Turkey is one of the “must see” places in the Middle East. Every year people travel to see Istanbul, but once they are in Turkey, realize that it’s not all about Istanbul. In fact, there are many other historical and vocational places to visit! Turkey, which is often referred to as Anatolia, has historically been a ‘pass through’ zone for many nations. As a result, Turkey has gained many “imprints” from different cultures. That’s why when you come to Turkey you will see the modern and historical meld together. The country itself can only be fully discovered without skipping even the smallest pieces of it. How do I know all of this? Because I am from Turkey! And with that, here is a bucket list for when you go to Turkey.
1. Blue Mosque – A piece of history
The real name of the mosque is Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which just so happens to be the name of one of the greatest Sultans of the Ottoman Empire .It is often referred to as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles that line the walls of its interior.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the first of the two mosques in Turkey that has six minarets. When the number of minarets was initially revealed, the Sultan was criticized for being presumptuous, since this was the same amount of minarets as the mosque of the Ka’aba in Mecca. He overcame this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be built at the Mecca mosque. The most fascinating part about the Blue Mosque is that when you are directly facing the Mosque, it appears to only have six minarets. You need to be standing at a certain angle to see all seven minarets!
2. Fairy Chimneys – A Region of Exceptional Natural Wonders
The fairy chimneys are the result of the natural forces incurred during intense volcanic activity. Wind, climate, mechanical weathering, rain and snow has shaped these dried lavas and formed them into the shape of a chimney. The shaping of the chimneys is still a continuing process due to unexpected weather conditions of the region. Once you there, don’t forget to see the beautiful fairy chimneys from above by a hot air balloon ride as you catch the sunrise!
3. Turkish Bath – A piece of relaxation
A typical Turkish bath begins with relaxation in a room (known as the warm room) that is heated by a continuous flow of hot, dry air, allowing the bather to perspire freely. Bathers then move to an even hotter room (known as the hot room) before they wash in cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling room for a period of relaxation.
4. Turkish Cuisine – A Delectable Experience
Turkish cuisine varies across the different regions of the country. The cooking of Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, and rest of the Aegean region inherits many elements of Ottoman court cuisine. Typically, there is a lighter use of spices, a preference for rice over bulgur, koftes and a wider availability of vegetables, stew eggplant, stuffed dolmades (grape leaves) and fish. The cuisine of the Black Sea Region uses fish extensively, especially the Black Sea anchovy (hamsi), has been influenced by Balkan and Slavic cuisine, and includes many maize dishes. The cuisine of the southeast -Urfa, Gaziantep and Adana- is famous for its variety of kebabs, mezes and dough-based desserts such as baklava, kadayıf and künefe.
Stuffed Eggplant
Kebab
Baklava
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