I've noticed three distinct perceptions of Turkey from friends, family, and even strangers, when I tell them I'm traveling there:
- Midnight Express — yes, I've seen it, and no, I'm not going to try to smuggle drugs across the border
- Strict Muslim —the Republic of Turkey was founded as a secular state, and those values are still promoted, with a growing tolerance of religious expression (which is not equivalent to Islamic fundamentalism); Istanbul, where we will be for the majority of our stay, is particularly cosmopolitan and culturally progressive; so, no, I don't have to wear a burka (or even a headscarf, except when entering a mosque); and people drink alcohol there, too
- Exotic — this is definitely part of the appeal of going to Turkey, because it is different in many ways from the US and Western Europe, but it isn't sheiks with harems, opium dens, belly dancers, or One Thousand and One Nights in living color
Andy, our bandleader, sent us this link to a site that proclaims "
50 reasons to love Turkey," and I hope everyone will read it as it shows a perspective on contemporary Turkey from a Turkish point of view. This is the country we're traveling to.
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| [photo by Salvator Barki] |
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