Going on a trip...what to get?

namaarie

namaarie

Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
1,499
Hey everybody,

I just realized that I haven't told this group yet, but I'm going on a really great trip next Saturday.

I'll spend the next week and 1/2 after that in Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey with a college group. I can't wait.

I was wondering what cool pointy things in these places are worth checking into? We'll have some shopping time. I'm really looking forward to the Istanbul Covered Bazaar.

Right now, I'm thinking about a Yataghan, maybe a scimitar, a jambiya for sure. Any other cool ethnic sharps from these places that you can think of? Or any cool things in general?

Chris
 
How can you get one of those toys back to the U.S.? It sure won't go in a carry-on.
Any ideas about the rules?
 
Sounds like a great trip! I hope you'll get a few pics for us. I would definitely be sharking for blades in those areas myself, but my biggest obstacles would be 1) knowing what I was getting wasn't tourist junk, so I would want to do a lot of research before going, at least to have some idea of the bigger "gotchas", and 2) finding a way to get it back home!

Have a good one. :thumbup:

Norm
 
Chris?

Budget extra funds for shipping stuff home. Might check with the tour organizers NOW to see if they have experience with such stuff. If not them, then the airlines.

How cool. Will you have time, and will it be safe, for you to wander a bit on your own?

I have a friend who NEEDS to see everything of note in every country.

On the other hand, I like to meander about in a quasi-lost mode, finding delight in the small encounters I have.

In TRAVELS WITH CHARLIE, Steinbeck talks about a friend he would meet in Mexico City. The two of them would come up with something almost impossible to find, and then spend the day wandering around trying to do so. I think he used the word, "vacilante," but am not sure.


Have a great time.
wacherass.
 
My daughter is on her way to Istanbul soon.
I hope that she gets me a toy while there...made a request.
 
arty said:
How can you get one of those toys back to the U.S.? It sure won't go in a carry-on.
Any ideas about the rules?
Click to expand...

Just put them in your check in luggage or mail them home?
 
How to get it back here:UPS or FedEx..put aside for that ;)

Also-BE VERY CAREFUL of what you buy,I've read that some places (and I think Turkey is one) get very harsh on poor fools who buy/try to export old items
They say it's stealing there national tresures!

New stuff is fine.

Enjoy the trip.:D
 
when i picked up my katana from japan, it took me two weeks to get an export permit, luckily i'd planned on staying that long anyway - make sure you know if you'll need something similar where you are going. foreign jails are not much fun...
 
Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm a little concerned about shopping in these countries, when every aspect of me will scream AMERICAN. Not concern for safety or anything silly like that, but that I might get ripped off. I've heard of it a lot, from people who have been there. I've got a pretty good eye for stuff, but I'm sure there will be plenty of vendors who have a knack for making stuff look good.

But I can and must try! Even if I end up with some stuff that's not so good, if it means something to me and reminds me of something great, then it was worth the small amount that I'll pay for it. I'm really looking forward to the Istanbul bazaar, but I wish I had more time to shop there. Only 1/2 day, and I don't speak Turkish. Wish me luck!

And fear not: I'll only buy very legit stuff (legally, that is), and I will get stuff home legally. And don't worry Yvsa, I never consider cultures backwards just because of their difference from our own. I have no notions about American society being the end-all apex of humanity! :)

In fact, more than anything, I'm looking forward to seeing a sort of country that I've never seen before. The Balkans are a very interesting place, and Turkey is simply fascinating. I've traveled abroad more than my fair share for a kid my age, but it's almost always been to highly-developed Western-European nations. A few exceptions, but this will surely be something new. I can't wait.



Thanks for the advice,

Chris
 
You're going overseas. What to get?

Vaccinations. Hep A at a minimum. Hep B wouldn't hurt. (You're supposed to get three in a series spaced some months apart, but while having only one is less effective than having all three, it's still better than having none.) Flu, but you've probably already had that. Anything else that you can think of. I don't want to frighten you, but don't be surprised if you find yourself a PPD reactor when you get back. Lots of us sailor types caught tuberculosis overseas. It happens. Wash your hands frequently. (It won't help with TB, but it helps with nearly everything else.)

I look forward to seeing what you find over there. Ought to be some very interesting items, coming from a very interesting part of the world. I know that you'll have fun searching for them.

But trust me on the vaccinations, okay?
 
Turkey? Shopping? Kilim rugs, hand woven, vegetable dyed wool, awesome. Pistachio nuts, Turkish coffee, ornamental brass items of all shapes and sizes, meerschaum pipes. And, don't forget to pick up a few "Evil Eyes" for yourself and friends, I'm fairly convinced as to their ability to help keep away bad "ju ju". ;) :D

Sarge
 
Hi I'm from Romania, I could have given you some tips but I guess I'm a little late. Your experience will very much depend on which part of the country you'll be visiting - it can be really impressive or really disappointing.
Looking forward to your trip report :)

Cheers
WoodsWalker
 
namaarie said:
Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm a little concerned about shopping in these countries, when every aspect of me will scream AMERICAN.

Chris
Click to expand...

For traveling in foreign countries I make up words to get rid of 'street vendors.' Many of these people can be irritatingly persistant. But if they just plain can not make you understand waht they are saying, they will leave you alone.

Ever been to Jamaica? They will ask you two questions:

"How long have you been here?" Translation: "Have you been hit on by everyone in the country?"

"Where are you staying?" Translation: "How much money do you have?"

"Do you want to buy some ganga, mon?" No translation necessary.

I usually give them a goofy smile and say something in pig latin, or make up words just to intentionally miscommunicate and run them away. Usually say the words very forcefully. After a while they will leave you alone and pick an easier taget.

To many people, Americans are millionaires. How else could you be there? They have seen a few old movies.

As far as buying things, I rarely spend much money in foriegn countries unless I am dealing with established, known dealers. ANYTHING I buy otherwise, I distrust any provenance and buy it only if it appeals to me from an artistic / quality sense.

Get a few items (cheap) with great stories, but, PLEASE don't be naive enough to think that you can buy a genuine Chinese general's sword just because the guy happens to suddeny need the money. It is almost a given that rare valuable objects, if they EVER had any, would hae been sold a long time ago.
 
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