The Ibrahim Pasha Hotel, view from the roof terrace
This is where I stayed in Istanbul, really I could not imagine a more perfect place to stay. It was only $60 a night, including a great breakfast. At first I wasn't so sure about it, but after a while, it was really cool. An exotic place, which at the time, felt like I was in Paris. I didn't know why so much, but later I read about the hotel, and they said they purposely gave it that atmosphere.You would walk in at night, and hear Edith Piaf singing on the radio, like you were back in time.A french lady runs it, along with her laid back Turkish husband. I could look out my tiny window, and see the Blue Mosque, and hear the call to prayer very loudly. I came to like this call to prayer from the Mosque.When I first arrived in Turkey, this was what I saw, along with the women in the streets in there Chador's(the all black clothes), this view from the roof, and I thought to myself "What am I doing here?" This is really foreign!" Culture shock, is what it was.I was a little scarred.
Outside of Ibrahim Pasha
It is an old 19th century Ottoman mansion. Wouldn't stand to well in a Turkish Earthquake. It looks considerably more decrepid than this photo,but it is great on the inside.Lets see, with my window open at night, I could hear gunshots, and drunk Germans comming back from a night of beer drinking,and of course the call to prayer blasting out over the loudspeakers on the Mosque at 5 a.m.and 9 p.m. A very atmospheric place to stay.
Also, I have no photo's but I would recommend:
The Urqmez Hotel(In Selcuk)
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The Medusa Hotel(In Kas)
This place in Kas, was right on the harbour, looking out over the blue Mediterranean, with a balcony, and a swimming pool, for $20 a night, of course including breakfast.Quite a bit nicer, because it was new, than the Urqmez, and a faboulous view,but the Urqmez had the advantage of English speaking helpful brothers.But, can't have everything, can you?
And please,whatever you do, don't stay in Tekirova, it's all a bunch of big ugly hotels catering to the Germans, who come in droves every year to berate the turks who work there, and to lay around the beach all day, and then eat big buffet's at night. All the prices in this horrible city are posted in German Marks. Be Warned!
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