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A foreign traveler means money to the locals

                                                                                                                                         Türkçe versiyonu
 


In some countries a foreign traveler means money to the locals, and it leaves a sour taste in the travelers mouth.

Today I am leaving Turkey after a long training trip in Gaziantep and Istanbul, and I took a taxi from my hotel, The Seminal Hotel to Ataturk Airport, leaving plenty of time for the journey.

The taxi trip is usually (or was) 25 Turkish Lira, but I am sure the taxi driver must have seen money before his eyes, instead of me a human being.

We started off on the usual route I take on a regular basis to the airport, but then he took a detour, but it was too late for me to complain as I know there is no turning back, I could only keep calm and sit back to enjoy a longer journey.

I had been taken this way before so I knew that it would cost more than the usual coast road route. OK, don’t make waves Phillip.

As we progressed, I started to see new sites I had not seen before, yes he was taking me for a ride, and there was nothing I could do. Keep calm Phillip.

On arrival to the airport, the meter read 60 Turkish Lira.

I should have demanded the coast road route before getting in the taxi. 

Oh his number is 34 TCK 60 if anyone is interested, like the Turkish Tourist Authority. Are you really trying to cleanup the role of your taxi drivers?

Next time I will take the bus Havas (Havaş pronouced havash) which charges 15 Turkish Lira from Ataturk Airport straight to Taxim Square in the center of Istanbul, and visa versa.

Nice one Mr Taxi Driver.