If You're Greek, Don't Read This Post

While we're on the subject of transportation: Istanbul has a modern but skeletal public transportation system, with a number of tram, subway and funicular lines lacing the city together. But for many trips, taxis are the only real alternative.

We found that Istanbul taxi drivers, like their counterparts throughout the world, weren't always averse to cheating a little on the fare by taking the long way round. (A couple also vociferously objected to picking us up when we were with a Turkish guide, who presumably wouldn't let them get away with that.)

But overall, our experience with the cabbies of Istanbul was far better than with their counterparts in Athens. Istanbul drivers may drive you a bit out of the way, costing an extra dollar or two, but in Athens we found that the drivers consistently refused to even turn on the meter, instead demanding 10 euros for trips that should have cost only four.

I don't think it's entirely a coincidence that Greece is an economic basket case while Turkey is thriving.