Given a travel related situation, and given a specific question about the situation, summarize the question into a title

[EX Q]: Most izakaya I've been to have the bartender standing on the other side of the bar, or even consist solely of a bar.

However, I've been to two places that called themselves an izakaya where the bartender is not on the opposite side of the bar. In one of them, the bar faced a wall, while in the other, the bar formed an oblong shape.

One of them seemed to be part of a chain of izakayas, which made me think it was an inauthentic rip-off of an izakaya, a place that was more izakaya-themed than a genuine izakaya. The other was in a touristy area of the touristy town of Takayama, which also made me suspicious that it was an inauthentic rip-off targeting people who wouldn't know what a real izakaya is like.

Are such places regarded as real izakayas?

[EX A]: Are izakaya where the bartender doesn't stand opposite the bar inauthentic?

[EX Q]: I'd like to go visit Istanbul in one of the next weeks; I'm not scared by it (I mean, things can happen anywhere), just concerned about possible consequences of taking photos.

I've heard a few third-hand reports about police -- before the coup -- being a bit harsh on photographers. Is it still the same, or even worse than that? Perhaps it has never been like that and those reports has just being exaggerated? I can evaluate how much risk I am prepared to take if I can get access to current information about the police.

I'd obviously avoid sensitive targets (policemen, military personnel and buildings). But I like to take photos of common places, too, so while I'll probably take photos of famous buildings I could take shots of common houses, telephone boots, generic skyscraper...everything that can make a good shot. But then, I've heard (from a friend of a friend of a friend...) that you can get in trouble with police if they think you are shooting things that they think are not interesting and thus you are not supposed to take photos of.

[EX A]: Can photographs be taken in Istanbul as of August/September 2016?

[EX Q]: I have to ask this because I'm Asian and we don't do any of these things there. I have been living in the UK and Germany for a while and I still can't understand how to do all of that in Europe.

If I don't know what to do, what's the best thing to do to stay safe and not insult people? I was in an awkward situation when I shake her hands instead of hugging. 

[EX A]:
When to hug, kiss, shake hands, or even "fist bump" in Europe?

