ABOUT TURKEY
Whereever you go , whom ever you meet to proceed any kind of a relationship the key for it's " warmly" . People of this country are warmly and if you do the same all the doors will be open to you as you are the most welcome guest where ever you go in Turkey.
Turkey, surrounded for over 8000km -5000Miles of coastline, consists of seven geographical regions each proposing to the traveller another history, another geography, another cuisine, other people, other habits.
To discover all these, even in a life time, is almost impossible.
Yet, Meris Tur propose in these pages some cultural tours merely based on one region or one episode of the rich history of this country.
You did not find a suitable program, fill out our "Tailor Made Tours" questionary form, tell us what you want... Let Meris Tur do the rest ! The range is wide , your imagination is our aim !
This country of hospitality is a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations where all live in harmony, an artistic and cultural melting pot of all the people who have ever lived here.
Turkey is an open-air museum where first civilization was already flourishing in 9000 b.C. You will visit, just to name a few, Istanbul, the former capital of three empires (Rome, Byzantium and the Ottoman), the Persian, classical Greek, Selçuk, Ottoman and Turkish cultures, unique natural wonders (Pamukkale, Cappadocia, the delta of Dalyan and its protected Caretta Caretta turtles), world famous museums (Archaeological museums of Istanbul and Antalya, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Underwater Archaeological Museum of Bodrum), world wonders (the Artemision in Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassos in Bodrum), incomparable historical witnesses (the Istanbul Ayasofya museum, the Sümela monastery in Trabzon, the troglodyte monasteries in Cappadocia, the Nemrud mountain, the Harran valley, the Topkapi Palace, legendary places (Troy, Demre - birthplace of Santa Claus, Izmir - birthplace of Homerus, Alanya and its Cleopatra beach). But this country offers also different activities to those for who holidays means something else than just culture : sportive and active programs in the Taurus mountains and at the Black Sea (rafting, trekking), living in an untouched environment (Club Natura Oliva at the Bafa Lake), being pampered in one of the numerous spa resorts of the country (for instance, Izmir and Pamukkale), or even have a blue voyage alongside the Aegean Sea coasts (weekly programs upon request).
Geography
Turkey counts a total area of 780.000 km2 of which 97% in Asia (Anatolia) and 3% in Europe (Thrace).
It is surrounded with 8000 km of coastline (from North to South : Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus, the strait of the Dardanelles, the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas).
Turkey has borders with Armenia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Syria and Iraq. The highest top of the country is the Ararat (5165m) and the longest stream is the Kizilirmak (1355km). The Tigris and Euphrates, two worldwide known streams, have both their source in Turkey.
Population
Turkey has a population of 70 million souls of which 56% live in rural areas. The biggest cities are Istanbul (14 million), Ankara - the capital - (8 million) and Izmir (5 million). 97% of the population is Muslim.
Politics
Turkey is governed by a Chamber of 400 Deputies, chosen every fifth year by the population and a president elected by the Parliament every seventh year. He cannot be reelected.
Today the President is Abdullah Gül and the Prime Minister is Tayyip Erdogan
Economy
Agriculture and industry represent 50% of the national income.
The most important export products are textiles, tobacco, cotton, wool, wheat, fruit and hazelnuts.
Cuisine
Gastronomes count the Turkish cuisine as one of the best of the world.
It was originally based on the simple nomadic peoples traditions of Central Asia and the habits they took over from the Mediterranean countries when they finally settled in Turkey.
Meze (Starters but never ends)
One of the characteristics of the Turkish cuisine is the endless Meze, which could be both cold or warm starters and be a whole meal by themselves. They are being eaten together with Raki, an anise drink. Meze is a Turkish word that stands for what one can eat with a drink at any time of the day.
Main coursesv
These are mainly fresh fish or Kebabs such as Siskebab (lambs meat, tomatoes and rice) or Döner Kebab, lambs or calfs meat grilled on a vertical skewer and tinely sliced. There are also different saucy courses with meat and vegetables. Vegetarians will be well served - there are so many courses without meat - that they will not have to look for a specialized restaurant. Pilaf-rice (Pilav) is just gorgeous.
Deserts
The one is tastier than the other and with such nice names. Dilber Dudagi (the lips of the beloved), Hanim Göbegi (ladys navel) or Bülbül Yuvasi" (nightingales nest). The famous baklava is a pastry with walnuts or pistachios served with syrup and not honey as often is said. We especially recommend puddings and other sweet stuff such as lokum, helva and of course also fresh fruit : strawberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, yellow melons, peers, apples, grapes and watermelon.
Drinks
Raki can accompany a whole meal. Beer is of good quality. Local distilled vodka, brandy, whisky and gin are far cheaper than the imported ones. Turkish wines (sarap) have a tradition that go back to 7000 b.C. and is most probably the origin of the European wines. Though the Turks are not big wine consumers, their wines are of good quality as well as their liqueurs. A typical refreshing drink, next to water, is ayran (yogurt mixed with water).
Coffee and Tea
Kahve is a strong coffee without cream nor milk served in small cups. Cay comes from the Black Sea area and is being drunk all day long, warm and strong without milk.
