Reasons I like Turkey

 

1. The Bosphorus.  Especially the panoramic view of Istanbul from the ferryboats.  But also the bridges, the  seagulls, Leanders Tower….
2. Mediterranean Coast.  Bodrum, Antalya, Alanya.  Concrete poured onto an inimitable coast.
3. Turkish literature.  Yashar Kemal, Orhan Pamuk, Elif Safak…  see elsewhere on this blog.
4. The enterprising street vendors.  On the ferryboats, at the train- and bus stations, in the most unlikely places he’ll fob off his trinkets or foodstuffs.
5. Turkish music.  Not all of it.  Some, however, takes even us Westerners into the contemporary Middle East.  Ahmet Kaya, Sezen Aksu, Nilufer, Orhan Gencebay…  All different, all authentic.
6. Turkish film.  Watch any movie starring Sener Sen, Cem Yilmaz, Turkan Soray…  Don’t forget the “Yesilcam” comedies, dramas and love stories of yesteryear starring Tarik Akan, Adline Nasit, Kemal Sunal, Halit Akcetepe…
7. The Southeast.  Rugged and untamed.
8. The North East.  The mountain pastures, the sense of loneliness…
9. Central Anatolia.  The empty feel of Central Asia.
10. Cappadocia.  Church history in awesome geography.
11. Turkish Cuisine.   Much of it is awful—some of it heavenly.  Try “kiremit guvec” if you can find it.
12. Turkish Bath.  Sweat and bond.
13. Beyoglu.  Nothing what it used to be, but still a great place to eat out, shop for books, people watch…  Enjoy the architecture from the Galata Tower, up Istiklal Boulevard to Taksim Square.
14. Turkish Cafes.  A coffee, a game of tavla or chess.  People watch.
15. Sultan Ahmet.  The St. Sophia, the Cisterns, the Blue Mosque…  History.
16. Turks.  Love some, can’t stand some.  Friendly, hospitable, hypersensitive.  Will tell you what they think you want to hear until they lose their temper.  Then they’ll tell you things you definitely don’t want to hear.