly and am not a flashy person. I travel all the time (or did) so I get the "local customs" thing, but this was above and beyond. Skeevy dudes, scammers and rug sellers constantly interacting with me any time I was visible. I couldn't even sit down in a cafe to eat without constantly being bothered. Its different if you are walking around with a male, but for women alone, Istanbul is not great. Unless you like being bothered.
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@musiciansonships3898 Its possible its still a good real estate investment, but I wouldn't recommend it for solo female tourists.
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@musiciansonships3898 Yeah, me too I was on business in Istanbul. It was OK if I was with other people, even other women. Going out on my own (as in walking from A to B, not partying at 2AM) was a disaster of intrusive, unwanted attention of all varieties at all times of the day. We did go to some coastal beach towns as well, they were completely full of tourists, many Germans. The environment there was more generic cheap- European tourist rip off. I was with a group so I don't particularly remember being harassed, but I do remember naked fat Germans on the beach. I'll probably remember that forever.
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@serhat1 If they were in a group on a beach full of tourists they were probably irritated by various wandering vendors but not harassed. The other lady and I are discussing one on one personal harassment on the streets of Istanbul. It was extremely unpleasant. I have travelled pretty much everywhere and am not the fainting couch type, but it was too much for me. I wasn't mugged or molested beyond words and eyeballs, but other solo female travelers may want to be aware of this. It was a lot of words and eyeballs.
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@musiciansonships3898 I will just sum it up like this, in Istanbul I had to be on the extreme defensive all the time when walking around. No eye contact, walking briskly, ignoring little comments and people (men) accidentally walking too close to me. In broad daylight. I would never live in a place like that. Maybe its just me and you that have had this issue, but I doubt it. I was dressed for business, walking around during the day, and I am an experienced traveler.
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@serhat1 I have never been harassed as much and as constantly as in Istanbul. Has nothing to do with Islam, actually in many Islamic countries/Muslim areas its quite the opposite, especially for modestly dressed women. I walk around Beirut (yes I know its nominally a Christian country, but its not really) dressed how I like when I like. If one guy says "hey baby" so be it, its one guy. I don't even remember it 15 minutes later. That is part of why it shocked me.
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