Traveling to Turkey

Turkey is a complex country that is caught somewhere between the Middle East and Europe. Although parts of Turkey are becoming quite modern, many parts retain the oriental splendor and mystery. However, Turkey is a great place to visit with amazingly friendly people.

All throughout the cities and into the beautiful countryside, you will find majestic old buildings. If you want a country with a lot of diversity, this is it. From the active nightlife to mountain trekking to water sports, and shopping for famous carpets, you can be sure there is much to see and do.

Sadly, Turkey went through a very violent period in 1999 when angry guerrillas attacked the Turkish authorities, going as far as to capture and imprison the rebel leader. This led to bomb attacks and some very dangerous areas, specifically around Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Sirnak, and Tunceli. The United States started air strikes in 2001 to help bring the violence under control and today, while there are a few pockets of unrest, the majority of areas within this country are safe but you are asked to use common sense and avoid areas known for past danger.

Historians, estimate that Turkey was first inhabited around 7500 BC by the Hittites, people who worshipped both sun and storm god. These people dominated Anatolia starting in the Bronze Age, going through major clashes with Egypt. However, when Achaean Greeks attacked Troy in 1250 BC, the Hittite community was beginning to fall apart. Then, “sea people” from Greek attacked the area, which added even more unwanted pressure on the Hittite people until the Emperor of Persia in 550 BC swept from the east into Anatolia. Soon after however, the Persians were ejected by Alexander the Great.

Even though Alexander the Great conquered all of the Middle East in 330 BC, after his death, people began to argue about the civil war and the lands. It was not until the Galatians also known as the Celts founded a capital in 279 BC at Ankara when things began to settle down. For centuries, the Romans kept rule over the country, maintaining prosperity and peace. When this empire weakened in 250 AD and Christianity spread, a new capital city was built that would be called Constantinople.

Like many other countries, Turkey underwent good and bad over the years, seeing the rise and fall of several empires. However, by the 19th century, there was great decline that made ethnic nationalism appealing. Battles broke out in 1832, around the time the Kingdom of Greece was established and the independence of many nations. Unfortunately, several unsuccessful attempts were made to revitalize Turkey but when World War II hit in 1918, winning allies began to snatch up the country.

Then in 1920, the War of Independence broke out, which ended with a Turkish victory, and sultanate being abolished. Turkey has gone through leadership changes, military changes, reforms, unrest, and more since that time but even so, the country remains strong and determined. Again, visiting Turkey is something acceptable as long as you avoid public gatherings, demonstrations, and stay within the zones considered safe. There, you will be amazed at what all this country has to offer.

While you will hear folk music in Turkey, Turku music is played most commonly on the radio, which is a type of traditional folk music with a modern slant. Additionally, the Turkish film industry has been around for some time and today, the cinema there is considered honest, natural, and always with dry humor. As far as language, Turkish is simple yet elegant. The problem is that this language is still very hard to learn, specifically because verbs can be an entire sentence alone.

The country is predominantly Muslim and because of this, when visiting Turkey, you should wear modest clothing and whenever you enter a mosque, your shoes must be removed as a sign of reverence. If you are female and go into non-tourist areas, your head, arms, and shoulders should be covered and dresses worn at least past the knees, if not full length. In addition, you should honor the Turkish custom of being polite. Conversations are not rushed and you should show your gratitude and respect to your guide or host.

Again, if you are female, you might expect to be treated differently from men, often feeling as though you are undergoing harassment. Do not take this personal, as this is simply part of the Turkish life. The further east you go, the more modest the dress. We also recommend you wear a wedding band (no diamond), walk as though you know where you are going, stay away from void streets, especially after dark, and if you eat alone, ask to be seated in the Aile Salonu, which is the family dining room. Finally, you should never go out for a drink by yourself.

The one thing you have to remember when in this country is that the food is exceptional. The favorite food is Shish Kebab, which is grilled lamb on a skewer. Other dishes include fish and if on a budget, try the Turkish pizza, which is very good indeed. For vegetables, the Turkish people eat a lot of eggplant. One dish that is absolutely, wonderful is called Imam Bayildi, stuff eggplant. You will also find beer in just about every hotel, restaurant, and bar in the country, along with wine or Raki, which is aniseed, flavored grape brandy.

Even though some areas of the country are desert, you will still find many forests along the Black Sea, the Mediterranean coast, west of Antalya, and in the eastern Anatolia. There, it is common to see beautiful wildflowers and a variety of wildlife such as bear, deer, lynx, wild boars, wolves, jackals, and on rare occasion, leopards. Then, there is the Van cat, which has solid white fur but different colored eyes, always one blue and the other green. This native cat is truly amazing and beautiful. More commonly seen animals in and near cities include sheep, donkey, horse, cattle, and goats.

If you visit the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, you will find the summers to be hot and dry while the winter months are wet but mild. Then heading to Istanbul, summer months average around 85 degrees while the winters are actually quite cold but typically above freezing. Then if you head toward the Black Sea coast, the summers are mild and rainy while the winters are cold and rainy. Keep in mind that if you plan to spend time in the southeast during the summer, temperatures above 110 are common. When traveling to this country, work with a reputable travel agent and most of all enjoy yourself, as you explore this country rich in history and culture.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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