"Turkey's Magnificent Riviera" a Turkey Travel Page by Weissdorn

I couldn't tell you why, but I am an absolute Turkey fan. Maybe it's because I find Turkey a riddle. One of the most fascinating things I find about this country is that it is not perfect - neither the landscape nor the people, which makes it so enjoyable, and so rewarding. It's very different from the rest of the Mediterranean countries, that have catering to tourists down to a fine science - that's the problem - there's no more surprises.
Turkey, on the other hand is like a box of Cracker Jacks - you never know how your vacation is going to turn out until you go there. Isn't that wonderful? There's always an element of surprise.
While the many Europeans prefer to have absolute mondane service quality that they can bank on, I prefer the 89% degree of perfection rate that Turkey offers. Imagine - a vacation where something happens! I don't mean things like, ooh, the waiter dropped glass, and Mrs. Jones is having an affair with Mr. Smith from the room next door. I am thinking of things happen like, for example, the bus brakes down for half a day, out in the middle of nowhere. Although most of the other tourists on the bus are already phoning home on their cell phones to their lawyers to sue the tourist company, I'm usually sitting with the gas station owner sipping tea, while his wife is showing me photos of their newborn grandson, and he asks if he can play me some songs on his Sait.
That's another thing I really like about Turkey. If they sometimes make a mistake in organisation they compensate more than adequately with friendliness, hospitality and politeness. No one here has ever cursed me or insulted me as a tourist.
The other thing I find fascinating about the people is their sense of charity. Although many are poor in this country, starving children are not to be seen. Although their government does not provide an adequate social services program, in comparison to their European neighbours, the village mosque takes over this roll with pride. No one despite their personal religion has to starve or sleep in the cold here - the people are there for their friends and strangers.