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I'm a fan of Anthony Bourdain's TV shows and the two times he's been to Istanbul he was driven and shown around by the tirelessly cheerful and voluble taxi driver/entertainer Issam (Ihsan ? Isham ? can't figure out what his name actually is).

This fine gentleman

Where and how can I meet this fine gentleman ? Was his appearance only for the show or can anyone be driven and guided through Istanbul like that ?

blackbird
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1 Answers1

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His name is Ihsan Aknur, and maybe he'll be your friend, too, if you message him on Facebook.

Giorgio
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    Good find ! Please expand more :) – blackbird Sep 27 '16 at 15:15
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    @blackbird I couldn't resist... google Anthony Bourdain Turkey and, bingo. I'm a Bourdain fan. – Giorgio Sep 27 '16 at 15:18
  • I'd love to accept this answer, can you add more detail ? Can anyone arrange to be driven and shown around ? – blackbird Sep 29 '16 at 14:51
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    @blackbird I would think so, although I don't have direct experience with Ihsan. Film crews do it all the time; you see it with Bourdain, hiring locals for location shoots. Too cool should you engage him. I looked at his FB page and 26 minutes ago he posted (I fixed spelling, punctuation): "I'm so busy, no time internet and I'm working very hard [my car] .My webpage need built again and this time I will make myself. Tomorrow I will speak conference Hugo Boss and I'm really excited." – Giorgio Sep 29 '16 at 15:03
  • @blackbird now, if you want, I can reach out to him on FB and ask how to engage his services; his web site is down. How about offering to do his web site in exhange for his services during your vistit? – Giorgio Sep 29 '16 at 15:36
  • This guys is even cooler than I thought ! Unfortunately I'm neither on FB nor do I have the time to freelance his website :( – blackbird Sep 29 '16 at 15:54
  • These folks seem to have gone on a tour with him ! – blackbird Sep 29 '16 at 15:54
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    @blackbird I'll message him and ask how one would engage his services; stay tuned. – Giorgio Sep 29 '16 at 15:56