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Bagshanty

We're off to Turkey in a couple of weeks, for a 6 week tour. Reading through the customs regs I notice that one can import only 500 grams tea per person - that would only last us a fortnight!

Similarly, there is reference to 5 litres of wine, but no info on beer. (ale - my favourite tipple).

And reading it again, I notice " One pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte)" When did even a pocket computer last have only 128K? Does this rule normally cause a problem?

Does anyone know how rigorously these regs are enforced?

Also, is there any little nuance that is there to trap the unwary?

Thanks

Andy

DABurleigh

British subjects HAVE to get their visa in advance; British citizens can get it on arrival.

Dave

Bagshanty

DABurleigh

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In today's paper - an example how someone can lose a holiday with no redress though hardly through their own fault. Yet another devil in the small print detail.

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Dave

Don Madge

hi Andy,

We have been through Turkish border posts several times and have only been checked once and that was back in 2002. The customs man was more interested in looking at the van (a Laika 400i A class) than what we were carrying.

We start off with about a 1000 tea bags and enough breakfast cereal for 5/6 months.

We carry a laptop, two cameras, two mobile phones and all the gear to look after them.

When you go through the border make sure you have a clean (no writing on it) ten pound note and a ten Euro note for each person in the party.

In the past we have paid either £10 or €10 for a 3 month visa, I don't know why it just happens that way after all it is Turkey.

Enjoy your trip.

Don

Bagshanty

Thanks Don - that's exactly what we hoped to hear, but it's one of those things that you only know once you've been there.

tombo5609

Hi, I live in Turkey for most of the year and wonder why you would take tea to Turkey, they are the worlds leading tea drinkers and you can purchase dozens of different types of tea in any of the supermarkers With regard to the customs it is usually a cursory glance if you are a tourist. The type of goods that you find difficult to buy in Turkey are pork products ie bacon etc. You would probably be advised to bring your favourite british cheese as Turkish cheese is usually goats milk which is an aquired taste. Apart from this you can buy most of the usual products in the main supermarkets, Migros, Bim, Kippa etc. It is a wonderful country, I am sure you will enjy it. If you need any more info just email me. Tom

Bagshanty

Tom - You're quite right, there is oodles of tea in the shops, but before we went we didn't know that. All the other countries we've been to (most of Europe) tea is scarce, expensive, and crap. That said, Turkish tea is fine as chay, (i.e. black) but has an odd taste done the English way. We did pay more at a market, and bought loose Assam, and that was excellent - wish I'd bought more of it.
Fresh milk is scarce, and doesn't last long when you get it, but we found the sut light (unskimmed UHT milk) was as good, amd stayed fresh longer.
We deliberately didn't take bacon because we didn't want to offend anyone, but they are so courteous and laid back I'm sure it would have been no problem.
We enjoyed the ayran (salted yoghurt drink), and now make our own at home. Ordering ayran in a cafe always got us brownie points, and so did saying thank you in Turkish

I can now see why you would want to spend much of the year in Turkey - it's a great place with great people. This is totally different to the perception you get from the media.
Andy

pippin

I vaguely remember from a visit to Northern Cyprus that pork products were available, euphemistically called "Ek" which is simply "meat" in Turkish.