To Turkey, With Love

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As a traveller, I usually fall in love with the places I visit. There can be hundreds of reasons why, but with Turkey, everything seems to be different. You can fall in love with its vibrant colours, and yet not overlook its delectable cuisine. You could admire beautiful Cappadocia, and yet not forget mighty Istanbul. Turkey has a character, one that I have never felt before and probably never will.

A mesmerizing mix of the exotic and the familiar, this great nation is definitely much more than its clichéd image of a “bridge between East and West”. Invaded and settled from every direction since the start of recorded history, it combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities, and dervish ceremonies and gipsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or football matches.

The friendliness of the Turkish people makes visiting a pleasure, and indeed you risk causing offence by declining invitations and find yourself making friends through the simplest of transactions. At the big resorts and tourist spots, of course, this can merely be an excuse to sell you something, but elsewhere, despite a history in which outsiders have so often brought trouble, the warmth and generosity are genuine. Turkish people go the extra mile to help you out, even with the majority's poor command of the English language. When they run out of words, nods and universal gestures save the day.

Over my past visit in several important Turkish cities, I have tasted a sample of the country through its culture and cuisine. Whether it be from the heights of the Galata Tower or from the waters of the Ottoman harbour down south, this is a taste that I shall not forget and one that does not match up to any I have felt before. As I leave with loads of pictures and memories, I know I will return. And when I do, this country will be as new as it was this time, a box full of surprises for the eager traveller.

Tekrar görüşeceğiz. We will meet again.

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