Better than Bud. They are very hospitable. But, be aware of the dogs. Not accustomed to stangers, they can be vicious. I was nipped on the back of the leg by one particular cur.
Locals always carry stones in their pockets to ward off aggressive dogs.
We are in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, you know the place, right next to Hijackistan and Weirdistan, picking our way through the bones of the Soviet dinosaur. Derelict cement works, faded worker slogans, sanitoriums, Wodka, stern grey women constantly mopping the floor of hotels with equally grey water, wonderful jam on stale bread, samovars of steaming black tea, rusting combine havesters, power cuts and water cuts almost inevitably occurring in the middle of our shower. Thankfully, short work for the Istanbul Fire Dept. Truly one of the world s great atmospheric and historical cities and so full of cats. David, Nancy and Nelson.