In Istanbul the men are aggressively on the take. You can’t pause to study your google map without someone immediately appearing to ask if you need directions for a small fee; stop to read a menu by an outdoor cafe without a pitch to come in and eat – try saying you’re not hungry and the pleas turn to “come for just a drink” – if you keep walking it’s “where’s your boyfriend? Bring him back with you”; wander slowly by a retail shop and it’s typical for a guy to come out to invite you in to have tea with his family – no obligation to buy of course. It gets old real fast. The guy pictured asked me to take this photo of him and follow him to his uncle’s store as proof he was working the crowds. When I let him know I was waiting for a tour he informed me he knew the tour operator and that I had 15 minutes before it began promising to have me back in time. I firmly declined only to find him waiting for me at end of tour – “now you have time to visit my store???” was his greeting. Exasperating!
