TOKEEP TURKEY BUZZING
Turkey is a magical country. One of its major cities,
Istanbul, straddles the East and the West, and that pretty
much sums up the diversity of cultural influences you
will find across the country. The former heart of the
Ottoman Empire offers history-laden cities, stretches
of sparkling coastline, a complete smorgasbord of
different landscapes, amazing food and among the
friendliest people you’ll find in the world.
Yet, in today’s global scenario, no country is immune to
disaster – whether man-made or from natural causes –
and, for Turkey, danger came with the new year in 2017,
when a gunman dressed as Santa Claus sprayed bullets
into revellers at an Istanbul nightclub. Since then, there
have been more recent issues with Syrian conflict,
consequent terrorism scares and skirmishes with the
Kurdish PKK group. That said, as long as you stay away
from the border with Syria and demonstrations and the
like, Turkey is as visitor-friendly as most destinations in
the world, especially places such as Istanbul, Antalya and
Cappadocia. There have also been a few serious
earthquakes in the last few years, but the government is
very focused on making visitors feel welcome; your
tourism lira is important to keeping the country stable.WHAT AWAITS YOU?
ISTANBUL: The city on the Bosphorus is a culture
vulture’s delight: Among the must-marvel-at
architectural gems are the Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque,
Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace. Carpets, cushions,
copperware and ceramics are Grand Bazaar basics, andrides on the Bosphorus are de rigueur. Just want to eat, drink
and make merry? You’re in the right place.ANTALYA: Set on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, Antalya is both
a gateway to the Turkish Riviera, and a destination in its own
right. Both classically beautiful and stylishly modern, the city
has at its core the wonderfully preserved old-town district
of Kaleiçi, its winding lanes dotted with restored Ottoman
houses, going down to a stunning Roman-era harbour. Close
to the city centre are two pebbled beaches, and, for those
seeking culture, Antalya Museum is one of Turkey’s finest.CAPPADOCIA: The ‘fairy chimneys’ and rocky outcrops
of Cappadocia make up what is one of the most surreal
landscapes world travellers will ever see. Take a tour to
explore ancient monastery complexes and phallic-shaped
rock formations, or float over them in a hot-air balloon
at dawn. Don’t miss a chance to stay in a ‘cave hotel’.AMAZING FOOD AND DRINK: Try a slew of different
kebaps, sugar syrup-drizzled desserts, and baklava. Drink
ayran (a salted lassi), çay (tea) in tulip-shaped glasses,
hard-core Turkish coffee, or rakı (aniseed-flavoured grape
brandy). Turkish delight makes a great gift for friends
and family.Your visit contributes to keeping Turkey
buzzing, but not ticking. Do check travel
advisories and get travel insurance before
you travel. WORDS: PRIMROSE MONTEIRO-DSOUZA PHOTOGRAPHS: TATIANA POPOVA, ANASTASY YARMOLOVICH, MARIUSZ PRUSACZYK, GIVAGA, ZZVET/123RF.COM48
TRAVEL FOR GOOD