Türkiye – broad history and mass tourism today
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.
Souvenirs of Popular Craftsmen from Turkey
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A Journey to Turkey means a journey into the history, culture, trade and pleasure. You can remember about this admiring souvenirs worth bringing from Turkey by anyone who will go to this country.
The transport hub of the future is on the Bosphorus
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The geo-strategically favourable location between the three large economic blocks Asia, Europe and Russia makes Turkey one of the most important international transport hubs in the world.
Yalova on the Sea of Marmara - Istanbul by ferry
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We were coming from Bursa on the D 575 towards Yalova. Since we only want to go on a day trip to Istanbul this time, we decided to take the speedboat ferry across the Sea of Marmara to avoid having to drive the much longer way around the bay of Izmit.
Adapazarı at the delta of the Sakarya River
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Originally, Adapazarı was a small village that was located on a branch of the Sakarya river and was simply called Ada after the Turkish occupation under Sultan Orhan I in 1324.
Major projects - the Bosporus Bridge is already finished!
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Meanwhile completed - despite multi-layered, long-lasting protests: For several weeks, heavy machinery has been working on the foundations of the new bridge on the Bosporus,
The freshwater Lake Uluabat (Gölü) near Bursa
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Once in the vicinity of Bursa, we of course also wanted to see the large freshwater lake Uluabat (Uluabat Gölü), or as it is often called due to the former Greek city, the Apolyont lake.
Troy - Heinrich Schliemann - Archeologist & Discoverer
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Troy is probably one of the most well-known ancient cities. This is primarily due to Homer, who processed the history of the city of Troy in his famous epic "Iliad" almost 3,000 years ago.
Roman Sangarius Bridge at Adapazari
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Another late Roman bridge worth seeing is in the ancient landscape of Bithynia (in North-Western Anatolia), just about five kilometres outside the city of Adapazarı across the Sangarius River.
The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne - Mimar Sinan
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Many buildings were built by Sinan, the master builder, during the Ottoman Empire, but his “masterpiece”, as he had seen it, is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne (Edirne Selimiye Camii).
Lake Gala and Evros Delta next to Enez
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Not far from the border with Greece, about 10 kilometres away from the city of Enez near Ipsala, known to many travellers as a border crossing point, is the Lake Gala in South-West of Turkey, which is sometimes also known with the name Celtik Gölü.
Istanbul Airport Sabiha Gökçen - International
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Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (IATA: SAW, ICAO: LTFJ) is one of the airports serving Istanbul, Turkey. The facility is named after Sabiha Gökçen, the first female combat pilot in the world. It is on the Asian side of the bicontinental city, Istanbul.
Gökçeada & Bozçaada - two islands in the Thracian Sea
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There are many islands in the immediate vicinity of the Turkish mainland, which, however, mostly belong to the territory of Greece.
Çanakkale and Gelibolu Peninsula - Europe and Asia
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The provincial capital of Çanakkale, is located in the Çanakkale Strait’s most narrow region. Çanakkale is located in an area and important stop to be able to take a trip to the 30 km Troy and Gelibolu peninsula.
Istanbul Airport - former Atatürk Airport
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Istanbul Airport (formerly Ataturk Airport (IATA: IST, ICAO: LTBA) (Turkish: Ataturk Uluslararası Havalimanı) is an international airport in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
An Amethyst Mine in the mountains of Dursunbey
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We were following the main road from Dursunbey to the right towards Beyel, continued to the fire station that brought us to about 800 meters above sea level in its park-like grounds, to the Dursunbey river and to the imposing canyons and on the way back to the local Amethyst Mine.
Open air Stalactite formations at Dursunbey Cayi
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During our exploration along the Dursunbey Cayi, we came across a small stream which was to pass by car before we could reach into a rich, green lawn that was used by backpack hikers traveling with a tent during these days.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque - Blue Mosque in Istanbul
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The Sultan Ahmet Mosque or with its more popular name, the Blue Mosque, is located in the oldest part of the city İstanbul, opposite of the famous Cathedral Hagia Sophia, just a short walk from Topkapi Palace.
Exploration trip to Dursunbey - unspoilt nature awaiting us!
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For many years a close friendship connects us with Rasim, operating a large furniture store in Alanya and also in construction of family houses and villas.
Our Trip to Istanbul - Dolmabahçe Palace
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İstanbul is the biggest city in Turkey and the most popular due to its geographical location. To the south stretches the Marmara Sea, strewn with islands, and to the north is the Black Sea.
Grand Rue de Pera - Istiklal Street Istanbul
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We visited Istiklal Street, probably the busiest street in Istanbul. This pedestrian street stretches between Taksim Square and the Tunel area for about 3 – 4 km in the Beyoglu district.