I had a wonderful week-long stay at Ergun's apartment. He greeted me on Istiklal Street and walked me to the place (on very short notice – thanks again for that!). He also helped me up the 5 flights of stairs with my heavy suitcase. The apartment is small, like a hotel room, but with a kitchen and washing machine. It is perfect for 1 or 2 people wanting to be in central Istanbul. It's a 2 minute walk to Taksim Square, with all of the transport options and a block from Istiklal Street, the main pedestrian street of the city. This apartment has been newly renovated (I was the first guest), so everything works and is shiny and new. The large bed is super comfortable and there is air conditioning, a necessity for the summer. The only downside is the noise: what comes with the perfect location also means that the place is close to clubs and loud music. But the windows are double glazed, so there's not much more that can be done – it's a trade off for the location. Ergun himself is lovely and the most hospitable of hosts.