I like to hear more about this train. Shady figures, unsafe and tourists become target of theft, etc. etc.

enough with this chapter, go on to another topic. Becomes more and more boring!

oh, thank you. Very rarely you find Turkish movies in American movie rental stores. Are you familiar with Netflix. I am. They only offer a few. Too bad !!!!!

Waseem, I am trying..........pls. end Turbanphobia. Time to focus on something else.

Which route did you take??

Earth - Water - Wind - Fire
When you are seated, the barber will wash your hair if necessary then dry it. A cape is fastened around your neck and you are asked how you would like your hair done. The first step is carefully trimming the area just around the ears and at the back. Several different combs on the electric trimmers will be used to get it just right.

This is followed by a wet cut.

If you have a beard or mustache, this is trimmed and shaped if required. Plenty of shaving cream with the long handled razors.

Any extra hair on the face is either waxed with a pine resin, pulled out with tweezers or string. A cotton thread is twisted and the resulting loop is opened and closed over the hair to be removed. Nose hair is trimmed with small scissors.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the haircut is when the barber dips a ball of cotton wool in methylated spirits. Perhaps you think this is for cleaning something? Not exactly. It depends on how you define cleaning. They then set fire to this and flick the flames into your ears to burn the hairs. Also any stray hairs on your face.

Finally the hair is washed. Then blow dried. Then gel is applied. Followed by hair spray and deodorants.
"the barber dips a ball of cotton wool in methylated spirits... they then set fire to this and ..."

http://www.cyberbohemia.com/Pages/Hammam.htm

Turkish men's hair is beautiful!!

For decades, almost every Turkish man cultivated a magnificent moustache. And a great number grew beards, as well. Different beards were even emblems of different political affiliations. For example, extreme nationalists wore walrus moustaches. But the reign of the moustache may be over. Barbers are increasingly hearing the words "take it all off." More than half of all Turkish men no longer wear a moustache. Some say being clean-shaven is more modern, others that it is more hygienic. And in many cases, a woman is behind the decision.

We were warned never to take this train for safety reasons.