Turkey: a country that has never quite fit into the European mold
Turkey is home to all sorts of people, and has been since the days preceding the Roman Empire. This great seat of the Ottoman Empire is home to people who are Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Italians, Iraqis, Moroccans - the list goes on and on, because the nation of Turkey has been a global crossroads for travelers, traders, explorers, and conquering nations for as long as we have recorded history of this great land.
Lately, Turkey has been caught in a sort of political no-man’s land, and its attempts to be accepted fully into the greater community of European countries have come close but never quite been successful. It has enjoyed a good relationship with the USA, but that friendship was strained when Turkey hesitated to back the USA’s premeditated invasion of Turkey’s neighboring Iraq. After intense negotiations, the nation denied the USA use of its land for massing troops and bomber planes, but later negotiated a compromise in exchange for cash payments and an opportunity to gain from trade agreements after the overthrow of the old Iraqi government.
And there has been a history of conflict between Christians and Muslims in the country of Turkey, where war has scarred the landscape for centuries. But Turkey, with its exotic destinations like Istanbul, remains one of the most interesting and attractive travel destinations. The people are regarded and some of the most open and friendly in the world, the culture is rich and diverse, the food is extraordinary, and for those who are practical and budget minded, a holiday in Turkey with all sorts of wonderful amenities can be had for a fraction of the cost of other popular - and less interesting or historically important destinations. Most professional travel agents who have seen the world will heartily recommend that if you have not experienced Turkey, you have no idea what you are missing.