Ever been in a Turkish prison?
Posted on 08/22/2006 8:18:42 AM PDT by kalirati
Takeaways Turkey is a buffer country between Europe and the Middle East Many Americans are afraid to travel to Turkey More Americans should travel to Turkey Did you know? Women have been voting in Turkey since 1934, and have already had a woman Prime Minister. Related Content - View all (5 total) A Day Without Immigrants Divides Am... Go Where the Sun Never Sets - Alask... Driving Cross-Country: On the Road... The American Character: How The Res...
More by C Akdemirbey Vacations for Spiritual Meaning Back to School for Teachers Do You Need a One Wheel Bike Traile... READ LATER E-MAIL COMMENT PRINT Is Turkey a Safe Vacation Destination for Americans? With Unrest in so Many Middle Eastern Countries, Many Avoid Traveling to a Real Gem Click to rate: 1 2 3 4 5 (Rated 3.7 out of 5) By C Akdemirbey Aug 15 2006 07:50AM
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After watching the Israel-Hezbollah crisis and reading about recent foiled airline bomb plot by Islamic fundamentalists, many are wondering about the safety of any Muslim country safe for Americans. My husband is Turkish and I lived in Turkey for several years; so, every time something happens in the Middle East, friends and acquaintances ask me the same question: is Turkey safe? From my experience living in Turkey, I know it is not the top Mediterranean destination for Americans. I encountered far few Americans than I did Europeans or even Canadians. Those Americans I did talk to often told me that a “friend” had visited and recommended Turkey. I used to joke that what Turkey really needed was a better Minister of Tourism. In truth, I believe the problem is much more complicated than simply lack of advertising. As recent events demonstrate, many Americans are numbed by media images of bombing and hatred in the Muslim world.
Just this week, I experienced two disparate encounters that illustrate so well the American public’s perception of Turkey. A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to provide some travel tips for a couple who were planning a trip to Turkey. Then, on Monday, my friend informed me that “due to the unrest in the Middle East” the couple didn’t think it wise to go. Now, I know these two people are the adventurous sort, but the situation with Israel persuaded them that terrorists lurked behind every Roman ruin in Turkey. This was before the recent airline plot - I can only imagine what they think now! Yet, the next day, I was stuck in my daughter’ pediatrician’s office for eons as she gushed breathlessly about her recent trip to Turkey. “It was the most hospitable country I’ve ever visited,” she exclaimed as I inched my way to the door. Even as I passed her on my way out, I heard the doctor continue to rave about Turkey to a nurse. I thought what Turkey really needs is to hire her as their Minister of Tourism. Then I wondered, how can Turkey be both one of the friendliest places on earth and one of the most inhospitable? Is it simply bad press or is it something more?
Is Turkey a Middle Eastern Country? On some official lists, Turkey rests in Europe, and on others, it is listed as Middle Eastern. Which is it? True, much of the food you would find in a Lebanese restaurant you would also eat in a Turkish restaurant. But that is also true of a Greek restaurant. Called “the gateway to the east,” a small portion of Turkey rests in Europe and, on the other side of the Bosporus, the majority of its land spreads through Asia. More than the Bosporus fissures Turkey. When I worked there, the female teachers wore skirts shorter than Heather Locklear’s Melrose Place minis, and, for years, the government of Turkey has been strenuously overhauling the country in order to join the European Union. At the same time, truck loads of Syrian and Iranian dollars have been pumped into conservative religious schools and enrollment is high. As many of my Turkish friends tell me, “Turkey is neither Middle Eastern nor European; Turkey is the buffer between both.”
Turkey's a muslim parastate and as such never safe for civilized people.
I'm planning a trip to Syria, can anyone tell me what sights there are to see there.
Yeah right.
Are Americans safe traveling anywhere? Here's a clue...they won't let you take toothpaste or mouthwash on the plane and you are standing in line in your stocking feet while a high-school drop-out x-rays your shoes. Sheesh.
Welcome to FR...
Here's the 8/03/06 State Department consular guide for Turkey:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html
Given the state of anti-American sentiment in Muslim countries these days, I'm not sure that I'd go anytime in the immediate future.
To be honest Ive been in Istanbul a couple of times and found it very beautiful and a pretty good party town
"Women have been voting in Turkey since 1934, and have already had a woman Prime Minister".
Yes it's safe. You're more likely to get killed in a car accident on the way to the airport than you are to get killed by a terrorist while in Turkey.
Istanbul is safer than London.
Welcome to FR.
There is nothing in Turkey to lose your head over.
I don't pay much attention to the media's viewpoint.
Sure it's safe. By the way, here's a guitar with a key of Hash in it. Mind dropping it off at the address on the back?
If you had to walk around either Istanbul or Detroit at night, which would you pick? I'd rather be in Turkey.
Deja vu! I heard some people say the EXACT same thing about Beirut, Lebanon!
Been there and liked it, but that was a long time ago.
Turkey is mixed. Religion does not run the country. They have both the hard core muslims and muslims dressed like westerners walking down the street. Very European.
My understanding is that it has changed a lot in the last ten years and there are more of the covered women on the street.
Food is great. People are nice. Carpets are nice, if you need to buy one.
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