So I live in Istanbul and I noticed a lot of posts regarding the shootings, bombings etc. I actually am pretty level headed about these things but decided to get the family out.

Turkey is a bit of a mess right now: The courts nearly threw out the democratically elected gov't. They arrested 82 people planning to overthrow the Gov't and the Army keeps messing around with the PKK. In short, there are a heck of a lot of people that want to cause problems right now.

My suggestion. If you come to Turkey go to Antalya. Stay away from IST until things mellow...

For the happy backpackers that think everything is cool because they had a great time hanging in the clubs-ignorance is bliss. Bad things happen in the world. Having lived through bombings in Algiers (december 11th 2007) play it safe...Go to Nice...Paris...Prague...