Welcome aboard! Are you ready for an exciting journey to Turkey, the land that bridges West and East? As French writer Gustave Flaubert once said, “Travel makes one modest; you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” Let’s explore this magnificent country together and marvel at its stunning beauty and rich history.
Turkey is a land of bridges, both natural and man-made, that connect different cultures and offer the possibility of knowledge and integration. Three seas surround it – the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea – and boast geographical gems like the Marmara Sea, the Straits of Istanbul, and the Çanakkale. The terrain is mountainous, with numerous rivers and lakes, and the climate is temperate with a Mediterranean influence. Expect hot and dry summers and snowy winters in some regions.
With a population of around 75 million, Turkey is home to some of the most populous cities in the world, including İstanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Konya, Antalya, Gaziantep, Mersin, and Şanlıurfa. The official language is Turkish, a musical and exciting language with distinct features and rules that make other languages seem almost illogical.
Turkey is divided into seven regions with unique climatic, cultural, and geographical characteristics. These are the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean Regions, Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Southeast Anatolia, and the Black Sea.
The Republic of Turkey is a young nation, established only in 1923 after The Turkish War of Independence ended. This was initiated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his colleagues against the occupying forces of the proxies of the Allies, including Greece, Armenia, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy in Constantinople (now Istanbul). The monarchy was abolished in 1922, and Atatürk became Turkey’s first president.
Despite its youth, Turkey has a rich history that dates back to 100,000 BC, when vestiges of human settlement were found in Anatolia. The first organised human agglomeration, Çatalhöyük, is also located in Turkey. This Neolithic and Chalcolithic proto-city settlement existed from approximately 7500 BC to 5700 BC. Since then, many great civilisations have flourished and perished, including the Hattians, Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Lycians, Carlos, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans, leaving their marks on the landscape, culture, and people of Anatolia.
Turkey is a friendly country with tasty food, unique sounds, and breathtaking scenery. Join me on our virtual trip, and don’t hesitate to send your comments and questions. Let’s explore this extraordinary land together!
H. S. Campoy 