Where East Meets West: Turkey

 

by Victoria Soluade

Before we commence our tour of historic Turkey, let me share an anecdote: sometime in the mid ‘90s, my friend and I were in Istanbul for a meeting; this was at the height of the fame of Nigerian football players in Europe. We had boarded a taxi that night to go shopping for something to wear to a party as my luggage had been lost in transit. Trying to get some conversation going, the driver asked us many questions, but we could hardly understand each other. When he inquired where we were from, my friend had the bright idea to ask if he knew Amokachi the footballer—which he did! Then, she declared we were his sisters visiting from Nigeria. You should have seen the excitement this bit of news generated in the driver who kept turning around to take a look at our faces as he chattered away in Turkish—we had to beg him to concentrate on his driving so we could get to the shops safely!

Istanbul (the largest city in Europe) is the cultural, financial and economic centre of Turkey. It is a megacity historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople. Located on the Bosporus Strait, it encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn. It extends both to the European and the Asian sides of the Bosporus. As a result, it is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Istanbul is a designated “alpha world city.”

During its very colourful history, Istanbul has served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman (1453–1922) Empires. Ankara became the capital when the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923. However, Istanbul has been chosen as a joint European Capital of Culture for 2010 and the European Capital of Sports for 2012. The historic areas of the city were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

If you love art, classical music, history and shopping, then this is the city for you. World famous orchestras, chorale ensembles, concerts and jazz legends can be found often playing to a full house. The Istanbul International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe, while the Istanbul Biennial is another major event for fine arts. There are night clubs that cater to various musical tastes so there is really no shortage of activities—night or day.

There are loads of things to do and see, including touring the many museums dotted around the city, going on a leisurely cruise on the Bosporus and Marmara seas, shopping at the 500-year-old Grand Bazaar or the largest mall in Europe—Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, taking a dip at the famous Turkish baths and going swimming or simply lying around on the beautiful beaches. Don’t forget to get a souvenir magic carpet—also known as a Turkish carpet/rug.

Along with the traditional Turkish restaurants, many European, Far Eastern restaurants and numerous other cuisines also thrive in the city. Most of the city’s historic wine houses (meyhane in Turkish) and pubs are located in the areas around İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. You would not need to travel far to find something to suit your taste buds.

All in all, it is a destination worth visiting as it is budget friendly, exciting and enlightening. To top it all, Nigerian citizens with British, USA or Schenghen visas can now get Turkish visas on arrival!! Turkish Airlines flies four times a week to Istanbul from Lagos. The best time to visit is between May and September.

Please send me your travel stories and contact me if you ever want to visit any of the destinations I have written about. Ciao!

Email: victoriasoltan@hotmail.com