Many countries have an underrated or even negative reputation from the outside world, and depending on who you ask, Turkey is no exception.
Many people criticize the country for having a history of human rights abuses and that it currently has a very strict authoritarian government. After living here for around a month, I can reassure you that this couldn’t be more true. For one, it has a very rich history & culture apart from war, such as the many Roman ruins and mosques and unlike places like Greece, you can access all of the ruins without being swarmed by tourists. You can even go up and touch most of them. Six times again you can hear the priest sing his prayers which immerses you in the culture. There are also many bizarre that have a nice atmosphere along with the countless cliff dwellings and ruins left behind by the Romans. Another thing that has to be mentioned is the beauty of the landscape. From dramatic cliffs with waterfalls crashing down into the ocean, to stunning mountain ranges, all the way to vast open fields, they have it all. And despite the country’s size, the surrounding scenery reminded me a lot of the big open landscapes you can find in America while also being only a quick drive away to a completely different area. One thing that stands out a lot is the fact that everywhere you look, there are cats and dogs. But these cats and dogs are special. They are friendly. In reality, the Turkish people take care of all of the animals as if they were their pets. It’s like always being in a cat cafe! An interesting about Turkish people is that everyone loves Attaturk, the founder of modern Turkey. This is nothing compared to Americans loving Abraham or even Washington. We were lucky enough to visit during the 100th Republic Day celebration (which is when Turkey became its republic nation). The streets were filled with Turkish flags and everyone was wearing red. The town where we were staying at the time (Cesme) was hosting a concert with what I’m guessing is a famous singer.