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SHOPPING
Shopping is one of the great pleasures
of a trip to Turkey and the rich variety of Turkish crafts make it impossible
to resist buying something. Alongside the most modem objects, traditional
handicrafts from villages and provinces can be found. Practical things
for the home and kitchen can be found, but alongside these are many decorative
items, often in the traditional Turkish style. Most visitors to Turkey
cannot resist buying at least one or two things. The most popular objects
for the holiday maker are, of course, carpets; but the various leather
and suede goods, copper and bronze wares, silver, ceramics, handicrafts,
embroidery, and the famous Turkish meerschaum and onyx are on many people's
lists.
In Turkey, suede and leather are
particularly important, along with all kinds of clothes and other goods
such as handbags, belts, shoes, etc., at prices which surprise and please
the visitor. In the large stores in main cities; dresses, trousers, and
coats, made of extremely fine leather and suede, can be found. If you are
looking for something a little more unusual, there is the ("nargile") hubble-bubble
pipe; or buy a backgammon set and learn the national Turkish game. Your
only difficulty shopping, in Turkey will be deciding what to choose from
the many hundreds of tempting bargains.
TURKISH CUISINE, DINING OUT
Would someone come to Turkey just
to eat out? Yes, they would. Turkish food is famous throughout the world.
The painstaking preparation of simple, but fresh ingredients brings out
the richness of their flavors in a way that never fails to delight. The
range is enormous, from a number of soups to an astonishing variety of
meze (hors d'oeuvre), followed by meat and
fish dishes. Then pause awhile to contemplate the famous Turkish sweets
and pastries before finishing with a Turkish coffee. All Turkish food is
prepared from fresh ingredients. The country produces a wide variety of
fruits and vegetables, and, being surrounded on three sides by sea, the
range of fish to be found is also considerable.
Among alcoholic drinks are the light Turkish beer, excellent wines, and
the national drink, 'raki' (an anisette), which clouds when water is added,
giving it the popular name of "lion's milk." The drinking of raki is a
rite in itself, and it is traditionally accompanied by a variety of 'meze'
(hors d'oeuvre). Along with world famous Turkish coffee. Wherever you go,
coffee or tea will be offered to you. Bottled drinking water and mineral
water are easily found everywhere. Tap water is drinkable but the taste
is not good because it is chlorinated. Especially in large cities like
Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, you can also find restaurants which feature
Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, French, Swiss, German and Italian cuisine.
Fancy to surf amongst the most delicious Turkish meals?
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NIGHTLIFE
There are boundless choices where
nightlife in Turkey is concerned, Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, the State
Symphony Orchestra and State Opera and Ballet offer the works of Turkish
and foreign composers under the direction of world famous Turkish and guest
foreign directors. Alongside the Turkish theatre, there are foreign theatrical
groups which come to Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir from time to time. For
a different view of nightlife in Turkey, there are nightclubs and colorful
shows. Wherever you are, you will be able to go into a nightclub and taste
some Turkish food while enjoying yourself until morning. The discos in
resort areas and large cities have the latest facilities.
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