Since the founding of the republic in 1923 as the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, Turkey has been secular and Kemalist in orientation. The country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, initiated a modernization of Turkey through social and legal reforms modelled on various European nation states.
The current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been at the helm of the country since 2003. Since around 2012, he has led the country in an increasingly authoritarian manner. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press in particular are considered to be severely restricted. The currency and debt crisis triggered by its economic policies as well as high inflation have continued since 2018, which makes Turkey quite attractive from a tourist perspective.
The culture of today's Turkey is a fusion of the ancient Turkish nomadic culture of Central Asia and Siberia, the Greco-Roman era, the culture in the Ottoman Empire with its Byzantine, Persian, Arabic, Caucasian, Armenian and Kurdish influences, as well as the strong European direction since the founding of the Republic Ataturk. The cultural centre of the country is the metropolis of Istanbul.
With the political changes, the content of Turkish literature also changed. Early representatives include Fakir Baykurt, Sabahattin Ali, Sait Faik Abasıyanık and Yaşar Kemal, who put ordinary people at the centre of their work. With the turn to describing living conditions, social and political criticism of the state is inevitable. The state reacts with censorship and political violence. Authors like Nâzım Hikmet, Yaşar Kemal and Aziz Nesin spend many years in Turkish prisons because of the persecution of their publications. Kemal therefore referred to the prison as a “school of Turkish literature”.
Turkish cuisine has also influenced Greek and the rest of the Balkan cuisine - including etymology. For example, tzaziki comes from the Turkish cacık, and Ćevapčići comes from kabapcik. Yogurt also comes from Turkish Yoğurt. Doner kebab is made from beef, veal or poultry. In Turkey, but also in other countries, the kebab is also served on a plate.
About 16 km southwest of the centre of Bodrum and somewhat hidden by two mountains, lies the small town of Karaincir with its approximately 500-meter-wide fine sandy beach, which is one of the best in the region,
The former metropolis Ephesus was located in a valley between two mountain ridges, whose slopes today are still without firming forests because of the once densely constructions, so the ridges are still in motion.
Every year there is a well known event near Selcuk / Izmir when the camel fighting championships take place. There is a two-day carnival in the town during which many male camels fight for trophies, money and the honour of being the best in the competition.
The cute Aegean town of Urla is located about 38 km west of the city center of Izmir and stretches about 11 km parallel to the main road towards Izmir.
It was a quick decision during our stay in Izmir to take a day off for visiting to the new opened İzmir Wildlife Park.
The Agora in the Namazgah district of İzmir dates back to Roman times (2nd century AD) and was built by Hippodamos near the centre, an impressive three stories high, according to the Roman city plan.
Bodrum peninsula is situated on the west coast of Turkey. The city of Bodrum lies on the south coast of the peninsula. The sea around is strewn with islands.
Gümbet stretches to the west of Bodrum and there is just a distance of about 3 kilometres between the centre of Bodrum and Gümbet. The region developed rapidly and became an alternative entertainment centre to Bodrum.
Akyarlar, the village of fishermen and formerly of the notorious sponge divers with its traditional whitewashed houses, is located just 22 kilometres from Bodrum.
Turgutreis, a small town on the west coast of the Bodrum peninsula, is probably just known for its most famous inhabitant, the pirate and later admiral of the Ottoman fleet, Turgut Reis. The naming of the town is at least based on his person.
Midway along the north shore of the peninsula, Göltürkbükü nestles in a pretty bay surrounded by hills. The once separate fishing hamlets of Türkbükü and Gölköy came together a short time ago. It is 20 kilometres away from Bodrum on the northern side of peninsula and is a good spot for a quiet relaxing holiday.
On the north-eastern coastline along the Bodrum peninsula lies the small town of Torba, well hidden in a charming little bay that offers protection and is only 6 kilometers from the city center of Bodrum.
Gaziemir is a district of İzmir Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is one of the metropolitan districts of Greater İzmir and is situated to the south of central İzmir (Konak) on the road to the İzmir harbour,
The construction of Bodrum Castle was begun in 1406 by the Knights of Saint John. It was built on top of the old Turkish and Byzantine castles and given the name of Saint Peter. The construction of the castle continued until 1522.
Bodrum Museum is the biggest and most important archaeological underwater museum in the world and the only one in Turkey. A great majority of the relics on show consist of those raised during underwater excavations and those brought to the museum by sponge divers, now on display in the museum located in Bodrum Castle.
The ruins of ancient Hierapolis follow the 1200 metre long and 6 metre wide road which is lined with columns all over the travertine terraces of Pamukkale from north to south.
Bagla nestles 14 kilometres away from the city of Bodrum in one of the most beautiful coves on the southern peninsula. The dazzling cove to the west of Bağla Cape with its beautiful beaches is popular with boat tours and the region is an excellent place to camp.
This sleepy and outstanding hamlet nestles in a very beautiful bay and is one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula od Bodrum. The original Lelegian city of Myndos once stood southeast of here.
Our visit to Izmir this time was also to take us to Karşıyaka, one of the two largest districts of Izmir, because we accepted our friend Mehmet's invitation for tea, after our last meeting was almost 6 months ago.
Turkey is the most important producer of bathing sponges. In May, the men of the villages around Bodrum set sail on their narrow boats along the western coast for five months to look for sponges.