h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul, Turkey - PR Version - A87847384
Author: Gnomon - U151503

Here's another entry that was in Peer Review before. In fact it was there twice.

The previous conversations are at F22144394?thread=8313365 and F22144394?thread=8313083.

This not one of the Top 14 sights?

I'll have a more thorough read later when I have more time, but you could consider adding links to your other Istanbul entries, such as:
A87827188 - The Top 14 Sights of Istanbul
A87864286 - The Chora Church, Istanbul, Turkey

<BB<

It probably should be one of the top 14 sights. I hadn't seen it when I wrote that entry.

Hmm...

I should probably add sections about this palace and the Chora church to the Top 14 entry - that would be an Update. But this palace certainly deserves an entry of its own as well.

I'll add a link to the Top 14 Entry to this one.

Is it OK to add a link to the Chora church entry even though it is still in the publishing pipeline?

I usually do, as long as it is in the publishing pipeline and been recommended.

<BB<

...And of course it has been published now.

<BB<

I'm quite intrigued by this as it is roughly contemporary with Osborne House.

The only comment I've got to make is perhaps add the year where you've mentioned 'At time of writing the admission prices are as follows' (I see the entry is dated January 2015, but any Edited version of this entry wouldn't be).

<BB<

I've changed this to:

"In January 2015, the admission prices were as follows"

I've had another read through, and still enjoyed the entry.

Only a couple of minor points to possibly consider.

The following sentence could be considered to be a little long (although I've read this entry a few times now and obviously didn't notice it earlier):
'When the Turks conquered Constantinople, as Istanbul was then known, in the mid-15th Century and made it the capital of their Ottoman Empire, they built themselves a huge palace on the highest point of the city, looking down on the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the deep inlet which separates the old city from the more modern centre.'

The other one is the sentence:
'But as a Western tourist you probably want to see something different, something slightly oriental and mysterious - you won't find that here.'
That's assuming that the person reading is a Western tourist, so you might wish to consider changing it to something like 'Western tourists would probably want to see something different… they won't find that here. For that, go to the other…'
Let me know what you think.

<BB<

I agree with both those points and have made changes accordingly.

'the clock stopped at 9:05, the time he died'
I'm just curious - did Ataturk die in the morning or evening?

<BB<

It was the morning. I don't think it is worth mentioning that in the entry.

I think more people die in the am than the pm.

You're right, that doesn't really make any difference.

'The Number 1 Tram will bring you from the centre of the old city to Kabata&#351; or you can take the underground funicular from Taksim Square, the centre of the modern city, to Kabata&#351;. From there it is only a 500m walk north...'

I half expected that sentence to mention getting there by DART...

<BB<

Istanbul is as much a mish-mash of different transport systems as Dublin. There's the metro (underground), the tram (above ground), the two funiculars (underground), the 'Nostaljik' tram and even a cable car which are all part of the combined transport system. Sounds great, but the transport map looks like a child's scribble.

Meanwhile Dublin has the DART, the Arrow services, the two LUAS lines which don't meet each other and no way of getting to the airport except by bus.

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Wahay!

Got there at last.

And for BB, here's what I meant about the Istanbul transport map looking like a child's scribble:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Istanbul_Rapid_Transit_Map_(schematic).png

GB