Any Travels

Turkey is bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria.

Located between 350 and 420 north latitude, and 250 and 440 west longitude, Turkey is a big country with a small part called Thrace in Europe and a larger part called Anatolia in Asia. The two continents are separated by the Marmara Sea, the Straits of Bosphorus, and the Dardanelles. The Black Sea to the north, the Aegean to the west, and the Mediterranean to the south surround the large peninsula of Anatolia.

Turkey is divided into 7 geographical regions:

The Marmara Region is located both in Europe and Asia. The European side comprises of rolling plains and low hills, while the Asian side includes low hills and higher mountains (Uludag, for instance). The land on both sides are excellent for farming and industry. This region, with an average rainfall of 670 mm, is the second most humid region in Turkey. Among the crops of the region are sunflower, tobacco, grains, grapes, and olives of good quality. Silk production is one of the common occupations in the area.

The Aegean Region covers the land on the Aegean coast and the hinterland extending to central Anatolia with fertile plains, river valleys, and high mountains. The word "meander" is derived from the river Menderes, the ancient Meander, which "meanders" its way through a wide alluvial plain. Varying patches of forests, olive groves, fig and fruit orchards, and tobacco and sunflower fields are the main features of the region. The climate is characterized by the typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters.

The Mediterranean Region includes the land on the Mediterranean coast, the Taurus mountain range, and its plateaus extending all along the southern shore. The landscape is characterized by the Taurus range, immediately rising from the coastline and reaching as high as 3,000 meters in some parts, and the wide plains of Pamphylia and Cukurova. The main products are citrus fruits, bananas, cotton, sesame, and vegetables. The semi-nomadic high plateaus of the Taurus range also offer good conditions for raising livestock and grains.

The Southeastern Anatolia Region is a land of rolling steppe with a dry climate. Except for the wide wasteland, agriculture is the main occupation in the irrigated valleys and basins. Two major rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) and the large dams built over them irrigate the area. Among the major product are grains, rice, grapes, and vegetables.

The Eastern Anatolia Region is the largest and most mountainous region of Anatolia. The average altitude is 1,500-2,000 M (4,900-6,550 ft.). The highest mountain of the country, Mt. Ararat, is located in this region. Long and daunting winters (from September to June), makes life difficult here. Agriculture is confined to grains such as wheat and barley, while in the south and the north the climate allows for raising of livestock.

The Central Anatolia Region is a vast plateau situated among the high mountain ranges. The land is mainly a rolling steppe with dry, hot summers and cold, damp winters. The main products of this region are grains and livestock.

The Black Sea Region covers the area on the 1,700 km Black Sea coast. The high mountains lining the coast form a more or less isolated area from the inland part of Turkey. The rainfall varies between two or three times the country's average. Due to this humid climate and fertile soil, the region is the most densely vegetated area of the country. Agricultural products include corn, tea, hazelnut, and tobacco. Livestock is widely raised outside of the towns and by-products like milk, butter, and cream are famous all over the country.

Culture

Turkey is where Orient meets Occident, a crossroads for ideas, beliefs and cultures. This is expressed in the country's art, literature, music and architecture, from the ancient Hittite civilization through Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk influences to the mighty Ottoman empire. The faces of its people reflect its diversity; modern day Turkey is a cultural amalgam wrought by history and its unique position between two cultures.

Turkish museums are full of delicate coloured tiles, graceful glass vases, carved wooden mosque doors, glittering illuminated Korans, intricate jewellery and sumptuous costumes.

Ottoman literature and court music were mostly religious, and both sound pompous and lugubrious to Western ears.

Ataturk changed Turkey's cultural picture overnight, encouraging representative painting, sculpture, literature, Western music (he loved opera), dance and drama. Recently, Ottoman arts such as paper marbling and shadow-puppet plays have been enjoying a resurgence. Carpet-weaving is still a Turkish passion.

Ottoman literature and court music were mostly religious, and both sound pompous and lugubrious to Western ears.

Ataturk changed Turkey's cultural picture overnight, encouraging representative painting, sculpture, literature, Western music (he loved opera), dance and drama. Recently, Ottoman arts such as paper marbling and shadow-puppet plays have been enjoying a resurgence. Carpet-weaving is still a Turkish passion.

Bring your belly to Turkey - it will thank you. Shish kebab (skewer-grilled lamb) is a Turkish invention and you'll find kebapcis everywhere. Lamb and fish (which can be expensive) dishes are the restaurant staples. If you're scrimping, the best cheap and tasty meal is Turkish pizza. Eggplant is the number one vegetable: look out for imam bayildi ('the priest fainted'), a delicious stuffed eggplant dish. Desserts are sweet (often honey-soaked) and tend to incorporate fruit, nuts and pastry in tempting combinations. Vegetarians aren't much catered for, but you'll never starve - making an entire meal from magnificent meze (hors d'oeuvres) is easy. The national drink is cay (tea). Beer is served almost everywhere and Turkish wines are cheap and surprisingly good. Raki, an aniseed-flavoured grape brandy, is the knockout tipple of choice.

The Turkish film industry began early, was fiesty through the 1920s, expanded rapidly after WWII and delved into social and political issues through the 1960s and 70s. Turkish cinema is characterised by honesty, naturalism and dry humour. Directors to look out for include the fiery Yilmaz Guney, Tunc, Basaran, Zulfu and Omer Kavur.

Folk music was (and still is) sprightly. Turku music, of which you'll hear lots on the radio, is traditional folk music with a modern urban slant. The 1000-year-old tradition of Turkish troubadours has been wiped out by TV and cassettes, but the songs of the great troubadours are still popular and often performed and recorded.

Other Turkish customs are generally to do with little politenesses - even Turks complain how one can't even get out the door without 5 minutes of formulaic civilities - but attempts to join in with these vestiges of courtly customs will delight your Turkish hosts.

Many women complain about verbal and physical harrassment in Turkey. Although it's not necessary to be paranoid and let stupid hassles ruin your trip, it's as well to take a few precautions. At the very least, keep your torso, legs and upper arms covered, especially as you travel farther east. You might also consider wearing a wedding ring. When walking, look purposeful, ignore catcalls and steer clear of lonely streets after dark. When eating out alone, ask for the aile salonu (family dining room). Going out drinking by yourself is basically stupid.

Double check, always
when we were first moving to Toronto, we had to make a stop at Turkey along the way. The United States were our next stop before we reached our final destination in Toronto, Canada. My father, asked the airlines if we needed to have a passport just to stop in the US,and they informed us that we did not. When we reached the US, they stopped us, had us miss our flight while we waited until they confirmed that we were not illegally trying to get in. when they found out that that at Turkey they had not informed us at all despite our questions, they airport was sued for their carelessness. Double check always. If not the airlines, ask passengers around you. It is just better to be safe than sorry.