Turkey
is a beautiful country of dramatic landscapes, magical stories, rich history and friendly people. The food is fantastic too. It is an incredible
destination and is unique in several ways. Here are a few things you should know before you go so you can make the most of your visit.
There are so many magical things about Turkey you could spend years there and constantly be learning things. Whether
you are considering moving to Turkey or simply enjoy the privacy of cheap holiday villas the experience of being self-sufficient in a foreign country is both
interesting and very satisfying. Turkey can seem loud and chaotic at times but
I have always found Turks to be very friendly, generous and tolerant towards
others, making Turkey the ideal place to get out-of-your-depth in a foreign
culture!
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| Cool off in a swimming pool if it gets hot in Turkey |
Learn a few words
Turkish
is a complicated language but earning a few words will be appreciated by
everyone you meet. In Turkish hello is “Merhaba” (pronounced ‘Mare-har-bah’);
please is “lutfen” (pronounced ‘loot-fen’) and thank you is “tesekkur ederim”
(pronounced ‘tesh-ek-ooor-ed-erim’). Don’t panic if you struggle to remember
though because English and German are widely spoken.
Try things
Don’t
be afraid to try things. Turks are very generous and providing for guests is a
huge part of their culture. Many people, especially in villages, grow their own
fruit and vegetables and are likely to offer you some. I will never forget the
look of confusion on my mother’s face when my Turkish landlord (complete with enormous bushy moustache) handed her a
bowl of various fruits and herbs from his garden, simply to make my mother welcome because she had come to visit me in Turkey.
Turks
love children
If you take your children to Turkey they will be adored and
indulged everywhere you go. There is no need to be embarrassed if your children
cry or are noisy while playing as Turks consider children to be a blessing and
they are generally spoiled rotten.
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| Turkish children in a mountain village |
Shoes
If
you befriend locals while in Turkey and are invited to their home remember that
shoes are usually left outside. Even if there is not a heap of shoes outside
the front door it is polite to remove your shoes when entering someone’s home.
Ironically you will often be offered slippers inside because a favourite
Turkish belief is that you will get sick if you have cold feet!
Toilet Paper
Some
of Turkey’s plumbing leaves a lot to be desired. If you spy a bin in the
bathroom, that is where you should put toilet paper. Putting it in the toilet
will probably block the system.
Critters
Lots
of insects and other creatures love Turkey’s hot dry summers. When you go out
in the evening it is a good idea to wear insect repellent. If you see tortoises
try to avoid the temptation to pick them up, they don’t particularly enjoy it
and are often infested with ticks. Wild pigs sometimes roam into gardens. They can be unpredictable, especially boars. If you see one, move
slowly away from it and try not to alarm it.
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| Tortoises are commonly seen in Turkey |
Be respectful
Wherever
you go it is polite to be respectful towards local norms. Turks dress modestly
and, especially in remote rural areas, visitors should do the same. Turks are
very tolerant and this doesn’t mean women need to sport burqas but you should
wear more than swimwear everywhere except the beach. This applies to men too.
Another
way to be respectful is to be aware of significant dates in the local calendar.
In Turkey the ones most obvious to visitors are April 23, which is National
Children’s Day, notable for the amount of noise produced by children marching
around the streets with drums! October 29 is Republic Day and November 10 is the
anniversary of Ataturk’s death. Ramadan is observed in Turkey and currently
falls in the summer months. During Ramadan people fast during daylight hours so
it is a kindness not to wave food around unnecessarily at this time.
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| Exploring Turkey's incredible villages and mountain scenery is very rewarding. |
Driving
In Turkey, vehicles
drive on the right. Other than some of Turkey’s mountain roads that cling to
cliff-edges, and seem a bit daunting, roads are fairly good. However, some of the
habits of Turkish drivers are unusual. Turks use their car horns to communicate
many things ranging from “Hello!” or “I’m here!” to “Get out of my way; I’m not
stopping!” so you will quickly get used to driving being a noisy activity.
Roundabouts can also be confusing as any vehicle in any lane may turn left and
giving way is not routine. Large and slow vehicles often indicate left to say
‘you can overtake me’. You should be extremely careful if you intend to turn
left because as you slow down, while indicating, drivers behind may overtake
you. It shouldn’t happen unless you are driving a big truck but it is certainly
something I think is worth telling people.
Turkey
is a fascinating country and I consider it a second home. Having spent several years there I am very familiar with the unique experiences the country offers and hope this guide helps you explore Turkey confidently and have a wonderful time doing so.
Have you been to Turkey? What would you add to this list?
