[08:55:11] yesterday I learned that eating outdoors at a fish restaurant at a fish market with a handful of other fish restaurants is not good for keeping track of cats. I'm pretty sure I have pix of all the cats but I don't know if I got a duplicate. so I can't do accurate metrics. (re @Krinkle24: You could start right away from the browser console. Just one line of code [08:55:11] (mw.track). [08:55:12] Pick yourself a gadget-like metric name,...) [09:10:00] it seems Google maps doesn't have realtime data for any of the transit I've tried so far. the schedule according to Google for the first bus I took had me on bus for 26 mins, the actual time on bus was 81 mins. and then had a lot of stairs on my way from bus to first hotel. would have gone a different way if I knew about stairs. also bus trip passed more than a few [09:10:00] cars parked in [09:10:01] the way of the bus. too close to a corner so bus couldn't make the turn, etc. so that didn't help. anyway so don't count on buses to take the right amount of time. [09:11:27] this app is supposed to have realtime data for buses. seems official, advertised on QR on board. I haven't tested it yet. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iett.otobusumnerede [09:15:53] that app refers me to this other app for a digital İnstanbulkart. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.belbim.istanbulkart [09:15:54] > This item isn't available in your country. [09:15:55] (US Google play country) (re @jeremy_b: this app is supposed to have realtime data for buses. seems official, advertised on QR on board. I haven't tested it yet. https:...) [11:18:40] Mine also says it is not available in my country (Bangladesh) (re @jeremy_b: that app refers me to this other app for a digital İnstanbulkart. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.belbim.istan...) [14:08:45] I'm flying to Istanbul tomorrow from Bristol, UK. Who else is arriving tomorrow? [14:54:27] Will anyone be leaving by train from Istanbul to central Europe? [15:01:40] Covered stops usually have a QR code. When you scan that QR code with this app, you are directed to a page with realtime data feed for that stop. As far as I checked, the app is also available in English (at least for iOS) (re @jeremy_b: this app is supposed to have realtime data for buses. seems official, advertised on QR on board. I haven't tested it yet. [15:01:40] https:...) [15:02:24] are you here yet? (re @caneroz22: Covered stops usually have a QR code. When you scan that QR code with this app, you are directed to a page with realtime data fe...) [15:02:33] I live in Istanbul [17:03:47] Hey @caneroz22, I have a question. Are mobile payments available in most places in Istanbul through NFC? [17:05:33] I can't recall a place that took card but not NFC. (maybe my sample is limited so far?) but there are a few places don't take card or at least I didn't see anyone using a card. (re @nacaru: Hey @caneroz22, I have a question. Are mobile payments available in most places in Istanbul through NFC? Thanks) [17:06:20] so I assume cash + mobile payment should be good to go, thanks! (re @jeremy_b: I can't recall a place that took card but not NFC. (maybe my sample is limited so far?) but there are a few places don't take ca...) [17:07:28] I would bring a physical ATM card if you plan to use ATM. and why not have other physical cards as backup? phone dies or you lose it, etc. (re @nacaru: so I assume cash + mobile payment should be good to go, thanks!) [17:09:22] I think places that accept contactless cards will accept NFC. [17:10:26] I have one card that I really want to avoid using due to expensive commissions from the bank but I'll make use of it if necessary. Otherwise I'll buy TL from a friend and use N26 for NFC payments. Thanks both of you! [17:14:38] with US cards/Google account Google wallet works on phone, doesn't work on watch. : https://tools-static.wmflabs.org/bridgebot/c88d4324/file_70161.jpg [17:30:50] You’re on android, only accessible to Google Pay? (re @jeremy_b: with US cards/Google account Google wallet works on phone, doesn't work on watch.) [17:50:26] I don't understand the question. phone and watch are both Android. (re @cvictorovich: You’re on android, only accessible to Google Pay?) [17:50:35] both pixel [17:50:55] Google Pay is the only realistic option for most people on Android, banks fased out their own options [17:51:05] That was the question probably [17:53:03] Most banks have their own apps. They can be used when paying (re @jeremy_b: I don't understand the question. phone and watch are both Android.) [17:53:41] that's surely variable depending what content you're coming from? (re @cvictorovich: Most banks have their own apps. They can be used when paying) [17:55:11] Is this an interrogative or statement (re @jeremy_b: that's surely variable depending what content you're coming from?) [18:45:37] edited (re @cvictorovich: Is this an interrogative or statement) [18:50:45] I had card declined 2 nights in a row at restaurants. I called bank and set a travel notice before either of those charges. I called in both nights to fix. tonight they told me they are scrutinizing extra mobile (NFC) in particular. but last night trying the physical card (before calling) didn't help. (re @nacaru: I have one card that I really want to avoid using [18:50:45] due to expensive [18:50:46] commissions from the bank but I'll make use of it if necessar...) [18:52:40] btw I've tried 2 different US numbers (one cell, one Google Fi) with ibbwifi captive portal and I can't get the verification text they say they sent. when I select US from the list it changes on its own to Canada. [20:12:04] I find I generally have less problems when I don’t tell my bank I’m travelling than when I do 😂😅 [20:19:14] varies a lot from bank to bank. (again US banks. with a pretty small bit of travel recently but a handful of banks.) that's interesting that it would be counterproductive. (re @tehreedy: I find I generally have less problems when I don’t tell my bank I’m travelling than when I do 😂😅) [20:20:20] I stopped telling them I dunno 10 years or so ago. Not had anything declined since [20:23:12] found a few reddit threads. seems it hasn't been working for at least a couple years. and even if I could get past SMS step then I'd still have to deal with inputting a US passport with field stuck on Canada. https://www.reddit.com/r/istanbul/comments/15itpkp/comment/juxq1eq/ (re @jeremy_b: btw I've tried 2 different US numbers (one cell, one Google Fi) with [20:23:12] ibbwifi captive porta [20:23:12] l and I can't get the verification tex...)