GUILTY Turkey - Sarai Sierra, 33, NY woman murdered, Istanbul, 21 Jan 2013 - #4

[Herat]

I wan't picking on you promise, you were just the last quote on the subject that I clicked on, from the conversation started by someone else. Sorry, I apologize if you thought I was, I was not. I do cherish everyones thoughts. Just wanted to make an overall point. Perhaps I should not have quoted your quote specifically. So I ask you to forgive me.

You officially have my blessing and forgiveness.

Consider it my gift to you for Lent.

 

[Yashim]

I agree, it would seem more likely that someone would recommend going to Rumeli for great photo opps.

That's what I would do, too.

Anywhere between Arnavutköy and Sarıyer, would have been a better choice. On weekdays, during daytime (10 AM - 4 PM), even cruising along the Bosporus coast is a memorable experience. Even if not to take photos, at least, to enjoy the view.

Eminönü is quite packed and Kennedy Avenue is only good to give tourists a good first impression on their way from the airport. Perhaps not anymore.

 

[Herat]

And another note about the long hair on Jan 21:

If you are really going to photograph stuff, you don't wear your hair long and flowing. It gets in front of the lens or in your way in using the camera.

If she wasn't going to wear a cap because it was warm, which I completely concur with, then she would have pulled it back and secured it somehow. Especially in an area with trees and bushes, as her hair is long enough to keep getting snagged.

I just don't think the person in those photos is intending to photograph things.

 

[bet2173]

It's weird that she is always alone in the cameras. I mean there were people who she had contacted via instagram or some local people she had talked to. This makes me think that is simply the case (that she was captured wailking alone) or there are other captures of her maybe talking to people or walking with them but LE is not sharing those with the press r the public.

 

[Herat]

even cruising along the Bosporus coast is a memorable experience. Even if not to take photos, at least, to enjoy the view.

Yes, yes. Yashim has hit on something that was occuring to me, too

A lovely cruise along the Bosphorus would be a must-do on anyone's tour of Istanbul- both during a lovely warm sunny day like Jan 21 or in the evening for city lights. We don't know her prior itinerary, but that seems like a perfect thing to do on your last day/night there.

Are there any cruises that depart from that area?

 

[zarra30]

So you are postulating that isn't SS in the not-hip bellbottom pants?

LOL Well, my opinion is completely irrelevant since I never met her, though she appears to wear slim fit in the airport and mall photos.

But I am SURE her female friends will have an opinion, and her sister and sister in-law will know if flared bell bottoms were a part of her traveling wardrobe.

Women are very conscious of each other's style statements. So I'd just be curious to hear their opinions.

 

[bet2173]

That's what I would do, too.

Anywhere between Arnavutköy and Sarıyer, would have been a better choice. On weekdays, during daytime (10 AM - 4 PM), even cruising along the Bosporus coast is a memorable experience. Even if not to take photos, at least, to enjoy the view.

Eminönü is quite packed and Kennedy Avenue is only good to give tourists a good first impression on their way from the airport. Perhaps not anymore.

Tarlabasi is closer to Eminonu and can be reached by walking or via public transportation easily. OK, here we go, a very weird assumption. If Taylan was married and if he offered her to walk her around, and if he is an upper class, and if he was hiding this from his wife, there is a better chance of him to bump into an acquaintance in Bebek or Arnavutkoy than Eminonu.

 

[ThinkHard]

That's what I would do, too.

Anywhere between Arnavutköy and Sarıyer, would have been a better choice. On weekdays, during daytime (10 AM - 4 PM), even cruising along the Bosporus coast is a memorable experience. Even if not to take photos, at least, to enjoy the view.

Eminönü is quite packed and Kennedy Avenue is only good to give tourists a good first impression on their way from the airport. Perhaps not anymore.

I agree Yashim , I would say pretty much anywhere btw Ortakoy and Sariyer is better then all the tourist stuff. But that's just my opinion.

 

[necco]

It seems the consensus of everyone who has been to the area SS was last seen/was subsequently found is that it does not seem safe.

Why wouldn't SS have turned around? I can see accidentally finding yourself in a strange area after wandering around a bit- but once you realize you are no longer on the beaten path, and are coming onto an area that, frankly, seems unsafe- why don't you turn around??

This makes me think she was there on purpose. To meet someone, perhaps. Whatever made her go to this area is something worth taking the (seemingly) obvious safety risk for. Either someone was meeting her there that she felt she would be protected with, or something bigger than her concern for her safety brought her there. It makes most sense to me that she was meeting someone there, and doing so on purpose.

Keep in mind, that in another country (and in the states, even in another city) the clues about the safety of a neighborhood can vary greatly. In Belfast, NI for example, beautiful murals which would seem to an uninformed tourist to be a sign of urban pride are actually a sign of urban warfare. In certain US cities, a clue to a neighborhood's safety is the shop signs changing languages, but in other cities, and in fact, in other neighborhoods in the same city, that means nothing. Without familiarity with Istanbul (and we've discussed that she may not have know as much about the city as more seasoned travelers would), she may simply have though this was a harmless homeless enclave.

 

[voominvava]

That cap is big enough to cover all of her hair. Keeps it neat and makes sure her hair doesn't get in the photos. A known hazard for people with long hair who like to take photos. Keeps you warm. Makes you less visible as a young woman. Is a bit concealing, not for conservative wear, but somewhat less vulnerable.

I wear a similar cap on days I haven't had a chance to wash my hair, or am having a bad hair day. Could be as simple as that.

Also, walking outside all day, it sure does help to block the sun .. no matter the weather..

 

[ThinkHard]

And another note about the long hair on Jan 21:

If you are really going to photograph stuff, you don't wear your hair long and flowing. It gets in front of the lens or in your way in using the camera.

If she wasn't going to wear a cap because it was warm, which I completely concur with, then she would have pulled it back and secured it somehow. Especially in an area with trees and bushes, as her hair is long enough to keep getting snagged.

I just don't think the person in those photos is intending to photograph things.

Very true....and if you aren't going to photograph stuff, then being on Kennedy cadessi was very intentional, and she wouldn't just wonder into that part of the walls, especially without photography being her goal. So what was her plan?

 

[Herat]

Keep in mind, that in another country (and in the states, even in another city) the clues about the safety of a neighborhood can vary greatly. In Belfast, NI for example, beautiful murals which would seem to an uninformed tourist to be a sign of urban pride are actually a sign of urban warfare. In certain US cities, a clue to a neighborhood's safety is the shop signs changing languages, but in other cities, and in fact, in other neighborhoods in the same city, that means nothing. Without familiarity with Istanbul (and we've discussed that she may not have know as much about the city as more seasoned travelers would), she may simply have though this was a harmless homeless enclave.

She would have been traveling for two weeks by then and in Istanbul proper for at least 7 full days. I think she would have been warned several times by then by her internet friends about the dangerous areas.

Seeing how her photography club/class works in NYC and the mention of her other trips in NYC to photograph graffiti, she seems to always go with someone, and not alone.

 

[ThinkHard]

Yes, yes. Yashim has hit on something that was occuring to me, too

A lovely cruise along the Bosphorus would be a must-do on anyone's tour of Istanbul- both during a lovely warm sunny day like Jan 21 or in the evening for city lights. We don't know her prior itinerary, but that seems like a perfect thing to do on your last day/night there.

Are there any cruises that depart from that area?

There are boats that leave from Eminonu and from serkeci. And even further along Kennedy from yenikapi, but the yenikapi ferries mostly head across the Sea of Marmara to bursa.

However I will point out, that at some point an itinerary of her prior days was reported and it was included in what she had done that she had been on a Bosphorous boat tour.

 

[bet2173]

http://in.5thvillage.com/p/380132696913795573_32710949/

http://in.5thvillage.com/p/381101298424929191_32710949/

http://in.5thvillage.com/p/382719817121978595_32710949/

http://in.5thvillage.com/p/379166643190684179_32710949/

http://in.5thvillage.com/p/373922564760591350_32710949/

She seems to wear skinny jeans all the time but who knows

 

[voominvava]

And another note about the long hair on Jan 21:

If you are really going to photograph stuff, you don't wear your hair long and flowing. It gets in front of the lens or in your way in using the camera.

If she wasn't going to wear a cap because it was warm, which I completely concur with, then she would have pulled it back and secured it somehow. Especially in an area with trees and bushes, as her hair is long enough to keep getting snagged.

I just don't think the person in those photos is intending to photograph things.

I tend to agree, having had long hair for years .. I attempt to start the day, wearing it down (for the "look", but sometimes also because I get headaches when it's up for too long) .. and it begins to annoy me, especially if I'm outside and it's windy - then I end up with it pulled into a ponytail within a few hours.

 

[Herat]

I wear a similar cap on days I haven't had a chance to wash my hair, or am having a bad hair day. Could be as simple as that.

Also, walking outside all day, it sure does help to block the sun .. no matter the weather..

Excellent point.

 

[ThinkHard]

Tarlabasi is closer to Eminonu and can be reached by walking or via public transportation easily. OK, here we go, a very weird assumption. If Taylan was married and if he offered her to walk her around, and if he is an upper class, and if he was hiding this from his wife, there is a better chance of him to bump into an acquaintance in Bebek or Arnavutkoy than Eminonu.

True that is a good point. It's kind of like how people who live in Manhattan avoid midtown like the plague, but that's where tourists spend most of their time.

 

[Herat]

There are boats that leave from Eminonu and from serkeci. And even further along Kennedy from yenikapi, but the yenikapi ferries mostly head across the Sea of Marmara to bursa.

However I will point out, that at some point an itinerary of her prior days was reported and it was included in what she had done that she had been on a Bosphorous boat tour.

Ok, cross that idea off the list.

Thanks.

 

[bet2173]

You also don't wear sunglasses if you are going to be photographing soon.

Check out the photos I posted she wore glasses on her instagram trip in NYC

 

[necco]

Exactly.
Wide flare is dated.
Slim fit is in now in NYC.
But to each his own.
It will be of value to hear the response from people who know her style once they have a look.

Wide flare is also called "boot cut"
To fit over boots.

And generally, once doesn't wear their best jeans when they plan on scampering over rocks.

(On a personal note: <insert deity here> help you, if you ever decide to sleuth me by fashion sense... I don't care what's in style. I wear what I want, when I want to and am probably a walking before picture for What Not to Wear)