The good and the bad

Tourist information offices are operated by the Ministry of Tourism. Every Turkish city and town has one, and in İstanbul there are branches at each of the major tourist sites. You can obtain free brochures, maps and helpful information.

Let me share briefly with you information about the three main Turkish cities.

İstanbul: Few cities can rival İstanbul’s fascinating mix of culture and history. It has been the capital of empires and for nearly 1,500 years stood at the center of world history. It has been my home for three decades. In the book, “Culture Smart: Turkey,” it says this about İstanbul: “The silhouette of its skyline viewed from the Bosporus is breathtakingly beautiful, and visitors are dazzled by the richness of its cultural heritage.” İstanbul has swollen in size due to the influx of migrants from rural Anatolia. İstanbul is no longer the political capital of Turkey, but it is the cultural and economic center and the commercial hub of the country.

Ankara: A city dear to my heart in that it was the first place I ever lived in Turkey, has changed drastically over the years. Ankara is the capital and the second-largest city. It is well laid out with wide boulevards, parks and public amenities. It is definitely worth a visit to Ankara if you are interested in how the Republic of Turkey was established as Ankara was home to Atatürk, the founder of the nation.

I should add, not meaning any offense to Ankara residents, there is a friendly rivalry between the business elite of İstanbul and their bureaucratic masters in Ankara. Many İstanbulites maintain that the best thing about Ankara is the road back to İstanbul. I have a feeling Ankara residents feel the same when they are in İstanbul…

İzmir: Turkey’s third-largest city is also known as “the pearl of the Aegean.” It has a rich history dating back to Biblical times when it was known as Smyrna. It remains home to an important NATO naval base. The city has a real Western feel to it as the promenade is lined with cafes and clubs. You’ll love all the palm trees and the sea!

When Turks learn that I have dual citizenship and have lived here for so many years they often ask me if I think Turkey is a good place to live or bad one. Here are just a few of my thoughts on the matter:

Turkish society at the grassroots level has changed rapidly in the past few decades. Much change has occurred as a result of Turkey’s links with Europe; and more recently new and improved relations with Russia and other neighboring countries, as well as new trade developments in East Asian countries.

I always tell any Turk who makes the comment that life in America is better that I think both places each have good and bad features.

The good features that stand out in my mind about Turkey and Turks are:

Turkish people still display the core values of respect for elders and authority, and loyalty to and reliance upon the group -- in particular the family -- setting great store on personal relationships and the importance of honor and saving face. The Turks are very group and people-oriented.

Some Turkish traits that strike me as contrary are:

The Turks drive aggressively and are always in a hurry, yet lack punctuality and often show up late for appointments. They dislike rules and regulations but do not like to go against the flow. The red tape in official transactions is unbelievable. The language is not necessarily easy to learn.

Even though more foreigners nowadays speak some Turkish, usually the average Turk is always pleased when a foreign can speak Turkish with them. Many of the newcomers suffer the handicap of not understanding the language and, by viewing Turkey through foreign eyes, may easily make wrong assumptions.

Contemplating a trip to Turkey? I recommend that you consider a trip to Turkey because this unique and important country offers you the chance to appreciate a different way of looking at the world -- a different way of life.