He separated Mosque and state, emancipated women, replaced the Arabic script with Europe’s alphabet, introduced Western-style industry, and legislated equality for all citizens. The mausoleum itself crowns the site like a grand temple, giving those who visit a feeling of reverence and respect. Thank you. There is one God and Mohammed is his prophet.”. I’m Rick Steves. Share your candid opinions about hotels and restaurants or ask other travelers about their reviews. If you are a Rick Steves tour alum, see if you can spot your own tour guide — and be sure to say hi to them in the comments below. Until then, I’m Rick Steves. My partner — my good luck. Salesmen are on you like white on rice. As before, I’m teaming up with my friend and fellow tour guide Mehlika Seval. And my friendly opponent, Kadir, is taking us to meet his family. That’s why Güzelyurt’s historic church is now a mosque. And this carpet takes 24 months. This mountain is a study in megalomania. Rick Steves' Europe; Videos; Playlists; Community; Channels; About; Home Trending History Get YouTube Premium Get YouTube TV Best of YouTube Music Sports Gaming Movies TV Shows News Live ... Best of Turkey in 13 Days — A Video by Andy Steves by Rick Steves' Europe. By Rick Steves. Then they took it back into the kitchen and re-emerged with beautiful — and very traditional — plates of turkey, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and mashed potatoes…with, in a delicious Italian twist, a trickle of fresh-pressed olive oil. If you could share one message to the United States of America, what would that be? Meli leads tours for me through Turkey, but we’ve kept some time open to make this program. Each says that God sent 40 days of rain to rid the world of corruption. Turkey Reviews. Here’s David with his sling preparing to fell Goliath and here is Jesus pocked with bullet holes, reminders of conflicts this church has witnessed over the centuries. But for us, it’s back to fresh air and sunshine. Harran is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth. It’s the biggest of 22 dams in the Southeast Anatolian Project. In this travel talk, Rick Steves explores exotic Istanbul, Turkey's capital city of Ankara, the otherworldly rock formations of Cappadocia, conservative Konya, seaside villages and towns including Antalya and Kuşadası, and the ancient cities of Aphrodisias and the apostle Paul's, Ephesus. Tourists are free to explore the networks of streets and plazas. Meli is taking us to meet some Kurdish shepherds content to live the ways of their forefathers. While Turks and Armenians debate the facts, sights like this remind me of a once-thriving Armenian community. Ararat. Sweeping across eastern Turkey, we’ll learn a Kurdish folk dance, see a Silk Road palace, watch a little oil wrestling, visit the 4,000 year old home town of Abraham, ponder a megalomaniac king’s attempt to join the gods... and hangout with nomadic Kurds. Turkey Reviews. May 30, 2016 - Explore Sandra Kent's board "Rick Steves" on Pinterest. Families everywhere — old people, little kids running up and down these stairs, borrowing salt from the neighbors…and people lived here till the 1950s. And to drink? At about 17,000 feet, it’s by far the highest mountain in the region. Turk: Beş üç. Families, widows, couples, and kids…traveling here, like traveling anywhere, the key ingredient of the experience is the people. Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio is streamed directly from their servers. Later, this underground world provided an almost ready-made refuge. Greetings are warm but formal. Before we go in, here’s a shopper’s tip: Prices often build in a 20% commission for the guide or person who brought you. But the people I’ve met seem determined to maintain the secular ideals of Atatürk. It provides fuel in a land where wood is scarce. Lale: [translates] The only difference is we recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. Imam: [speaks Turkish] Rick: And just eat this? The courtyard of the mosque is a cool refuge for those awaiting the call to prayer — or the stray tourist needing a break from the intensity of the city. In fact, 4,000 years ago, Abraham and his followers walked these plains searching for a homeland. This time we’re venturing east of Europe…and, with the help of a lot of hot air, we’re experiencing the breathtaking Best of Central Turkey. In ancient times, Christians were persecuted and actually did go, literally, underground. Rick: It really does. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. How do you contribute to your community? Thanks for joining us. We’re in eastern Turkey. The nomadic lifestyle is an ancient one around here. They’ve been doing it for 4,000 years, since the time of the Hittites. From the Matterhorn to the Jungfrau to Appenzell, we savor both the country’s jaw-dropping alpine beauty and the rich and resilient culture of its people. Okay. Throughout Islam, fundamentalism is on the rise. As incomes are expected to skyrocket, local men will no longer dream of going abroad for a good paycheck. The young and old, those who whirl when they pray, and those who don’t pray at all. It’s busy with people enjoying petite glasses of sweet çay and the happy clatter of backgammon dice. Get the most out of every day and dollar with Rick Steves Greece & Turkey guidebooks, Snapshot guides and Pocket travel guides According to the Bible, Abraham settled here...in Harran on his way to the promised land in Canaan — that’s Israel, about 300 miles to the south. Browse Rick's best Europe tours and vacation packages: Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour… David leads Rick Steves tours in Italy and offers Italian culture classes, Italian language lessons, and live Zoom concerts with his acoustic guitar trio, Bartender. “Imam” means “teacher”; he’d be the equivalent of a Christian pastor. This time we're relaxed and getting all cleaned up for a Turkish experience…in Istanbul. Rick: Okay. They sell them both powdered and rough… On our Best of Turkey in 13 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily… Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room. Turkey. This is a saz. An easy way to have fun with locals is over a game of backgammon — a daily treat for me anywhere in Turkey. Eastern Turkey is ideal for admiring the timeless art of living with the seasons. Then, in 1923, he established today’s Turkish Republic. Lale: It’s natural honey. Rick: Heating, cooking? We’re heading further south away to the remote and untouristy town of Güzelyurt. **Use our Trip Reports section to discuss other parts of your trip. Lale: …and you can grind it at home whenever you need it. Then in the 1920s, they had a huge population swap — most Christians here were moved to Greece, and Muslims there were sent to Turkey. It leads to the walled city of Diyarbakır — the main city of southeast Turkey. Meet the needs of the community when there is a wedding, when there is a funeral, when there is a circumcision, when they’re in trouble. Three. That’s good! These conical houses worked well in Abraham’s day…and they still do. And I’ll see you next time for more travel thrills. I have been told it is cheaper to buy gold in Turkey but I worry about being scammed and not quite sure how much to take. Whoever controlled this valley controlled the trade. Originally the Church of St. Gregory, this was first built in 385 A.D. This is nice! Caves served as ancient condominiums with holes dug out as cooking pits. But for centuries, Christians worshipped here, and the city has an interesting connection with Turkey’s neighbor to the west, Greece. While the vast majority are practicing Muslims, its citizens have a constitution that requires the separation of mosque and state. Rick Steves' Europe. A wonderful way to appreciate this bizarre landscape is from above. People ingeniously used whatever nature offered them. There are 10 million Kurdish people in Turkey but only in the southeast are they a majority. Read Online Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube They also have what they call a Give Away Page, which is over two hundred of their most popular titles, audio books, technical books, and books made into movies. Wherever you travel, exploring a vibrant scene like this gives a fine insight into how the people live, what they grow…. Wrestling is considered the universal combat sport, and Turks — they’re among the finest wrestlers in the world. Inside, the museum tells the story of this amazing man, whose career started as a military hero. Carpet merchant: And, also, we will provide you a beautiful Turkey Samsonite bag. A small provincial town just a century ago, today Ankara, with over 4 million people, is the vibrant capitol of a modern nation. It must have been a long, dark wait. For instance, ethnic groups tie their headscarves differently. Season 1 Episode 10 | 26m 9s | Video has closed captioning. Welcome! The terrain below is a forest of pinnacles honeycombed with ancient dwellings, which we’ll visit later. Meli: You know Rick, I think part of the reason for this is to get people out and see the world with many others around them. Meli and I hope you’ve enjoyed our look at eastern Turkey. Our travel window just misses one of the Rick Steve's tours so we won't see as many places as the tour will, but we'll get more time in individual places. The İshak Paşa Palace, built in the 17th century by an Ottoman general, overlooks this strategic thoroughfare of civilizations. In this episode we’ll marvel at a dramatic landscape from high above…and from deep below. Turk (speaking Persian): Shesh seh. Though seemingly abandoned, there’s still life in the old town. While a fascinating parade of cultures has shaped the history of this ancient land, it’s the striking geology that first grabs your attention. The fortress is now a civic center. You can do your laundry here without soap...or clean a little raw wool. Look at that. Lale Surmen Aran and Tankut Aran—an Istanbul-based couple who have been married for 11 years—lead tours for Turkish and American groups to wherever they can (including Best of Turkey tours for Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door).They have a passion for unusual travel destinations, and always enjoy learning about the past, present, and future of the peoples of the world. They have it for the whole day. And, with a spirit of adventure, the curious traveler is likely to stumble onto lots of cultural action. For years, Lale’s led our bus tour groups around Turkey, and for this itinerary she’s joining us. Eastern Turkey. This global wave of praise races as fast as the sun five times a day across Islam, from Malaysia to Morocco and beyond. Very good. They used to be able to just take off and go and land wherever they wanted. I called him … According to Steves’s website, he had higher traffic than usual and that customers purchased $42,962 in merchandise. 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