The Rick Steves Best of Turkey tour combines the convenience of European travel with the rich traditions of the Middle East. This time we’re livin’ the good life: backgammon, a nice glass of rakı, and the sparkling Mediterranean. Rick: Thank you for allowing us to be in your mosque. Rick: Oh, nice, huh? And remember, even in a fancy place like this, bargaining is expected. 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. Rick: All these beautiful spices, eh? There’s so little tourism in the area that we have the boat to ourselves. A grateful nation re-named him Atatürk, or “Father of the Turks.” As the first president of the Republic, he built the foundation of modern democracy here on the ruins of a corrupt empire. Climbing into the basket, you meet your captain. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. The terrain below is a forest of pinnacles honeycombed with ancient dwellings, which we’ll visit later. For 1,500 years, this fortress has stood like a breakwater, taking wave after wave of armies from the East. Erzurum has long been a leading city in eastern Turkey. Lale: …and you can grind it at home whenever you need it. I just published a collection of my favorite Rick: Mmm! Keep on travelin’. Turkey. While a fascinating parade of cultures has shaped the history of this ancient land, it’s the striking geology that first grabs your attention. Post questions and answers about travel in Turkey. Families go about daily life as they have for generations. We start in Cappadocia. After a lifetime of exploring Europe - and inspiring Americans to see Europe as the springboard for world exploration - Rick Steves shares his reasons why. Lale: He can give you a good deal for the goat. A thousand years ago, sculptors around here didn’t know what a whale looked like, so they carved a big fish with a pig’s head. Lale: [translating] There is no difference to us between Muhammad, Moses, Abraham, or Jesus. While they’re ultimately sold in larger stores, many carpets continue to be made like this in people’s homes to supplement the family income. That’s why, for me, the most exciting balloon ride anywhere in or near Europe is here in Cappadocia. Share your candid opinions about hotels and restaurants or ask other travelers about their reviews. My partner — my good luck. Rick: Who needs baklava, huh? Each says that God sent 40 days of rain to rid the world of corruption. That’s why Güzelyurt’s historic church is now a mosque. Rick Steves Turkey Audio Tours. There were Muslim communities in Greece, and Greek Orthodox communities here in Turkey. The water feels silky. Wherever you stop you’re never far from a glass of refreshing tea. Eastern Turkey is ideal for admiring the timeless art of living with the seasons. see our FAQ. Nearby, in the town of Ürgüp, it’s market day — another chance to appreciate the culture. We’re heading south — toward the Syrian border. Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Want to listen to books instead? Rick: So everybody is in here right now. And I’ll see you next time for more travel thrills. A common denominator for these people is Islam. Diyarbakır is swollen with nomads and villagers who — feeling unsafe in the disputed hills — have moved in to wait out the troubles. Rick: Okay. Last week I had a trip to the amazing Mediterranean coastline of Turkey for this purpose. Caves served as ancient condominiums with holes dug out as cooking pits. Ethnic struggles and refugees are nothing new to this land. Rick Steves Turkey Audio Tours. 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. That’s good! In this episode we’ll experience both the modern and the traditional, here in central Turkey. Lale: It tastes like honey! Turkey Reviews. Growing up at a crossroads, Diyarbakır has hosted Assyrians, Persians, Alexander the Great... Romans, Arabs, and Turks. Meli: Not just oiled wrestling, it’s called oiled grass wrestling, grass being reminiscent of Central Asian plains. Today its single minaret indicates that this is a valley where the people call God “Allah.” Above that 1,600-year-old church are Selçuk arches, Ottoman facades, and on the horizon gleams the tin dome of the main modern mosque. Discovered by Player FM and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Player FM, and audio is streamed directly from their servers. Hi, I’m Rick Steves, back with more travels. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines, especially if you represent a business or service in the travel industry. RICK STEVES TURKEY 2019 TOUR (Questions for those who recently took RS Turkey tour) Patricia: 3: 09/01/18 07:50 PM: Personal Care Products: snordquist1: 5: 08/21/18 01:39 AM: Antalya & Olimpos - Safe for single woman traveler? 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. Turkey Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . It’s a cultural baklava, richly layered with history and people. He is Allah. Just as you’ll find Polish and Norwegian Americans, you can find Armenian and Kurdish Turks. Erzurum has always been a garrison town. And it can be rough travel — like this. Meli: Rick, do we have to do it? Meli: This is really fun. 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. In these photos, you’ll see 25 Rick Steves guides (from about a dozen different countries) enjoying our Best of Turkey tour under the leadership of their fellow guide, Mert Taner. Greetings are warm but formal. While Christians worshipped here 1,600 years ago, today it functions as a mosque. Explore Europe with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's "Rick Steves' Europe" and public radio's "Travel with Rick Steves." Ephesus — one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire — is among the world's best ancient sites. Shepherd: [Turkish] And one of the most vivid places for that is in Eastern But for us, it’s back to fresh air and sunshine. This 1,200-year-old bridge crosses the famed Tigris River. Meli is taking us to meet some Kurdish shepherds content to live the ways of their forefathers. Our tours are physically active! The tradition of carpet weaving is integral to the local culture. Lale: The Turkish delight. Highly skilled in the country, they’re struggling in the city. So be available to them to answer questions. 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. This elaborate family festival is celebrating an important event in this child’s life: his circumcision. We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. I'm thinking 8 days in Istanbul and 5 to see the sights on the coast. see our FAQ. Travel in Turkey is a package deal. 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. 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. Noah, with his animal-filled arc ready to start things over, landed here. Now, relax and enjoy the show. One of which was the ethnic Turks. Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Turkey. Wrestling is considered the universal combat sport, and Turks — they’re among the finest wrestlers in the world. As we lace together that dramatic mountain wonder with scenic train rides, breathtaking lifts, and unforgettable hikes, we also enjoy alpine life. Your pilot was sick, so I will fly you today. Big, animal-powered stone wheels ground grain. Later, this underground world provided an almost ready-made refuge. They’ve been doing it for 4,000 years, since the time of the Hittites. And one of the most vivid places for that is in Eastern Turkey.Even though we're not visiting Europe right now, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can be good medicine. 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. Now, with the fall of the Soviet Union the people, over 100 million, look to Turkey for cultural leadership. I’m Rick Steves. 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: Hey, Rick! Throughout Turkey, big carpet stores hungrily welcome both tour groups and individuals. And we’ve got a lot of traveling yet to do. Today, even with TVs and satellite dishes, remote villages like Cayirbag maintain their traditional hay, duck, and dung economies. May 30, 2016 - Explore Sandra Kent's board "Rick Steves" on Pinterest. Rick: Who’s doing this? 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. 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. 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. Salesmen are on you like white on rice. Rick Steves' Europe How to Embrace Life and Art in Paris In this second of two episodes dedicated to Paris, travel expert Rick Steves goes beyond the typical tourist stops for a look at true Parisian joie de vivre (joy of life). No promotion allowed. The government pays your wage. To see the remains of one of these cultures, we’re driving to Lake Van. Rick: Shesh seh. Turk: Beş üç. A great way to pump up your European vacation thrills is to venture east to Turkey. Cleverly, they wrung a livelihood out of this parched land. A good place to sample today’s Turkish character is in Ankara. Rick: Uh-huh… antjemartina: 9: ... YouTube; Twitter; Pinterest; Instagram ©2020 Rick Steves… It’s cool under the goat-hair tent. Tourists are free to explore the networks of streets and plazas. Visitors can experience eco-tourism in its untouched countryside, and connect with a culture that has persisted for 3,000 years, despite many adversities. 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