My Adventures in Turkey
This past May I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Turkey. After many years of dreaming about it my dream finally came true. And I had the experience of a lifetime.
I spent 11 days visiting different cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Izmir, Pergamon, Troy, Çanakkale, and Gallipoli.
Now I would like to share with you what made my trip so special. And if you haven’t visited Turkey yet, I hope this article encourages you to make Turkey your next destination.
Turkey was a gorgeous and wonderful destination on so many levels. The food, the people, the history, the breathtaking views and all the little and big things in between were just fabulous. Let me share a bit more about each of the main aspects of my trip.
The Food. Turkish food was so delicious and at very reasonable prices. I loved how their homemade style food was available even at quick stops. So you have choices and don’t have to just grab fast food (like hamburgers and fries) even when you are in a hurry.
The food was so tasty and natural and the portions were very generous. I loved the different mushroom dishes and became a big fan of black olives during my trip. And I tried the best thick yogurt mixed with local honey and ground poppy seeds. I wish I could have it for dessert every day.
If you go to Cappadocia, which I highly recommend, make sure that on your way there you stop by Goreme and have their traditional dish: Testi Stew. It is cooked in the pottery that Cappadocia is famous for producing. The top of the pottery is covered with bread, so its shape resembles the Fairy Chimneys (famous tourist attraction in Cappadocia). Even better, eat this dish at a cave restaurant to get into the chimney vibes.
The People. Turkish people were so warm and welcoming. Even though there was a language barrier, their gestures and body language were enough to melt away any barrier and make me feel closer and like I was among friends. They tried their best to make me feel welcome and any fears or anxiety I had regarding potential safety vanished as soon as I got off the plane and arrived in Istanbul.
I came back home with the warmth and the kindness of the Turks in my heart. I feel grateful for their generosity and hospitality and look forward to more of it soon.
The Language. I was able to learn a few basic words in Turkish before going (hello, please, thank you, you’re welcome, etc.) Even though my Turkish knowledge wasn’t enough to have a basic conversation, it was apparently enough to get the warmest and friendliest reactions!
For example, at the breakfast buffet in Izmir, I saw that one of the hotel staff, who had been arranging things, dropped a spoon and looked a bit embarrassed. I quickly searched in my brain and remembered a phrase that I could say to hopefully make him feel better. So I said: “kolay gelsin” (“may it be easy”) and he gave me the sweetest smile! He seemed very touched, put both hands on his heart and replied “sağol” (“thanks” but meaning that you wish the person to live well and healthy). He made my day!
I also had interesting encounters with other locals who thought I knew more Turkish than I actually did. Some of them even thought I was Turkish just by the way I was pronouncing the few words I knew. It was unbelievable!
All these experiences, plus my desire to visit Turkey many more times, give me the motivation to keep learning Turkish. Next time I go I want to be able to speak more of the language so I can learn more from people and be able to communicate and make Turkish friends.
The History. Turkey has so many places full of rich history. Seeing the different historical places definitely brought history to life. It was amazing to learn how many civilizations have been part of Turkey’s history.
One of the many interesting things I learned had to do with the sultans. Saba, our travel director, explained how the sultans were not allowed to leave the premises due to fears of assassination attempts. They had a life of comfort and luxury but in a way it could have felt like a prison. However, some sultans didn’t accept this and ventured outside their palace. This made me think how it is easy to assume that someone’s life is the best when in reality everyone has pros and cons in their lives, even the sultans.
The Spirituality. I was honored to visit places that represent a variety of spiritual traditions. I visited the Mevlana (Sufi) museum, which houses different objects that show you how Mevlana and his followers lived and which principles they stood for.
I witnessed the magical Whirling Dervishes performance, which is like a meditation in motion. I could feel the spiritual energy and the feeling that we are all one during their performance. It was interesting to learn that all the dervishes have regular lives (they work, get married and have kids) besides their spiritual practices. I had assumed they were just dedicated to spirituality.
I experienced the muslim call to prayer several times during my trip. Even though I could not understand the meaning of the words, the sounds deeply touched me. There is something about that sound that transcends language.
I visited the Blue Mosque, Christian churches at the Goreme Open Air Museum, Greco-Roman temples and Virgin Mary’s house. What a wonderful cornucopia of different spiritual traditions all in one country. I absolutely loved it!
The Beauty. The beauty of the country and its people is hard to describe in words. The streets are clean, the historical sites and scenic views are gorgeous. And the Turks kindness and hospitality add to an overall beautiful experience.
Other Foreigners. I don’t know about the tourist scene in other parts of the world. But I had a very cool experience seeing people from different parts of the world visiting Turkey at the same time. And I had anecdotes with foreigners currently living in Turkey.
One of my favorite anecdotes was when I went to eat breakfast at my hotel in Istanbul. I said “Günaydın” (“good morning”) to the restaurant hostess at the entrance. She replied with a bunch of words in fluent Turkish. After seeing my face (the “deer in the headlights” type because I couldn’t understand her) she realized I didn’t know much Turkish and switched to English. Then, while eating breakfast, I heard her talk with one of her coworkers in Russian (a language I’m familiar with). So when I finished eating, on my way out, I said to her “Спасибо” (“thank you” in Russian) and both she and another hotel staff replied “спасибо.”
Later during the tour I encountered tourists who spoke Spanish (my native language) and Mandarin Chinese (a language which sounds I can recognize). And I got to negotiate with sales people in Spanish. The richness of having different languages around was truly invigorating for a language lover like me.
Final Thoughts and Reflections. Thanks to this trip I feel like a new, different person. I feel refreshed and transformed in many ways. Seeing this beautiful country has been one of the best things I could have done for my soul.
I am so happy I went and didn’t let fears, biased news and other people’s worries stop me from going. I feel a great sense of satisfaction for having come despite any exaggerated warnings and fears from the West.
I left in awe of Turkey’s beauty, rich history, courage and drive. Saba, our travel director, did a great job not only showing us the sites, but sharing stories that brought Turkish history to life and helped us foreigners understand more about Turkey from a fresh perspective.
I want to explore more of this country. Maybe next time I will get to do it while being near to, or living with, an actual Turkish family so I can see and experience the culture and the day to day life of people in Turkey.
The night before my departure I thought to myself: “Turkey, may this be only a ‘see you soon’ and not a ‘goodbye.’ I do want to see you soon and get to know more places, more people and get to understand more of your culture.” I still intend to see Turkey soon.
After my trip I feel, to use Saba’s term, like an Ambassador of Turkey. I want to tell the world to go visit Turkey for an experience of a lifetime.
So, if you haven’t been there yet, or if you haven’t been there in a while, what are you waiting for? :)
