Cautiously I informed him that in fact yes, I was. It turned out that he was the owner of a hotel five minutes walk down the road, and he could give me a very good rate if I just take a look. Having established that I was just looking and had no obligation whatsoever to stay, I agreed to accompany him, and so we set off. As we walked he talked. I asked him for a business card, but Oh! - He'd left them back in the office.

"I'd usually have my car with me, but it's at the garage today. Must pick it up tomorrow. How about we get a taxi?" he said as he flagged one down.

"I thought your hotel was just around the corner?" I replied, but it was too late, he was already giving the driver directions. It was then that I adopted the attitude of "Oh well, let's just see what happens."

Fifteen minutes later the taxi was stuck in traffic.

"We'll walk from here," my guide told me as I realised that I didn't have a clue where on earth I was. I'd been so distracted by his incessant chatter during the ride that I'd barely noticed us pass over the huge bridge that spans the Golden Horn inlet. We were now in the New Town, an area I hadn't even had a chance to read up on, so I felt it would be safest to stick with this guy even though I was beginning to doubt his story.

Up a couple of alleyways and out into a large street packed with seedy venues for soaking up your dollars. and it was into one of these that we turned. By this time it was about 9pm, I was almost drunk with tiredness and quite happy to follow my "friend" - providing I didn't have to spend any money. I knew that someone was probably going to try to con me, but I figured I could deal with that when the situation arose. As my "friend was frisked by the security on the door he said something very quickly in Turkish, the doormen then gave me huge smiles revealing their yellow teeth, and waved me on in without hesitation. Once inside things became a little clearer. On a small raised stage were seven Russian girls wearing not too much, doing their best to look ever so attractive. My "friend" and I were escorted up to a table on a balcony overlooking the scene - I now appreciated that everything this chap had told me was a lie and in fact I was on my own! I considered my options. My mother would have told me to stand up, collect my jacket and walk out, but I reasoned with myself that that would be no fun. Also, providing I ordered no drinks how could I spend any money? - I was unaware of how scam really worked.