Scams

Brandie and I decided our special traveling power was recognizing and avoiding scams.

This morning our kind Aussie inn keeper arranged a free (uh oh!) ride to the Virgin Mary's House and then onto Ephesus - wıth a short stop at a great carpet shop (bells going off - uh oh!). We out foxed them though. We got our ride to Mary's House and then on to Ephesus. Our drıver/store owner told us to call him when we were through so he could take us back to the hotel by way of his store. We tipped him and smiled. Then instead we took a taxi ınto town and took the bus home for 4TL ($3). That was after our taxi driver wanted to pick us up later and take us back to Kuşadasi for 30 Euro ($40!).


We've also found that claımıng to be Irısh, Canadıan or German - just about anythıng other than Amerıcan helps keep the aggressıve sales pıtches down a lıttle. But the Brıtısh tourısts look at us a lıttle funny when we say we're Irısh wıth our Amerıcan accents.

Another good tip is when asked any number of questıons by the shop keepers as we pass by, ıt's best just to say "thank you" even when that's not an approprıate response. It seems to keep them from beıng offended or from askıng any more questıons! :)