GOODBYE TURKEY

Oct 22

TURKEY

WOW!  What a country! I have visited and lived in many countries and this is one of the most fascinating I have been to.  If you are a history buff, there is so much history, it will make your head spin. I am not a big history buff and my head is spinning. How can it not when there is history going back thousands and thousands of years. It is home to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the silk road, ancient wonders of the world and much much more. And it is all there for you to see and touch.

It is a big country that we only saw a small portion of,  but more than most tourists. From the Black, Mediterranean, and Aegean seas, to the high mountains and plains. There is something here for everyone. With most of the country in the modern world, there is still a lot from the past in real life today. People doing things just like they have for centuries.

 This lady is making grape syrup. 

 When these students saw us taking pictures and talking to the elderly lady and her friends they came over to take pictures.  They begged Vicki to be in the picture.

But, by far, their biggest asset is their people. I have found people all over the world to be kind and helpful. But in Turkey, they take it to another level. In most countries if you ask for help, people will do their best to help. The difference in Turkey is, you do not even have to ask. Many times we were confused about something, like buying tickets for the ferry in Istanbul, and people would walk up and ask to help. They would patiently show us how to do whatever we were doing or explain something that we were curious about. If there was a line involved the people behind us, usually, would wait patiently for us to accomplish whatever it was we were doing. Many people gave us a gift if we stopped to visit them. From the restaurant owner who gave us free coffee and internet to the shepards, almost all gave us something to take away.

 Home of the shepard and his wife and their gift of an egg from their chicken

I encourage you, if you have ever had any desire to visit Turkey, do so now!

Thank you Turkey.

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Notes

1. The tourist information is correct. Fly from point to point and rent a car at your destination. Tickets are cheap and flying saves you a lot of time.  Unless you are wanderers like us.

2. About those drivers. The tourist information is correct. They have an excess of stupid drivers. We did not notice it much at first. I have spent a lot a of time in countries where the guy driving the donkey today is a bus driver tomorrow and I take a lot of this for granted and don't even think about it. If you have never had that experience then you will be using a lot of "expletives deleted" language as you drive around.  We really noticed it in the Bodrum area. Passing in a no- passing area against oncoming traffic, the driver expects, since he is so stupid, you will get out of his way and as soon as he gets around he will slam on brakes and turn right.  Signs and stop lights are something left by those Ottoman people and they do not understand them. Just be forewarned, it can be exciting out there. This does not mean everyone drives with a death wish, but enough that you will notice.

 It is hard to capture pictures that tell the story of bad drivers on the road. Fortunateley, this gentleman supplied us with the photo in a parking lot. The lot was just about empty but he chose to park right next to this scooter. His friend stood and shook his head as the driver tried to squeeze out the door that he could barely open.

3. It has been a while since I visited a country that is predominately Muslim. So, when you pick your overnight facility, if you can, make it away from the Mosque. No matter where you are, you will hear the call to prayer at 5 AM, you just don't want the speakers outside your window.

Especially if you are a Princess and demand your sleep.