Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This is Turkey
Turkey's dramatic landscape is a fitting canvas for the country's long history. It sweeps
from Europe to Asia, from sun-baked Aegean beaches to expansive steppe, and from Medi-
terranean bays to snowy mountains.
A succession of empires, armies, pilgrims and traders have passed through Anatolia (Asian
Turkey). Ottoman sultans, Byzantine emperors, whirling dervishes and Christian saints
have all left clues, monuments, ciphers and ruins that add lyricism and romance to Turkey's
scenery. Lycian tombs poke above the waterline in Mediterranean coves, fresco-filled cave
churches survey Cappadocia's surreal fairy chimneys, and the marble streets of Ephesus
(Efes) glint in the Aegean sun.
Contemporary Turkey's rich culture combines these diverse historical influences . Here you
can start the day in the bazaar, lunch on a kebap or
köfte
(meatballs) and spend the after-
noon touring ruins, before hearing the sunset call to prayer and hitting a seafood restaurant
or
meyhane
(Turkish tavern). Reflecting Turkish society's mix of Islamic, secular, tradition-
al and modern elements, the country's cities range from breathtaking, continent-straddling
İstanbul to southeastern outposts where minarets shimmer in the heat haze.
There are countless ways to enjoy Turkey's charms. It's an extraordinary cauldron of
Eastern mystique, Mediterranean
joie de vivre,
urban sophistication and slow-paced rural
life. Soak in the hamam, have a meze-and-rakı (aniseed brandy) session, seek out wind-
whipped ruins or tour İstanbul's palaces: Turkey offers more than the keenest Grand Bazaar
shopkeeper.
For physical activities, southwest Turkey reigns supreme. It is lined with beaches and dive
spots, white-water rapids roar out of mountain ranges and walking trails lead to villages
and ruins. You can kayak over the submerged remains of a city or paraglide from a 2000m-
high peak; either way, don't miss the Turkish ritual of sipping a tulip-shaped glass of sweet
black çay.
