:00:07. > :00:13.Now on BBC News, time for the Travel Show.
:00:14. > :00:24.This week on the travel show I am in a city that spans two continents and
:00:25. > :00:28.3000 years of history. Also on this week was make travel show, we are
:00:29. > :00:34.shaking things up in Singapore. We are at a bar in London where the
:00:35. > :00:40.stereo costs more than a house. If you like music it will blow your
:00:41. > :00:42.mind. And our global guru chap -- tackles the choice of rail, road or
:00:43. > :01:16.plane. Take the train. Istanbul really is a city like no
:01:17. > :01:20.other. On the banks of the mighty Bosporus Strait, it was founded over
:01:21. > :01:24.Greeks, who named it by Zandi. Later, the Romans made the capital
:01:25. > :01:29.of their Eastern Empire, changing its name to Constantinople in honour
:01:30. > :01:32.of the emperor constant time. For over 500 years it was the seat of
:01:33. > :01:36.power could assault on civil the Ottoman Empire. Built at the
:01:37. > :01:40.crossroads of Europe and Asia, it is Turkey's largest and best-known
:01:41. > :01:44.city. I got in on the redeye flight, which is 11 hours from Singapore,
:01:45. > :01:48.but had a bit of a rest and I'm ready to explore the city. I'm going
:01:49. > :01:52.to meet up with a man called Seddah, who promises to take me around.
:01:53. > :01:57.Wohling a spate of terrorist attacks and a failed military coup, 3016 was
:01:58. > :02:01.dubbed the year that tourists forgot Turkey. Traditionally around 10
:02:02. > :02:05.million people visit Istanbul every year, but those numbers have fallen
:02:06. > :02:09.drastically. Now the city is keen to do all it can to reassure tourists
:02:10. > :02:15.and entice them back. How are you? You must be Seddah. To meet you.
:02:16. > :02:18.What do you plan to me? We will be exploring the city, going to some of
:02:19. > :02:26.the major sites, trying some different Turkish foods. And also a
:02:27. > :02:31.hamam, which is a Turkish bar. You like to freshen up? I think that
:02:32. > :02:38.would be good, I have a five Dock shadow. -- five o'clock. Tucked down
:02:39. > :02:41.many sidestreets in Istanbul you will find plenty of old school
:02:42. > :02:45.Barbours like this one, where you can get a haircut are a traditional
:02:46. > :02:49.shave with a cutthroat razor and hot towel, all at a knockdown price.
:02:50. > :02:52.Dating back to the days when many homes in Istanbul had no running
:02:53. > :02:56.water, they are still popular with the locals who come here to meet,
:02:57. > :03:05.socialise and freshen up. This is the bit I get worried about. Now,
:03:06. > :03:13.this is something I haven't experienced. A nostril haircut. So
:03:14. > :03:20.this is the way to take the little has that you probably can't even
:03:21. > :03:22.see. -- little hairs. He is burning the hair in the years. I can smell
:03:23. > :03:45.it! Much better. A brand-new man. As the centre of the Ottoman Empire
:03:46. > :03:49.for around 500 years, Istanbul's wealth and influence grew, and each
:03:50. > :03:53.new ruler or salt and was keen to leave his mark on the city. --
:03:54. > :04:03.Sultan. Seddah has offered to show me perhaps the most impressive. This
:04:04. > :04:07.is the mosque of Sulemain. Sulemain was the Ottoman Emperor who ruled
:04:08. > :04:14.for 47 years. This is the biggest imperial mosque in Istanbul. This
:04:15. > :04:21.mosque was financed by the Sultan. They were all built in seven years.
:04:22. > :04:28.This stands on the slopes of the hill, so from most parts of the
:04:29. > :04:32.city, you can see this mosque. Napoleon once said that if all the
:04:33. > :04:36.world were one country, then this city would hear its capital. Running
:04:37. > :04:41.through the heart of Istanbul is the mighty Bosporus. On one side sits
:04:42. > :04:45.Europe, on the other, Asia. For thousands of years, it has carried
:04:46. > :04:49.cargo and passengers between the two, and also served as a gateway
:04:50. > :04:52.between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, making this one of
:04:53. > :05:00.the most important stretches of water in the world. And a nice view,
:05:01. > :05:03.as well. Yes. Tragically, it was here on the banks of the Bosporus
:05:04. > :05:07.that terrorists struck on New Year's Eve, 2016, when they attacked an
:05:08. > :05:11.open-air nightclub. It was just the latest in a series of incidents that
:05:12. > :05:16.should confidence and badly affect the city's already struggling
:05:17. > :05:23.tourist industry. But Seddah says he is hopeful things will improve.
:05:24. > :05:27.Well, those very unfortunate attacks made everybody scared, you know? It
:05:28. > :05:31.scared us as well. It scared the people who were thinking of coming
:05:32. > :05:36.here. The only way I think we can overcome this is to not be scared,
:05:37. > :05:39.and continue our lives. That will be the first art in point, I think for
:05:40. > :05:45.things to get better. -- starting point. Istanbul is not the only
:05:46. > :05:50.capital city that has suffered a downturn because of terrorism.
:05:51. > :05:54.Hotels and restaurants in Paris were badly affected following a spate of
:05:55. > :05:59.attacks on there which kept tourists away, although things are slowly
:06:00. > :06:04.improving. People here in Istanbul hope that the introduction of a new
:06:05. > :06:08.tourist police force will hope to rebuild confidence in a number of
:06:09. > :06:14.hotels are also offering substantial discounts during courage travellers
:06:15. > :06:18.to return. This is the spice market, built on the 16th century, for the
:06:19. > :06:22.trading of spices. I can smell that spice in the hour. It is making me a
:06:23. > :06:27.bit hungry, actually. Let me introduce you to my friend here. She
:06:28. > :06:35.is going to introduce you to traditional Turkish cheeses. I will
:06:36. > :06:41.see you soon, then. OK. This place is packed, isn't it? Yes, it is
:06:42. > :06:45.always packed. Look at the choice. And all of this is from Turkey, is
:06:46. > :06:49.it? These are all from Turkey, different regions. They are from
:06:50. > :06:55.different cities, they all have different textures, different
:06:56. > :06:59.tastes. This is our main staple for breakfast. This is our most
:07:00. > :07:06.favourite cheese. So breakfast cheese, I would imagine it being a
:07:07. > :07:12.little bit easier, lighter? We are never lighter with cheese, no.
:07:13. > :07:17.Totally wrong! This next she's actually reminds me of Parmesan or
:07:18. > :07:23.something like that. -- cheese. This one was made in July, when we had a
:07:24. > :07:27.south-west wind. It is just a little details. Just changing the profiles.
:07:28. > :07:32.This one is usually made around springtime. They are made exactly
:07:33. > :07:35.the same, but they have different texture, different tastes. This is
:07:36. > :07:40.probably one of my favourites, actually. You should eat this with
:07:41. > :07:44.some crunchy bread. Yeah, a bit of olive oil. Some olives, perhaps.
:07:45. > :07:47.Perhaps, why not. To make those, even. When in Rome. Yes, when in
:07:48. > :07:57.Rome. When in Istanbul. As my day comes to an end here in
:07:58. > :08:01.Istanbul, Seddah tells me he has one last treat in store for me. We are
:08:02. > :08:08.off to one of the oldest Turkish baths, or hamams in the city. This
:08:09. > :08:17.is rather grand. First opened in the 16th century, it is built on a site
:08:18. > :08:22.that dates back to Roman times. Beautiful. The first thing you
:08:23. > :08:38.really notice is that fit this in there. -- thickness in the air. It
:08:39. > :08:42.is so humid in here. Cold water! He has got what looks to be a pillow
:08:43. > :08:44.sack and has just filled it with soapy water. Once you squeeze it
:08:45. > :08:57.out, these subs come out. I have enjoyed my day here in
:08:58. > :09:03.Istanbul. Its history, food and culture are remarkable. But for me,
:09:04. > :09:06.it is perhaps its location which makes it special. On the border
:09:07. > :09:11.between Europe and Asia, there is undeniably something beguiling about
:09:12. > :09:15.a place that has seen so much change during its almost 3000 years of
:09:16. > :09:28.history, but remains unique whatever current problems it may face.
:09:29. > :09:34.Next on the travel show, the first in a series of films exploring the
:09:35. > :09:38.food and drink of my hometown, Singapore.
:09:39. > :09:56.We are starting with a taste of its most famous drink, the Singapore
:09:57. > :10:01.Sling. My name is Leslie. I am the resident historian of Raffles hotel.
:10:02. > :10:17.I have been with this hotel for 45 years. Singapore was founded by
:10:18. > :10:20.Raffles and we were under British administration as a British colony.
:10:21. > :10:23.Most of the British air came to Raffles hotel for their meals and
:10:24. > :10:29.drinks. They were meeting here very often. The young British men would
:10:30. > :10:35.sit under the veranda, drinking their whiskeys or virgin and tonics.
:10:36. > :10:40.At the British ladies were not supposed to be seen drinking
:10:41. > :10:48.alcoholic averages in public. The bartender saw this and said, I must
:10:49. > :10:58.do something for the ladies. He finally reached the conclusion that
:10:59. > :11:06.he would take Jim, cherry liquor, pineapple juice, lime juice, a dash
:11:07. > :11:12.of bitters, and he used the Grenadine to give it a pink hue. It
:11:13. > :11:20.was created in 1915. We just celebrated the 100 anniversary in
:11:21. > :11:24.2015. -- hundreds. It is a camouflage drink, you know? Because
:11:25. > :11:33.of the Grenadine, it has a sweet taste.
:11:34. > :11:42.Still to come on this week's Travel Show, we are pulling the plug on
:11:43. > :11:48.modern tech to listen to music the old-fashioned way. This is like I
:11:49. > :11:50.have just flown first class. Why would I want to go back to economy
:11:51. > :12:16.now? Welcome to the part of the show that
:12:17. > :12:22.looks at your questions and getting the best out of trouble. Coming up,
:12:23. > :12:25.Memphis to New Orleans by train, plane, or automobile. And the best
:12:26. > :12:40.European city break at Christmas. But first, Jon Kay asks... Even
:12:41. > :12:45.though Mauritius is south of the equator, it is at its best in the
:12:46. > :12:51.northern summer. And it is easily combined with South Africa, thanks
:12:52. > :12:55.to frequent flights from London and Johannesburg. But I think Mozambique
:12:56. > :13:03.is also very accessible and equally rewarding. The eastern boundary of
:13:04. > :13:13.the Kruger national park is the frontier between Zambia and
:13:14. > :13:19.Mozambique. Head for Maputo, then up the coast to see some of the best of
:13:20. > :13:27.the beaches on the Indian Ocean. Accommodation is improving all the
:13:28. > :13:37.time, and prices up pleasingly low. Michelle Ables asks... -- Abels.
:13:38. > :13:42.Take the train. The distance between these two cities is almost 400
:13:43. > :13:46.miles. You would imagine there would be direct flights between the two
:13:47. > :13:51.cities, but I can't find any. A connection at Atlanta would involve
:13:52. > :13:57.a big detour. The road journey is straightforward, south along the i55
:13:58. > :14:02.Freeway and take six or seven hours. But it is not one of the great
:14:03. > :14:06.American drives, and when you arrive in your limbs covered the parking
:14:07. > :14:17.can be challenging. So I recommend the train south at 6:50am any data
:14:18. > :14:22.you like. You would arrive at just under nine hours later. -- New
:14:23. > :14:26.Orleans. You can experience the marvellous American railroad Frizell
:14:27. > :14:42.is $49, available on most days, if you book in advance. -- for just
:14:43. > :14:55.$49. Mrs Shaker asks... Amsterdam is my choice, because of the wonderful
:14:56. > :15:01.Rijksmuseum. Christmas Day is an excellent time to see the collection
:15:02. > :15:05.without the usual crowds, and for my money, the finest distillation of
:15:06. > :15:10.the Golden age on the planet, with Rembrandt's Nightwatch getting price
:15:11. > :15:17.place. Many shops will be close on Christmas Day, but in all the usual
:15:18. > :15:20.tourist areas, most cafes and restaurant will be open. Intel is
:15:21. > :15:27.getting there, Amsterdam has excellent links from across Europe.
:15:28. > :15:32.And you also can travel around happily. Dutch Railways operates the
:15:33. > :15:47.same basic schedule every day of the year. Whether you watching in London
:15:48. > :15:49.or Mogadishu, e-mail us at... And I will do my best to find you the best
:15:50. > :16:01.deal. Goodbye -- could to now, and the next.
:16:02. > :16:04.Finally, on the Travel Show, we all used to storing and streaming
:16:05. > :16:10.endless amounts of music on our phones. But we look for places in
:16:11. > :16:26.London where the records take centre stage. When I am not on the Travel
:16:27. > :16:31.Show, I do this on Monday to Friday. I play songs in talk in between. The
:16:32. > :16:37.music that I play comes from a server. Their attacks are there, but
:16:38. > :16:41.I hardly use. On my way into the radio show, elicited musical my
:16:42. > :16:46.phone. But today, aimed am there to meet some people who believe that
:16:47. > :16:57.music should be appreciated and enjoyed the fashion way. -- there
:16:58. > :17:01.are some deck. -- the old-fashioned way. Is the old technology really
:17:02. > :17:20.better than the new? This is -- this is Gearbox Records. All this
:17:21. > :17:24.couldn't work. We are producing sounds from analogue and from
:17:25. > :17:28.Digital, which are really the best one can do at the moment. So we are
:17:29. > :17:33.mixing the best of ancient and modern to greet sound. Normally, you
:17:34. > :17:39.hit it was a final is best for sound quality. When we do a plant between
:17:40. > :17:46.analogue and digital in here, almost a body can tell the difference. The
:17:47. > :17:49.music sounds a little bow together. Digital is quite crystalline, and
:17:50. > :17:55.immediately quite beguiling, but over time, I think it is easier to
:17:56. > :17:58.listen to. I am my way now to a place in King's Cross, with a
:17:59. > :18:07.classic bitter vinyl, as well, because I have heard that this place
:18:08. > :18:11.has got a money is no object to its attitude -- money is no object
:18:12. > :18:24.attitude to it sound system. I had to check it out. We went into this
:18:25. > :18:33.with a no, me 's approach. It is going to improve the sound, we will
:18:34. > :18:40.go for it. That is that every level. -- nothing is too expensive
:18:41. > :18:46.approach. The equipment is off the scale. It is in deep audiophile
:18:47. > :18:52.territory. You are unlikely to hear or see anything like this in public,
:18:53. > :19:14.but if you like music, it will blow your mind. If you close your eyes
:19:15. > :19:19.and just focus on one of the instruments, or you can hear just
:19:20. > :19:28.that in absolute clarity. It is like you could move your way around
:19:29. > :19:33.through the band. This is like I have just flown first class. Why
:19:34. > :19:39.would I want to go back to economy, now? I just express the good life. I
:19:40. > :19:52.do want to go back. Just leave me here. Now, I always think that music
:19:53. > :19:56.is best when it is a shared experience. You think of a concert
:19:57. > :20:02.or a nightclub Danazol. Nothing beats it. But there are a bunch of
:20:03. > :20:07.people they get together in one of London's coolest neighbourhoods and
:20:08. > :20:15.listen to an entire album on final from start to finish. -- dancehall.
:20:16. > :20:19.I love vinyl. I been collecting records for either want Italy tell
:20:20. > :20:23.you how many decades, but for long time. I wouldn't say it is all about
:20:24. > :20:29.audio. It is always about the music first and foremost. People want to
:20:30. > :20:33.come here to listen to what their favourite outings or one they don't
:20:34. > :20:38.even know, because they want to spirited a different way, get behind
:20:39. > :20:41.it, get its context, and have a shared listening experience with
:20:42. > :20:46.other people. They also want to take time out of their week where they
:20:47. > :20:54.can sit back, telephone off, and just listen to music. I often listen
:20:55. > :21:03.to music that has a lot of memory for me from when I was growing up.
:21:04. > :21:07.Normally, you might listen to a song or something, but to listen to an
:21:08. > :21:11.album from start to finish, and is really focus on that, that is a real
:21:12. > :21:15.treat. I think is good to listen to it with other people, too. That is
:21:16. > :21:22.why people go to live performances. Is interesting to go to... Is I go
:21:23. > :21:25.to the cinema, really, isn't it? 1967 was the completely
:21:26. > :21:39.transformative year and rock and pop. Piper at the Gates of Dawn,
:21:40. > :21:48.named from the wind in the Willows. -- Wind. Just lately me go to a
:21:49. > :21:52.tasting restaurant for little flavours, you gathered together here
:21:53. > :22:00.to share in music and people are stimulator to their ears. Tomorrow,
:22:01. > :22:04.I will be back, playing songs from a computer server. But as for today, I
:22:05. > :22:16.have never heard music sound quite so alive as it does on these
:22:17. > :22:24.records. I'm afraid that is all the time we have this week, the coming
:22:25. > :22:30.of next week, Christa has two Chile to visit a town gazetted by an
:22:31. > :22:40.earthquake and tsunami seven years ago, but has been rebuilt and reborn
:22:41. > :22:44.and is welcoming tourists. Catch that if you can, but for me, and the
:22:45. > :23:08.rest of the Travel Show team here in Turkey, it is goodbye.
:23:09. > :23:11.We'll do the easy bit first and then I'll give you the forecast,
:23:12. > :23:13.which is probably the bit you're after, anyway.
:23:14. > :23:15.A mixture of sunny spells and showers.
:23:16. > :23:17.Friday was not just as straightforward.
:23:18. > :23:21.You'll see why go back to Friday in a moment.