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One of the
wonderful things about Turkey is the hospitality of the
local people. We first discovered this for ourselves on a
visit in 1996. We went to a village near the Black Sea,
because we wanted a broader view of Turkey than just the
city life we were encountering in Istanbul. By mistake, we
had gotten off the minibus at the wrong village, and began
to walk to the next one. A Turkish farmer picked us up and
gave us a ride in the trailer behind his tractor.
In the village, we sat in the tea garden and were treated to
çay. We knew only a few phrases of Turkish at the time, but
that didn't deter anyone from trying to communicate with us.
Before long, we were introduced to the mayor "muhtar".
He
agreed to let us stay the night and arranged for his son to
give us a little tour of the surrounding orchards and nearby
Black Sea coast. It is a beautiful setting. While we were
touring, the village women pulled together and prepared a
feast for us at the Muhtar's house. The women wouldn't sit
down to eat until they had first served us!
We stayed in the house of the police chief that night, who
is married to the Muhtar's daughter (Generally,
there are no motels in villages). It was a very
memorable "bed & breakfast"
experience!
Even in the city, the Turks are prepared to receive guests
at all times. They don't expect a call in advance. They
don't even have to know you! They will invite you in and
offer slippers for your feet. They will serve you tea "çay",
or sometimes Turkish coffe "kahve",
and offer an assortment of sweet and salty finger foods. They will show interest in you by asking a lot
of questions. If you come for a meal, you'll be surprised at
how much they keep offering after your palate is satisfied
and you are full of rich foods. A meal is typically followed
by çay or kahve, then later, fresh fruits and finally,
assorted nuts.
Be prepared for a late-night culture. Dinner guests are
usually invited to come at 9:00, and it would seem rude for
you to leave before midnight. We've even heard of some
people being offered pajamas to stay the night!
Come
experience the hospitality of the Turkish people for
yourself. You won't be
disappointed!
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