I stand corrected on all counts:

1) My $100 multiple entry visa (from last June) was valid for 90 days -- as was my previous $45 one from 2000. I was not fully informed on the history of visa relations between US and Turkey, but I did understand that the last rate hike was triggered by the US increase.

2) My only taxi experience was from the airport to Kadikoy and we had to take the second bridge because of traffic at that time of day. I don't remember what it came to in TL, but I paid 50 Euro with tip. It seemed reasonable given the distance, but it certainly didn't seem cheap. The ride was metered and I had no reason to mistrust the driver as I was received by Turkish friends when he dropped us off.

I don't know the actual distance/time between the airport and Sultanahmet, but I pay about $22 for a cab from LaGuardia to midtown Manhattan, which I would guess to be somewhat similar. Cabs in Montgomery County (Bethesda) are not particularly cheap (I avoid them so I don't know), but they are certainly less expensive in the District of Columbia.

Anyway, thanks for the corrections!

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Cheers,
Greg