Overall, this was a great experience. I had a 19 hour layover in Istanbul during a flight from NYC to Bremen. So, I was jetlagged and did not have a whole lot of time. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant stay. Tansel and I grabbed a quick dinner, and I had a fantastic grilled fish. The conversation was also good.

The phone that Tansel provides was also a lifesaver. Although I found my way back to the building that the apartment was in, due to exhaustion, I couldn't remember which address or (once inside) which apartment I was staying at. I was able to call Tansel to get help both times. He also called a taxi to pick me up in the morning.

The location was fantastic, within walking distance of many key sights in Istanbul. The apartment was clean. I was also able to make myself some tea with the hot pot and box of tea bags in the morning to enjoy in the garden overlooking the Bosphorus. There was a refrigerator, although I didn't need to use it.

If you take a taxi from the airport, I would highly recommend calling Tansel and having him talk directly to the cabbie. I preloaded a map on my phone with the apartment marked, but the guy still had a hard time finding the place. (For the record, I tried to call Tansel but discovered that my phone wouldn't let me call.)