Turkey is a country connecting Asia to Europe well known with hospitality and rich culture. When you first met with a Turk you will be welcomed politely like you know that person before. The mentality of Turkish hospitality depends on the historical belief that every visitor is a guest of God. Whereever you come, whatever you believe this is same for everyone: You’re welcome.
1. First off, not only is Turkey overwhelmingly gorgeous, its cities and landscapes are also incredibly diverse.
2. Where else can you start your weekend on a ski slope and end it with a dip in the Mediterranean?
3. Although the Black Sea is pretty great, too.
4. There are mountains to climb.
5. And islands to explore.
6. Along with lakes that will take your breath away.
7. Turkey has monasteries overlooking valleys and monasteries built into mountains.
8. Because there’s no better way to catch the sunrise than in a hot-air balloon.
9. And where else could you find a five-star hotel in a cave?
10. Turkish towns are adorably picturesque.
11. Even (especially?) when they’re partly underwater.
12. Its mosques are breathtaking on the inside and on the outside.
13. And nearly every Turkish city has its own castle.
14. It’s where the world’s ancient empires once met.And where every religion has left a mark.
15. So the entire country is basically one giant archaeological treasure.
16. From Ephesus in the west…
17. To Ani in the east Literally, beautiful archaeological sites everywhere.
18. Turkey’s cities were once home to prophets.
19. And poets.
20. Its loveliest city, Istanbul, spans two continents. Really, you could write entire articles about the beauty that is Istanbul.
21. And the world’s last divided city is only a ferry ride away.
22. Turkey will bring out your inner adventurer.
23. But it’s also a great place to relax and recharge.
24. We haven’t even discussed the food.
25. Turkey does breakfast like no one else.
26. Plus, baklava.
27. And everyone needs a souvenir from the Grand Bazaar. There’s just no place like it on earth.
Would you like to explore Turkey with our CityOfSultans.com?
Full article: Meghan Koushik @ BuzzFeed
Turkey (Turkish: Turkiye), known officially as the Republic of Turkey, is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhchivan) and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south; the Aegean Sea to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north.
Separating Anatolia and Thrace are the Sea of Marmara and the Turkish Straits (the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles), which are commonly reckoned to delineate the boundary between Europe and Asia, thereby making Turkey a country of significant geostrategic importance. Ethnic Turks form the majority of the population. The predominant religion in Turkey is Islam and its official language is Turkish.
Turkey is the successor state to the Ottoman Empire. It is a democratic, secular, unitary, constitutional republic, with an ancient and historical cultural heritage. Its political system was established in 1923 under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of World War I. Since then, Turkey has become increasingly integrated with the West through membership in organizations such as the Council of Europe, NATO, OECD, OSCE and the G-20 major economies.
Turkey began full membership negotiations with the European Union in 2005, having been an associate member of the European Economic Community since 1963 and having reached a customs union agreement in 1995. Turkey has also fostered close cultural, political, economic and industrial relations with the Eastern world, particularly with the Middle East and the Turkic states of Central Asia, through membership in organizations such as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Economic Cooperation Organization. Turkey is classified as a developed country by the CIA and as a regional power by political scientists and economists worldwide.