Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the world find that, in any country, remote towns and villages can be wonderful
classrooms.
Güzelyurt was all decked out on my last visit. I happened to arrive on the day of
everybody's favorite festival: a circumcision party. Turks call it “a wedding without the
in-laws.” The little boy, dressed like a prince, rode tall on his decorated donkey through a
commotion of friends and relatives to the house where a doctor was sharpening his knife.
Even with paper money pinned to his fancy outfit and loved ones chanting calming spir-
itual music, the boy looked frightened. But the ritual snipping went off without a glitch,
and a good time was had…at least, by everyone else.
On a different trip, I learned that Turkish weddings are also quite a spectacle. I'll nev-
er forget being a special guest at a wedding in Güzelyurt. The entire community gathered.
Calling the party to order, the oldest couple looked happily at the young bride and groom
and shared a local blessing: “May you grow old together on one pillow.”
Whenever there's a family festival, village Turks turn on the music and dance. Every-
body is swept onto their feet—including visiting tourists. It's easy: Just follow the locals
as they hold out their arms, snap their fingers, and shake their shoulders. During one such
Güzelyurt party, the man of the house came over to me—the foreigner—and wanted to
impress me. Waving me to a quiet corner, he said, “Here on my wall, the most sacred place
