"Europe, finally. Or so it seems." Turkey by Tijavi

Turkey Travel Guide: 24,329 reviews and 69,565 photos

God, Country, and Ataturk (Amasya) - Turkey

Turkey was my first taste of Europe. In more ways than one, the country, and Istanbul itself, exude a significant amount of Europeanness in them. Just walk around Istanbul's chic district of Nisantasi, and the whole place could well be one of Paris' or Rome's fashionable areas. Or have a chat with "westernized" Istanbullus to get a feel of how much they long for integration within the EU, or how much they wish for secularism to characterize Turkish life and politics.

But Istanbul is not Turkey, nor Turkey is ever complete without Istanbul. Travel across the country to the east, and Turkey assumes a different character - highly spiritual and religious, very family-oriented (vs. individualism that characterizes cosmopolitan cities), largely traditional, and yes, wary against what some Turks perceive as the "destructive" influences of the west. To them, imbibing western values threatens the very nature of the Turkísh way of life, breaks families apart, and erodes Turkey's Islamic heritage.

To westernized Turks, these people represent backwardness, lack of education and a paranoia of things new and western.

The debate could go on and the polemics could be exhausting. Perhaps, this is where Turkey's attraction lies - the melding of western and eastern values into one unique place and people (sans the violence, we hope). Constructively, this presents Turkey with a unique proposition - to become the center for the harmonious dialogue between cultures - just as its colorful history and strategic location intended it to be.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Great history, quintessential crossroad of the world, and wonderful, WONDERFUL people
Cons:Language barrier especially as one moves east
In a nutshell:Has all the ingredients of a great destination

Last visit to Turkey: Jun 2006
Intro Updated Apr 7, 2008
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Reviews (18)

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Comments (14)

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Trekki Feb 4, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Oh this smells and tastes like Turkey :-)) Mhh... as usual, your food tips make me hungry, I could eat pide and kebab and baklava right away :-)
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SLLiew Dec 3, 2007 at 11:14 AM

Excellent detailed tips. Great insights into local customs. Cheers from Penang, SL :)
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MalenaN Dec 3, 2007 at 8:37 AM

Great tips about Turkey, that brings back many good memories! I didn't see any package tourists in Safranbulo, can't remember seeing any tourists at all actually. Guess I was just lucky.
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Tamariis Nov 16, 2007 at 3:09 PM

I notice you have been to Egypt also...the shisha is everywhere. I smoke it at home but it just tastes better smoking it someplace really exotic :)
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matt10gonzalez Nov 7, 2007 at 9:14 PM

Oh my gosh! I think we're going to die here! Hahaha! Non smokers beware? That's us! Well, that's okay- Egypt is also a place where in non smokers, beware too! Haha! That was really brave of you to drink that alcohol!
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albaaust Oct 7, 2007 at 1:43 AM

A great introductory page to Turkey. Your descriptions of the food have my mouth watering. Yum!!
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neodue Sep 28, 2007 at 11:47 AM

Woow.I have never seen any comment like yours about my country Tijavi.What you have seen %100 correct about Ataturk and Turkey.Thank you very much
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toonsarah Aug 24, 2007 at 4:22 AM

Excellently written & fascinating. I particularly liked your local customs tips, & spotted many similarities with Uzbekistan, eg tea drinking, friendly kids, welcoming mosques :) But believe me, a team that plays in black & white deserves your support ;)
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kokoryko Aug 2, 2007 at 1:56 PM

This is a wonderful introduction to Turkey, Titus! You travel (and write) the way I like, not on the beaten paths, with personal insights and thoughts, meeting with the people and their history. I hope they will not get too "europeanised".
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DSwede Jul 19, 2007 at 7:46 PM

Saw in the forum you are going to Cappadokia. Great place, you'll enjoy it! I went twice & would love to go again.