I have fallen in love with diverse Turkey and the very friendly Turkish people.
I spent over 2 months travelling in Turkey and the surrounding countries. 42 days in Turkey alone leaving the country to return on 3 occasions, I visited 17 towns & cities and been to every costal region seeing The Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea, Icarian Sea and Mediterranean Sea. I’ve experienced amazing landscapes from coastal, rugged mountains, arid dry plateau’s and lush green mountains.
Turkey is a country of two halves, the rural / traditional Turkey is agricultural and feels poor but this country is on the move with a massive investment in infrastructure, massive new roads and motorways cut scars in the landscape as they take people and goods throughout the country, there are massive new universities and office blocks.
I’m not sure turkey needs modernising?
The diversity of Turkey is striking where Istanbul is massive, fast moving, modern, cosmopolitan whilst Izmir is slow and laid back. Bodrum and Fethiye are bustling holiday resorts and Konya and Erzurum have a religious feel about them.
I’ve probably seen more of Turkey than most Turkish people so I feel I can confidently say come and visit Turkey, you will be made to feel welcome everywhere. Stop and engage with the people and you will see why I love this country and the people so much.
I could go on about great food and drink, although as a drinker it’s worthy of note that as you head east the booze dries up to the point where you stop looking for it as it’s too difficult to find, also, whilst Eastern Turkey is not as outwardly Islamic as those countries further east the women do dress differently to those in Istanbul and other towns and cities on the west Coast, in essence they cover up.
