Articles

Istanbul

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:39:44 +0000

Turkish Government

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:25:22 +0000

Question: How is the Turkish Government organized? How often are elections held in Turkey? What is the political structure of Turkey?

Answer: The Turkish government system resembles England’s system, and the Turkish Constitution clearly marks the separation of the three powers of legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government.

Legislative Power

Legislative power is exercised by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, generally referred to as parliament. It has 550 deputies representing the 81 provinces of Turkey. Deputies are elected through direct elections for a five-year term. The number of deputies for each province is determined by the population of the province. For example, Adana has 14 deputies while Istanbul has more than 50 deputies in parliament.

The National Assembly enacts, amends, and abrogates, or annuls laws; monitors the actions of the Council of Ministers (cabinet) and ministers, delegates to the Council of Ministers authority to issue “Decrees in Power of Law” for specific subjects, debates and passes the budget and bills for final accounts, and ratifies the printing of currency, makes the declaration of war and international agreements.

The speaker of the national assembly also assumes presidential duties in the absence of the president on account of illness, foreign travel, or death.

Executive Power

Executive power is exercised by the president and Council of Ministers. The president is elected for a single term of seven years from among members of the national assembly or among Turkish citizens 40 years or older who are eligible to be elected to parliament. The current president, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, was elected May 16th, 2000.

The president summons the national assembly to session, publishes law, returns laws to parliament for reconsideration, decides upon renewal of parliamentary elections, appoints or accepts the resignation of the prime minister and presides over the Council of Ministers.

The president can't have political ties with any single political party. As the head of the state, he or she represents the Republic of Turkey and the integrity of the Turkish nation. The president appoints the Turkish representatives abroad.

Traditionally, the majority party leader is appointed as the prime minister. The prime minister appoints the ministers the prime minister and the Council of Ministers are considered the actual rulers of the country. In addition to the elected mayors, every province has a governor, and every town has a sub-governor appointed by the government as the highest authority of the province or the town. Governors and sub-governors are appointed for an indefinite term.

Judiciary Power

Judiciary power is exercised by the independent courts on behalf of the Turkish nation.

Turkish Carpet Care

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:09:26 +0000

Question: When I was in Adana last month, I saw Turkish carpets hanging over apartment building balconies. A Turkish friend of mine told me those carpets were being washed. How can we wash Turkish carpets and kilims?

Answer: In some parts of Turkey, late spring is the season to remove carpets from floors and store them away until winter. In hot weather, wool carpets add more heat to the house if left on the floors. Before moving carpets and storing them all summer, they are cleaned.

Washing carpets is not a common practice unless a carpet is very dirty. Normally, Turkish women vacuum carpets first, and then wipe them with a rag soaked in soap foam. Then they wipe them again with another rag soaked in clean fresh water. Naturally, the carpet gets a little wet. In order to dry, carpets are hung over balconies.

Before rolling up and putting them away for several months, moth powder is spread between the rolls. Turks often own several carpets. Turkish carpets are products of months of labor and, in some cases, and investment for the buyer that will retain its value as years pass. Carpets are woven on looms by knotting wool or silk on cotton or wool threads. As well as the design and quality of the material used, the value of a carpet depends on the number of knots it has in once square centimeter. Kilims are flat woven carpets with very interesting designs as well. Those valuable carpets and kilims need special care. The wool pile attracts dust and dirt, and regular cleaning is required to keep them bright and attractive.

The colors of machine-made carpets are more stable than handmade carpets and kilims. Most of the dark colors, particularly red, blue, and green, have a tendency to run when the carpet is washed. Here are some tips to keep in mind while washing a Turkish carpet or kilim:

Don't wash carpets or kilims in washing machines of any kind
Vacuum the carpet well before cleaning. Holding it upside down and shaking it serves the same purpose. Hanging and beating the carpet is not good. Some people turn the carpets upside down and use it that way for a while causing dust and dirt in the wool pile to fall onto the floor.
Spread the carpet out on a wooden rack. A flat, clean concrete surface serves the same purpose.
Use cold water only to wet it.
Rub the carpet with a soft brush soaked in carpet shampoo or soap specially designed for wool. Cold water soap could be used for machine made carpets.
Rinse the carpet well with lots of cold water.
Leave it in the sun to dry.
Never hang the carpet to dry, spread it out

Another useful thing to keep in mind is that if something spills on the carpet, make sure to clean and dry it immediately. Dry the surface and the bottom side. A hair dryer may be used to dry damp carpets. I recommend you roll carpets rather than fold them when you want to store then for a while. Kilims, though, can be folded. Carpets should be rolled with moth balls, wrapped in a piece of cloth and stored in a dry place. Moth balls should be used with Kilims as well. Following these few simple rules can keep your carpets clean and looking good for years to come.

Turkish Marble

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:58:11 +0000

Turkey is the second largest marble producer in Europe after Italy. Turkey mines marble in Afyon, Eskisehir, Balikesir, Bursa, Osmaniye, and other regions of Turkey. The most famous area for marble is the Afyon region. The Marmara Island in the Marmara Sea is also one of the main marble centers. In fact, the word mermer, which means marble in Turkish, comes from the word "Marmara."

Mining marble has been done for thousands of years in Turkey. The type, color, and quality of the marble depend on the area and depth at which it is mined. Turkish marbles come in black, white, grey, brown, pink, and even green. Of course it is not a solid color but a variation of those colors. The base is mainly white and other colors mixed with white. The most precious marble is the pure white.

Due to its abundance, marble is cheaper than wood in Turkey. Marble is one of the leading export items in Turkey. Naturally, marble craftsmanship is also very high in Turkey. You will see master craftsmanship in mosques throughout the country. Every single mosque in Turkey has beautiful marble work. It took two full years for the master marble craftsman to just choose the best marble to be used in the Sabanci Mosque in Adana. He visited all of the marble mines in Turkey for that purpose.

Osmaniye, 50 miles east of Adana, is another marble mining center. The green solid marble block that weighs 38 tons on Ataturk’s tomb at the Ataturk mausoleum in Ankara was mined in Osmaniye.

Turkish National Police, Traffic Police, and Ja...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:51:22 +0000

Question: What's the difference between the traffic police, the Turkish National Police, and the Jandarma?

Answer: All three organizations are in place to enforce the law. The traffic police control traffic in cities or on highways. They’re also in charge of keeping records of vehicles in Turkey. Traffic police officers also register and de-register vehicles.

The Turkish National Police are in charge of security and law enforcement in cities. They have various departments, such as narcotics and homicide. As a matter of fact, the traffic police fall under the Turkish National Police.

The Jandarma is one of the four branches of the Turkish Armed Forces. The others are the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. The Jandarma provides security and law enforcement services in rural areas, as well as protecting borders and preventing smuggling.

Children's Day in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:48:53 +0000

Almost everybody loves children. Although they can be frustrating at times, they are our hope and our future. Turkey emphasizes the love, hope and future of children by proclaiming a national holiday for them. As far as I know, Turkey is the first country to proclaim a national holiday for children.

We celebrate the holiday every year on April 23rd, and it is officially known as National Sovereignty and Children's day. There is a lot of history behind this day. When the Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I, England, France, Italy, Greece, and Russia's winning forces occupied Turkey. The country's ruling sultan was only a figurehead because the occupying forces, mainly England, dictated orders to him in Istanbul, the capital of the empire. The occupying British forces closed the Ottoman Parliament. Some parliament members fled, some were exiled, and others were put in prison.

Mustafa Kemal, later named Ataturk, didn't stand still. Knowing and believing in his nation, he left Istanbul and ignited the War of Independence in Anatolia. He set up resistance forces and organized congresses at different locations. In order to succeed, he knew the nation had to be united, so he sent messages throughout the country asking for support.

Representatives traveled to Ankara to help make decisions on the nation's future, Ankara was in a central region of Anatolia and was not occupied by foreign forces. Ankara was proclaimed as the capital of the country later on. The first Grand National Assembly opened April 23rd, 1920, under Ataturk's chairmanship.

The vital decisions of the Grand National Assembly saved the country and led to the founding of the Republic of Turkey. During the War of Independence, many children were left as homeless orphans. Ataturk's concern for these children led to the foundation of the Institute for the Salvation of Children. Then, because children were the future of Turkey, Ataturk dedicated the day, the young republic's most important day, to the children of the nation in celebration of the opening of the Grand National Assembly.

Every April 23rd marks the anniversary of that happy and important event. It is a national holiday. Major ceremonies and celebrations take place in Ankara and Istanbul. Throughout the country, elementary schools are decorated and children wear special uniforms to commemorate the day. One special activity is to have a child, symbolically, in charge of every administrative position from president to mayor. Children usually give orders like opening new playgrounds or schools.

In 1979, the United Nation's Year of the Child, the Turkish government proposed that April 23rd be declared a holiday for the children of the world. That same year, Turkey started inviting children from every country to come and participate in its Children's Day festivities. TRT (the state run Turkish Radio and Television) sponsors an annual international Children's Day festival. Hundreds of children from different countries march in the streets of major cites in their national traditional dress, performing native dances. Every year children from more than 40 countries come together and celebrate a happy event and plant the seeds of peace and brotherhood between nations.

The Turkish Healthcare System

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:45:04 +0000

Question: A Turkish friend of mine asked me for money because his baby was born in the hospital, and he didn't have any money. I thought Turkey had a national healthcare system. Could you explain the Turkish healthcare system?

Answer: The healthcare system goes along with the retirement system in Turkey. There are three healthcare-retirement systems in Turkey. All three systems are similar in that they are a part of the Social Insurance Institution (SSK), and each group pays a percentage of their monthly income, usually matched by their employers to the system in return for free doctor visits and low-cost medicine.

The three divisions are for workers hired by the state, companies and factories; workers hired by the government; and people who are self-employed like businessmen, shop-owners, farmers, and others.

People who do not fall into any of these three categories above, like a gardener or maid, could go to the state-run hospitals for treatment, but they pay for some of the additional expenses at the hospital.

Although there are three systems, there are not enough doctors and beds in the insurance and state hospitals. There are always long lines to see a doctor or get medicine from the hospital pharmacy. In order to receive better medical treatment, nearly everyone prefers to go to private doctors and private hospitals, which cost more.

Regardless of those three categories and who the patient is, some diseases like tuberculosis, AIDS, malaria and other contagious diseases are subject to be reported and treated free of charge by the state hospitals.

Santa Claus in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:38:36 +0000

When I was first assigned to Turkey, I asked a Turkish friend if they had a "Santa Claus" in Turkey. He said, matter-of-factly, "yes. He was buried here."

Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, is called "Noel Baba" in Turkey. While the popular myth is that he lives at the North Pole, he actually lived and died in Turkey during the fourth century. He was the Bishop of Myra, now called Demre, near Antalya. A Byzantine basilica in Demre honors his memory, and the tale of his generosity is not forgotten in Turkey. The story is of a bishop tip-toeing through the streets of old Myra to toss bags of gold through open windows or down chimneys. He is said to have been the sole heir of a wealthy family and shared his money secretly with the less fortunate. Among many others, one story told how he gave a nobleman three sacks of gold for his daughter's dowries because the nobleman was too poor to pay the dowries himself. The first two bags, he tossed through an open window. But when he found the window tightly shut on his third visit, he went down the chimney instead, dropping the sack in a red sock that was drying on the mantlepiece.

Since then, it has become a tradition to put oranges in Christmas stockings to symbolize the sacks of gold. Also, the three golden balls that pawn shops use as their symbol originated from this story. After Saint Nicholas died in 323 A.D., his priests buried him in an elaborate marble sarcophagus they periodically filled with fragrant oil. The oil dripped through cavities in the sarcophagus, and the priests did a lucrative business selling vials of it to pilgrims who believed the oil had miraculous powers. The Saint Nicholas church was built in his memory after his death. The church is one of the oldest in Turkey, dating from the fifth century. Tales of Saint Nicholas spread westward and in April 1087 merchants from Bari, Italy, opened the Saint's sarcophagus and took his bones to Italy believing they would bring them wealth. Other stories have it that Saint Nicholas was moved so he would be buried in a Christian land. Based on that event, the cities of Bari and Antalya were declared sister cities several years ago. A few pieces from Saint Nicholas' sarcophagus are on display in the Antalya museum.

In 1886, a Russian prince had the church restored by an architect. Instead of the cupola, a crosswise arch unrelated to Byzantine architecture was placed there and a belfry was added. The sarcophagus found inside the western apse is believed to be Saint Nicholas'. Every year on December 6th, the day Saint Nicholas died, there is a service in Saint Nicholas' Church in Demre. This is also the first day of a week-long festival held in Demre, sponsored by the Santa Claus Foundation. There is a bronze statue of Saint Nicholas in Demre, erected in 1981, which looks very much like the typical Santa Clause with a long beard, a sack over his shoulder, and a group of small children gathered around him.

So yes, Virginia, there was a Santa Claus. And he was buried in Turkey.

Turkish Bananas

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:27:02 +0000

Question: I noticed that some of the bananas we get here are smaller than the ones we're used to. Are they grown in Turkey or are they imported?

Answer: Bananas are both grown in Turkey and imported. The ones grown in Turkey are smaller than the imported ones. The center of banana growing in Turkey is Anamur, a town on the Mediterranean shore between Adana and Antalya.The bananas grown in Turkey are named after the town they come from. Even though they are smaller than the imported ones, many believe they have a better smell and taste. Anamur bananas were the only type in Turkey until the mid 1980's. After imported bananas were introduced, local bananas had difficulty competing with the imported ones. Imported bananas cost less and are available throughout the year. Many farmers in Anamur stopped growing bananas because of this. In recent years, Anamur bananas started to show up in the market again. Right now, Anamur bananas cost about ten percent less than imported bananas.

Turkey has various types of weather, from very cold to very mild, in various regions. For that reason, Turkey grows almost all kinds of vegetables and fruit. For instance, although it is known as a tropical fruit, farmers started growing kiwi in Turkey recently. farmers on the Black Sea coast, the Rize and Trabzon areas, provide kiwi to Turkish markets.

Turkey is quite rich with various types of agricultural products. The Aegean region mainly grows figs and seedless grapes, the Black Sea region mainly grows hazel nuts (Turkey is the main producer of hazel nuts in the World), and the southeastern region mainly grows pistachios.

Trains, Planes, and Buses in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:20:12 +0000

Question: I'm in Adana and was curious about taking the trains or using the buses here.

Answer: Adana has one of the major train stations of Turkey. All of the schedules and time tables of trains to and from Adana are posted on big boards at the entrance. Railroad transportation hasn't been able to compete with buses and airplanes for the last few decades in Turkey. In fact, railroad transportation has been neglected and has become a secondary mode of transportation. In recent years, the Turkish government made some plans to modernize the railroads. As part of those efforts, fast trains now run between Ankara and Istanbul.

Although it may take some time traveling by train on a sleeper car, it is a unique experience. The restaurant car is next to the sleeper car, serving typical Turkish food and drinks. The train staff is very kind and professional, and prepares a bed at any time passengers wish. Passengers often depart in the evenings and arrive at their destination in the morning. In that way you won't have to make reservations and pay for a hotel, since you can sleep on the way.

You will need to be patient and have plenty of time if you want to go between the major cities, such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Adana. The state-run Turkish Air Lines used to have a monopoly of flying domestic routes in Turkey. More recently the government allowed private-sector airlines to fly domestically as well. Now people can fly between any major city in Turkey, however your route may take you a long way from a direct route. For example, if you were flying from Izmir to Dalaman, you may first have to go to Ankara to change planes. The new private-sector airlines have brought competition and lower prices to domestic flights, as well as more options on departure times.

More than 90 percent of passenger transportation in Turkey is done by buses. The buses running between cities are quite comfortable and reliable, and all are air-conditioned. Since there are very many bus companies, the competition between them is severe and that reflects on the quality of service and prices. buses are not allowed to exceed 90 kilometers per hour. It is strictly controlled by traffic policemen.

Every city has a central bus station. Once you go to that station, you can go to any city and town in Turkey, directly or with connections at other cities' bus stations. Smoking is not allowed on buses even on long trips. they stop and give a 20-30 minute break every three hours. Depending on the time of day, there are breaks for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and for passengers to use the rest rooms at the restaurants or facilities at the bus stops. All bus companies serve water, fruit juice or soda and hot tea or coffee and some small snacks, free of charge while on the bus.

You can purchase tickets at the bus stations or at the various bus-company offices in the city. You can also buy tickets in advance. Normally you will need to be at that company's office for a service bus to the main bus station, where you will get on a larger bus to go to your destination. In the main bus terminal, you'll see may kiosks displaying the destinations they offer, and may even hear them yelling the destination as if they're selling something in a street market. Buses leave at regular intervals, so it is possible to arrive at a bus station (even by taking a city bus to get there), then buy your ticket on the spot, then wait for the next bus to depart. The prices for bus tickets are unbeatable, far less than renting a car and driving yourself. And besides, you can get some reading done, or just take a nap while someone else does the driving.

Seating is normally assigned, since the bus will be picking up and dropping off passengers along the way, so if someone gets on the bus he or she may have a ticket with the seat number you're sitting in, if you've changed seats. Therefore the driver's assistant may ask you to return to your assigned seat, even if the one you want to sit in is empty.

Transportation between smaller cities is done by smaller companies with either full-size buses or more van-style vehicles, in smaller, covered or open air, bus terminals in the outskirts of the city. In some cases, passengers are required to buy tickets before getting on the bus. In other cases, passengers can pay cash along the way.

You may see something curious while taking a bus, that is, one of the drivers will climb into the cargo compartment and ride there. Under many buses are sleeping quarters for the alternate driver, and no, passengers can't use it!

From Mersin to Anamur

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:10:59 +0000

If you're in the Adana area, you'll find some not-so-visited places along the coast west of Mersin which are worth checking out. If you go west of Mersin on the coastal road and past Castle-by-the-Sea (or Kiz Kalesi), you'll be amazed to see beautiful little bays and beaches with crystal-clear water. And to your astonishment, most of them are as natural as they were when first created. Susanoglu Beach is one of the last inhabited beaches after Castle-by-the-Sea. You might notice that there are many newly-built beach houses, or homes still under construction here and there alongside the coastal road. In addition to very new and fancy hotels with swimming pools, you'll also notice homes with signs saying "Pansiyon" (pension) quite frequently. That means they have rooms for rent. Many families have turned their houses into small hostels. You have a bed and sometimes breakfast at the Pansiyons. The cost is inexpensive, normally 10 to 20 Euros per night. By the way, don't expect a big breakfast. It is mostly white cheese, black olives, jam, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, and Turkish tea. Pansiyons are quite common at small resort towns and villages.

The mausoleum of the Fearless King (Mezgit Kalesi) is 12 kilometers north of Susanoglu Beach and 2.5 kilometers east of Pasli village. The mausoleum facade is eight meters high with Corinthian columns and a one-meter-high relief of Priapos on the base. It is the largest mausoleum of its time and dates back to Roman times.

Silifke is 90 kilometers west of Mersin and is slightly inland. It is spread out at the foot of a hill. You will see a citadel at the top of the hill which was formerly the acropolis of ancient Cilician Selucia. A roman bridge dating to 77 A.D crosses over the ancient Calicadnos River. Ruins of a Roman temple and a 200 A.D. theater can also be seen in Silifke.

Drive up the mountains after Silifke to visit the magnificent ancient site of Diocaesarea (Uzuncaburc). The remains of the impressive Temple of Zeus Olbius from the Hellenistic Period, the Temple of Tyche, the God of fortune, a monumental arch, a theater built in 180 A.D., a Byzantine church, and a tower are all outstanding things to see. Four kilometers to the east of that site is Olba (Ura), another ancient site with Roman aqueducts, a theater and a fountain. These two sites are not well known since they are inland and the road is quite mountainous.

Twelve miles west of Silifke is Tasucu. Tasucu is a resort town with sandy beaches, good hotels, and a harbor. A regular sea bus and ferry boat connect the town with Cyprus.

The coastal road between Tasucu and Anamur is picturesque, with many hair-pin turns. Anamur is located in the mountains with banana plantations surrounding it. The ruins of ancient Anamurium with its double ramparts, theater, Odeon, bath, and necropolis are on a beautiful beach. The Mamure Castle, built in the 12th century on the shore between two curving beaches is the best-preserved castle and one of the largest castles in Turkey.

If you decide to camp at one of the small villages or resorts, make sure that the Jandarma (Turkish paramilitary police responsible for law enforcement in rural areas) knows you are camping in the area.

Kiz Kalesi, Castle by the Sea

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:04:25 +0000

Although we know the area as "Castle by the Sea," the castle in the sea is better known. There are actually two castles; one by the sea and one in the sea. The castles were part of the ancient city of Korykos. It is about 60 km west of Mersin on the way to Antalya. You do not even need directions if you're on the coastal road to Antalya from Mersin, the castle in the sea will be very obvious to you as you go by it.

Today, the castle in the castle, Maiden Castle, or Kiz Kalesi in Turkish gives its name to the area and town nearby. Besides the two castles, you can see the cistern, aqueducts, Byzantine basilicas and the necropolis, cemetery of ancient towns, in the area. The city has lived through the Roman and Byzantine eras.

The castle by the sea was originally built by the Romans as a sea gate. Various additions were made during the Byzantine era. The fortress is rectangular, and is made up of an outer and inner wall. Access to the fortress was achieved by a mobile bridge which doesn't exist today. The inner courtyard of the fortress contains a large hall, basilicas of various sizes, and a cistern.

The castle in the sea, or Maiden Castle, was built by the Byzantine admiral Eustathios in 1104, and is situated on a small island at the entrance of the old harbor. It's about 200 yards offshore and was originally connected to the mainland by a causeway. There are watch towers on the walls, a cistern, and a Byzantine basilica in the courtyard. Just like most of the castles in Turkey, Kiz Kalesi has an interesting tale.

One day a fortune teller told the king of Korykos that his sole and much-beloved daughter would be killed by a snake bite. In order to prevent that, the king built the castle in the sea and made his daughter live there. But even a king cannot change destiny. A snake brought onto the island in a basket of fruit bit his daughter, and she died. Exactly the same tale is told for the Kiz Kalesi, or Maiden Tower, in Istanbul which was built on the Bosphorus as a light house to guide ships.

Kiz Kalesi is a holiday resort with fine sandy beaches, motels, hotels, nice sea food restaurants, bars and camp sites. If you go there, it's a good idea to bring an ice chest for cold beverages. There is an entrance fee for each castle. You can go to the castle in the sea by boat. The boatmen charge a fee per person, or you can rent paddle-boats to go there. You can also rent jet-skis at Kiz Kalesi. However you decide to go, the coastal drive is worth the trip, it's a must-see if you're in the Adana, Mersin, or Incirlik Air Base area.

Buying from the Turkish Markets

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:09:53 +0000

Question: I enjoy going to the Sunday market in my town because they always have such fresh fruits and vegetables. But I don't know the names of the things I want to buy. Can you give me a list of the names of fruits and vegetables in Turkish?

Answer: The majority of Turkish people purchase fruits and vegetables from markets set up on certain days of the week. Fruits and vegetables taste so good here because they are grown in lots of sunshine. In most places, the soil is so fertile you can grow almost any kind of fruit or vegetable. Since a lot of it is grown locally, vegetables sold in markets don’t incur the transportation costs that normally add to the price.

Here's a list of the most common fruits and vegetables:

Vegetable - sebze (seb-zeh)
Pea - bezelye (beh-zell-yeh)
Cabbage - lahana (lah-hah-nah)
Spinach - ispanak (ihs-pah-knock)
Carrot - havuc (hah-wooch)
Tomato - domates (doh-mah-tess)
Potato - patates (pah-tah-tess)
Cucumber - salatalik (sah-lah-tah-look)
Corn - misir (mis-ihr)
Pepper - biber (bee-behr)
Red pepper - kirmizi biber (kuhr-muh-zuh bee-behr)
Green pepper - yesil biber (yeh-sheel bee-behr)
Radish - turp (tuhrp)
Eggplant or aubergine - patlican (paht-le-john)
Okra - bamya (bahm-yah)
Mushroom - mantar (mahn-tahr)
Onion - sogan (so-o-aahn)
Garlic - sarimsak (sah-rihm-suck)
Lettuce - marul (mah-rule)
Fruit - meyve (may-veh)
Apple - elma (el-mah)
Pear - armut (ahr-moot)
Orange - portakal (poor-tah-kahl)
Cherry - kiraz (kee-rahz)
Banana - muz (mooz)
Peach - seftali (shef-tah-lee)
Grapes - uzum (ooh-zoom)
Plum - erik (eh-rik)
Watermelon - karpuz (kahr-pooz)
Grapefruit - greyfurt (gray-fuhrt)
Strawberry - cilek (chee-lack)

Riding a Dolmus in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:57:42 +0000

The dolmus (pronounced dohl-moosh) is a transportation system unique to Turkey. It can easily be described as a shared taxi system. They can be in the form of vans or regular cars. Dolmuses generally run on the same routes as the city buses. In fact, they even go to some districts city buses do not and cover the whole city effectively. Each has a sign either at the top of the car or van, or on the windshield or both showing the route they travel.

Passengers can normally go to any place in a city by dolmus. When riding city buses or dolmuses, make sure you get on the right one by checking the sign. Reading those signs might be difficult, in that case look for the number on the sign, which is the route number of the dolmus. Sometimes you'll see signs like 8/A or 8/B. That means those dolmuses go to the same district but use different routes.

Riding a dolmus is quite cheap. Passengers pay their fares directly to the driver, if their seat is close enough to reach the driver, or you may pass the fare to the passenger in front of you, who will pass it to the next passenger, and so on, up to the driver. Change is passed back to you the same way. Every city in Turkey has a dolmus system, but the prices will vary according to where you are.

People say "bir kisi" (beer-kee-shee) if paying for one person, or if paying for two people, they will say "iki kisi" (ee-kee kee-shee), while passing their fares to the driver. In some places, there are no particular stops for dolmuses, they'll stop whenever anyone waves them down. In others, there are designated stops where a dolmus will wait until it has enough passengers.

Turkish Toilets

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:51:46 +0000

Question: I always see a metal pipe in toilet bowls in Turkey. What is this and how does this thing work?

Answer: There is water that comes from that pipe, and it is used for cleaning yourself after you have finished using the toilet. If you look carefully, you will see the tap mounted closely to the bowl to turn the water on and off.

Traditionally, oriental-style toilets are used in Turkey. Oriental-style toilets have two platforms on which to put your feet and squat, with a hole in the middle in which to do your business. You will also see a smaller tap on the wall and a small bucket underneath it. It is quite challenging to use oriental toilets for most foreigners.

Cleansing yourself is done with water after you have finished using the toilet. Cleansing cannot be completely done with toilet paper, which is why it is not widely used in more rural parts of Turkey. So if you're taking a trip, pack some toilet paper! You're unlikely to find it except in modern restaurant, malls, stores, and hotels if you're outside the city.

In larger cities, western-style toilets are found almost everywhere. But throughout the countryside at gas stations and roadside stops, oriental toilets are the norm. There are always separate sections for men and women. Sometimes you have to pay to use the public toilets; the charge is minimal though. Public toilets are always better at hotels and restaurants.

While old Turkish houses have only oriental-style toilets, the new ones have both styles. The younger generation prefers to use the western-style toilets and the older generation prefers to use the oriental-style ones. When you visit a Turkish house, you may notice a pair of plastic slippers by the entrance of the toilet. Those slippers are to be worn while using the toilet, and the idea is that you do not wander around the house with the same shoes or slippers than you wore while in the toilet.

Turkish Taxis

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:43:42 +0000

Question: Aren't all taxis in Turkey supposed to use their meters? I think I was overcharged for a ride, and apparently the taxi driver wasn't using the meter during the trip.

Answer: All taxis in Turkey have taxi meters and the driver should turn the meter on as soon as a customer gets in the taxi, without being asked. Taxi fares are determined and announced by city councils. All taxis must accept those fares, otherwise they will not be allowed to work.

Taxis are cheap here by European standards. The meter will always show an initial charge as soon as it is turned on, and will add to the fare as the taxi heads to your destination. At night, fares are higher, around 50% more, since the taxi driver is a lot less likely to find a fare at your destination late at night, and will probably have to make the return trip without a passenger. The night rate is in effect from midnight until 6:00 A.M. Airport taxis and taxis at train stations usually charge the night rate even during the day. To know the rate that is being charged on the meter, it will intermittently display "Gunduz" for the day rate and "Gece" for the night rate. Late-night taxi drivers will sometimes accept a fare discounted from the typical rate if they are not otherwise occupied. For example, if you are out on town and know the typical night rate to get back home, you can ask the taxi driver if he'll take you there for less, off the meter. If the taxi driver suggests a higher amount (which they often do) and you say "thanks anyway" and walk away, he's likely to change his mind and give you a ride at the reduced rate. It's their choice. I have heard of one instance where a British expat did this and after the ride, the taxi driver insisted on the higher night rate, and an argument ensued about the price even though it had already been agreed. I don't know whether this was a misunderstanding or if the taxi driver intentionally reversed himself, but I've done this a hundred times and only heard of this happening once in Izmir.

People can ask taxis to wait at the destination. Waiting up to five minutes is not charged. But after the first five minutes, every minute is charged to the meter at the day or night rate, depending on the time of day.Tipping a taxi driver is not very common in Turkey, however it is appropriate to tip the driver if he helps carry baggage or does other things for you.

Traditionally, passengers sit in the back seat in a taxi, especially female customers. It is acceptable behavior, however, to sit in the front seat. Taxis are normally equipped with seat belts only in the front seats, however in some of the older taxis you may find that they haven't been used in years, or that the portion of the buckle which connects to the floor has been rendered useless by some kind of custom console the driver has installed between the front seats. I have heard that the back seat of a taxi is safer during an accident, however that statistic probably included lots of people in the front seat that didn't wear seat belts. Older taxis don't have air bags, where newer ones do.

It is also considered very rude to swear while riding in a taxi. Taxi drivers are not required to carry exact change. However, if you display the note that you have and ask "bozuk para var mi?" (bo zook pah rah vahr muh?), translated "do you have change?" the taxi driver will let you know if he can change the note before you get into the taxi.

Driving in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:04:38 +0000

Question: I've noticed that driving in Turkey isn't what it is in my home country. What do you recommend for driving in Turkey?

Answer: Turks drive very creatively, and enthusiastically, to put it politely. The fundamental rules of safety to survive Turkish driving are: Drive very defensively, avoid driving at night, and never let emotions affect what you do.

A number of accidents occur when a local driver stops, takes some unexpected action or turn causing the foreign driver to hit the other vehicle or be struck by others. Many of the unexpected actions are unexpected according to international driving standards, but are expected here in Turkey. A high percentage of traffic-related deaths are pedestrians in overcrowded major cities.

The following defensive measures can and should be taken to increase the odds in your favor for accident-free driving:

Always wear a seat belt and keep children in the back seat with seat belts or in a child safety seat.
Always wear a seat belt and keep children in the back seat with seat belts or in a child safety seat.
Drive defensively. More defensively than you would in your home country, it's not just a catch phrase.
Use your horn to get pedestrians' attention and also your lights to get the attention of other drivers. Pay attention when other drivers use their horns.
Dusk is a dangerous time to drive on intercity highways since most drivers delay turning on their headlights until well after dark (saving electricity?). Oncoming traffic can be difficult to see. Additionally, Turks often drive small motorbikes with no lights at all, and while wearing dark clothing. They can be very difficult to spot up until the last second.
Watch out for trucks and buses that take the right-of-way without signalling, whether they are entitled to it or not.
Check all mirrors and use directional signals for lane changes and don't forget to confirm, with a direct visual check. Use your mirrors, but don't expect Turkish drivers to use theirs. They often don't.
Use four-way flashers to warn drivers of suddenly slowed or blocked traffic to avoid being hit from the rear.
Always look for an escape, that is, where you'll go, if someone doesn't see your four-way flashers and comes up from behind without slowing down.
Drive as if your mission is to not be involved in an accident, cause one, or strike a pedestrian. Keep that in your mind.
Always expect the unexpected.
Guess nothing about what another driver will do. If you're using logic, you'll probably be wrong.

Pay special attention to all of the following which are very common while driving in Turkey:

Passing in the right lane and cutting in front of other vehicles from the right side
Unexpected lane changes and stopping at unexpected locations to pick up or drop off passengers, especially by "dolmus" minibuses, taxis, inter-city and intra-city buses. This includes main highways where you would not expect someone to suddenly stop
Completely careless and unskilled drivers
Drivers who drive in the middle of the road and give way to no one
Drivers who overtake on blind curves
Drivers who attempt to pass you while you are passing other vehicles
Tailgating drivers
Pedestrians completely unaware to oncoming traffic so they continue to walk or run in front of vehicles to cross streets or highways
Trucks parked at night without lights on the highway rather than on the side of the road, placing rocks in the road as a "warning" rather than using their four-way flashers
Cars driving at night with no lights or with lights missing
Animals on the highway, including herds of sheep or goats outside of major cities
Tractors, horse carts, and farm vehicles driving with no lights, and at slow speeds
Oncoming drivers playing flashing light games whether you have your high-beams on or not

In case of an accident, do not move your vehicle unless its position is putting other drivers at risk. Leave the vehicle where it is and aid the injured. Warn approaching drivers of the accident scene. Contact the traffic police and they will respond to investigate the accident. If you move your vehicle without a justifiable reason, you can be cited for changing the accident scene.

History of the Turkish Flag

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:50:35 +0000

The Turks have had numerous flags during their long history, and the crescent was on almost every one of them. Turks are Muslims, and many Muslim countries display crescents of different shapes and colors on their flags because the flag of the Ottomans displayed three crescents on a green background.

The Ottomans started to use one crescent and a star on their flags, similar to the current Turkish flag, after the 16th century.

There’s a great story behind the color and symbols on the Turkish flag, which was officially adopted on May 29th, 1936. The story goes that one of the great Sultans, Yavuz Sultan Selim (father of Suleiman the Magnificent), went to war with the Mamaluks in Egypt in 1517. He defeated the Mamaluks and added Egypt to the Ottoman Territories. The evening after the victory, Sultan Selim wandered around the battlefield and saw a puddle of his men’s blood. The moon and a star reflected in the blood in a shape similar to the current Turkish flag. Sultan Selim was so impressed from that combination that he ordered an image of the reflection to be used as the Turkish flag.

Women's Day in Turkey

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:12:24 +0000

Question: Other countries have certain days observing the contributions of women, as in the United States, there is a "Women's History Month." Is there anything like that in Turkey?

Answer: Turkey doesn't have a full month for women, but Turkey doesn't disregard their contributions. March 8th is celebrated as "Women's Day" in Turkey. Various ceremonies are held in every city throughout the country. The Turkish Women's Association and Turkish Mothers' Association work together to celebrate that day so many activities are arranged with the support of the state and city governments.

Mother's day is celebrated as a big day in Turkey. All the papers and TV channels have articles and shows regarding mothers and women in general.

After the foundation of the modern Republic of Turkey in 1923, Turkish women gained all of their rights and became equal with men in every field. Polygamy was banned in 1926 and Turkish women were given the right to vote and become deputies in parliament in 1934, before many European countries gave that right to their women. Seventeen women were elected as deputies in the elections of 1935.

Women in Turkey have equal rights with men in Turkey, and women have held practically all political positions. Mrs. Tansu Ciller was the prime minister in 1994. Turkey hasn't had a female president yet, but Turkey was the first country to have a woman judge in its supreme court.

Turkey was also the first country to have a woman combat pilot. She is Sabiha Gokcen, who was born in Bursa in 1913. Young Sabiha was adopted by Ataturk, founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, in 1925. After completing her elementary and high school education, she was enrolled in the Turk Kusu (Turkish Bird) Civil Aviation School of the Turkish Aeronautical Association in 1935 and was awarded with High Glider Brevets in Ankara. Gokcen was sent to Crimea, Russia with seven male students, and completed her education in flying gliders.

She then enrolled in the Eskisehir Military Aviation School in 1936 and became a military pilot upon completing the special training she received. She completed her apprenticeship period at the Eskisehir 1st Airplane Regiment and flew hunter and bomber aircraft.

She was involved in the Dersim operation and the Thrace and Aegean maneuvers. Gokcen, who completed a Balkan tour with her airplane as a guest of the Balkan states in 1938, was appointed as the chief lecturer to Turk Kusu of the Turkish Aeronautical Association.

She continued this duty until 1955 in a very successful manner. She has flown a total of 22 bomber and acrobatics aircraft during her life. Sabiha Gokcen died at the age of 88, one day after her birthday, on March 22, 2001. Sabiha Gokcen is a source of inspiration for all female pilots of the world. The second airport in Istanbul on the Asian side is name after her - Sabina Gokcen International Airport.

Visiting a Mosque

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:19 +0000

Question: What should we do and not do when visiting a mosque? Can we visit any mosque or only certain ones?

Answer: You can visit any mosque in Turkey. However, avoid visiting a mosque during prayer times. Muslims go to the mosque five times a day during prayer. Those prayers are the morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night prayers. Since it is determined according to the sunrise and sunset, the times of the prayers change slightly every day. But the best time to visit is between those prayer times.

Dress conservatively while visiting a mosque. Men shouldn't go into a mosque with shorts or sleeveless shirts. Women should wear conservative clothes; no shorts or sleeveless blouses. Pants are acceptable, but women should avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes which show the lines of the body. Women should also have a scarf to cover their heads. Children 12 and under can wear shorts and short sleeves.

Take off your shoes before entering a mosque; it's a good idea to bring a bag with you to carry your shoes while inside. Many major mosques have plastic bags at the entrance for that purpose. These mosques also have head scarves for women and pants for those who come with shorts. But of course it's better to wear your own scarf and pants.

Walk around a mosque quietly. Don't talk loudly or joke around. You might see some men praying in the mosque. Don't walk in front of them, walk behind them. You can take pictures both inside and outside of mosques.

You don't have to contribute, but most of the mosques have donation boxes. You can make your donation by putting money into collection boxes, or in some cases giving it to a mosque official. In that case, make sure you get a receipt for your donation.