It's where East meets West -- a dynamic, vibrant city of 15 million, full of friendly people, good food and an endless supply of fascinating sights and sounds. You can spend hours (or days) wandering through the old town and visiting sites like Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, or you can catch a ferry up the busy Bosphorus to hip, modern neighborhoods like Bebek for drinks and dinner. Being in the city during Ramadan is a special treat, as the families pour into the streets and public squares at the end of the day to break their fasts and be merry. You can also take a day trip to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Ephesus and its marvelous ruins. Despite the very real problems and political unrest facing Turkey today, you leave this unique city after a few days with feelings of gratitude and hope.