Imam is among the very first people they would seek for help, advice. Meli — a tour guide who can move mountains for a Kodak moment — has arranged for a group of Kurdish dancers to join us for a musical picnic. The imam has agreed to a short interview. Welcome! You’ll find kitchens, cramped living spaces, massive roll-away-the-stone doors, and ingenious ventilation shafts to bring fresh air to the many underground levels. Much of Kaymaklı was originally dug in Hittite times — over 1000 years before Christ. Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Want to listen to books instead? 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. How do you contribute to your community? A long hall celebrates the impressive accomplishments of Atatürk. see our FAQ. Lale: Yeah! 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. Eastern Turkey is ideal for admiring the timeless art of living with the seasons. Thanks for joining us. Like many Turkish towns, Güzelyurt was once a Greek town. That’s why many poor countries take such good care of their cows. Lale: [translates] It is our faith to believe in all prophets. Eastern Turkey is a vast, high plateau. 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. Around the 10th century, Zelve was one of scores of similar cave communities here in Cappadocia. A road takes us to within a short hike of its 7,000-foot summit. Rick: All these beautiful spices, eh? Lale: [translating] There is no difference to us between Muhammad, Moses, Abraham, or Jesus. Those who wear scarves and those who don’t. Meli: If they haven’t been to France they do. Meli is taking us to meet some Kurdish shepherds content to live the ways of their forefathers. Thanks for joining us. This elaborate family festival is celebrating an important event in this child’s life: his circumcision. Get the most out of every day and dollar with Rick Steves Greece & Turkey guidebooks, Snapshot guides and Pocket travel guides 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. Lale: [translates] He says that my primary duty is to lead the prayer in the mosque, which means that they’re the caretaker of the mosque, and give information to the people whenever they want to have some religious education, information. Most tourists hit the west of Turkey. Rick: Who’s doing this? Back on the ground, the terrain invites exploration. Tourists are free to explore the networks of streets and plazas. And I’ll see you next time for more travel thrills. And, across Turkey, families still make yarn from raw wool, and then weave carpets in the traditional — and painstaking — way. 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. Now, relax and enjoy the show. The young and old, those who whirl when they pray, and those who don’t pray at all. Meli: Rick, do we have to do it? It’s bigger than Texas, with a population of 60 million. When I first visited eastern Turkey, most villages didn’t have electricity. 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. The İshak Paşa Palace, built in the 17th century by an Ottoman general, overlooks this strategic thoroughfare of civilizations. It’s busy with people enjoying petite glasses of sweet çay and the happy clatter of backgammon dice. **Use our Trip Reports section to discuss other parts of your trip. Credits. In addition to living spaces, they also were equipped with natural pantries — cubby holes carved out for storage of food and wine. Wherever you stop you’re never far from a glass of refreshing tea. Very good. The outside is decorated with fine reliefs — scenes from the Bible. If you don’t know how to play, it’s no problem. Even today, it’s the scene of modern caravans carrying, not silk but farm goods, textiles, and lots of oil. Post questions and answers about travel in Turkey. Today, most of its population is Kurdish. Imam: [speaks Turkish] As incomes are expected to skyrocket, local men will no longer dream of going abroad for a good paycheck. It’s cool under the goat-hair tent. They could have made these tunnels bigger, but this was part of the plan — it certainly made any invader vulnerable. Lale: Take a drink! They sell them both powdered and rough… As we lace … Ararat stands where Armenia, Iran, and Turkey come together — it’s almost as if they pushed it up. 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. Just as you’ll find Polish and Norwegian Americans, you can find Armenian and Kurdish Turks. Ferries shuttle visitors to Akdamar Island. See more ideas about rick steves, europe travel, travel. Imam: [speaks Turkish] Istanbul is one of the great cities on earth, period. Güle güle. We’re on our way again! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. Turk: Beş üç. Carpet merchant: Whenever you want, you can stand up, you can touch them, you can walk on them, you can feel them, you can…buy them…. 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. The conversation is filled with passionate opinions that inevitably center on complex Turkish politics. And remember, even in a fancy place like this, bargaining is expected. You'll marvel at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and Grand Bazaar; Cappadocia's "fairy-chimney" landscape; the ancient Greek sites of Ephesus and Aphrodisias; and the azure water of the Mediterranean. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | People ingeniously used whatever nature offered them. Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio is streamed directly from their servers. I have greeted friends in Istanbul who were on these tours and … Visitors can experience eco-tourism in its untouched countryside, and connect with a culture that has persisted for 3,000 years, despite many adversities. And to drink? As the festival unfolds, the party kicks into gear. 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. Rick: Okay, so this is…the Turkish delight. Through the centuries, when invading armies passed through the area, entire communities lived down here for months at a stretch. Throughout Turkey, big carpet stores hungrily welcome both tour groups and individuals. No promotion allowed. It’s hard to overstate the importance of Atatürk. Goat merchant: [Speaks Turkish] It’s the Best of Western Turkey. Cappadocia is famous for its exotic-looking terrain, especially these rock formations called “fairy chimneys.”. This special episode is a sonnet to travel - an introspective love story, set in Europe, that vividly celebrates the rewards of exploring our world and the joy that awaits those who travel. It’s late August and winter preparations are under way. Rick: Three families. These students were raised knowing folk dances not for touristic stage shows, but to keep their traditional culture alive. Alright. A Mediterranean Get Away. Pilots skillfully maximize the drama of this unforgettable landscape. Keep on travelin’. Rick: How old is this little goat? They have it for the whole day. In most eastern cities, I opt for the top-end hotel. Nearly every morning the scene is the same as noisy burners are fired up and balloons filled. Share hotel & restaurant reviews. There’s a lot to learn, but these guys are salesmen first, teachers second. Captain: Good morning everybody! Lake Van is vast...almost a sea. Turkey’s cultural diversity shows itself in subtle ways. The Rick Steves Best of Turkey tour combines the convenience of European travel with the rich traditions of the Middle East. Big, animal-powered stone wheels ground grain. Istanbul is one of the great cities on earth, period. We’re heading south — toward the Syrian border. Centuries of wind and warriors have rounded the corners of Harrans’ fortress. Carpet merchant: And, also, we will provide you a beautiful Turkey Samsonite bag. For thousands of years, this point, where East meets West, has been a crossroads of civilizations. Share your candid opinions about hotels and restaurants or ask other travelers about their reviews. Meli: [Turkish] Diyarbakır is swollen with nomads and villagers who — feeling unsafe in the disputed hills — have moved in to wait out the troubles. Using all available resources is a part of life here. As time went on, sprawling communities, still digging caves for homes, inhabited entire valleys like Zelve. Post questions and answers about travel in Turkey. These are the videos that Rick posts on his blog, where he shares his travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on his mind. In fact, a constitutional obligation of Turkey’s military is to overthrow its own government if ever it becomes a theocracy. Later, this underground world provided an almost ready-made refuge. I miss Europe's big sights. Here in the east you’ll find almost no traffic, but drivers are advised to stay off the roads after dark. Rick: Uh-huh… Pigeon droppings were collected, providing valuable fertilizer to assure a good harvest in the valley below. Imam: [speaks Turkish] Harran is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth. 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. Turkey. The Church of the Holy Cross dates from 921 A.D. After an Arab invasion, an Armenian prince took refuge on the island. People have carved communities into these formations for thousands of years. We roam outside of Europe below is a thriving example of their cows the locals in,. 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