Spoken like a true Nebraska provincial. I have friends who have been working on and off in Turkey for the past decade. I have visited three times and am looking forward to another visit.
Istanbul is a world-class city. I rank it at the top with Paris and Vienna.
Turkey is also safe. I have back-packed by myself into remote parts of Turkey, where I was probably the only English speaker or American within hundreds of miles, and have never encountered anything but helpfulness and kindness, even in the most conservative or "religious" areas.
The visa process in Turkey is simple; unless it has changed, you do it at the airport upon arrival. Last time I was there it cost $20, and they prefer US dollars.
