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| THE
FACTS ABOUT TURKEY |
Visas:
Citizens of many Western European countries and of Japan and New Zealand
need only a valid passport for visits of up to three months. Citizens
of the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada and Australia do need visas. These
are obtainable in advance at a Turkish consulate, or upon entry to
Turkey, at a cost of £10. Public holidays: New Year's Day; Eid-ul-Fitr; Eid-ul-Adha; national Sovereignty and Children's Day (23 April); Youth and Sports Day (19 May); Victory Day (30 Aug); Republic Day (29 Oct). Good buys: Carpets, suede and leather goods, jewellery, copper and brass vessels, pottery, meerschaum pipes, embroidery and onyx. Local dishes: A Turkish meal will often start with meze (hors d'oeuvres), which are shared between the whole table. Starters include sarma (rice in vine leaves), humus and beyaz peynir (sheep's cheese). Examples of main courses include döner kebap, kebap (lamb on a skewer) and pirzola (grilled mutton). Desserts are very sweet. Try the puff pastry specialities, baklava, öviyet and bülbül. Dining out at a local restaurant is very cheap. Interesting fact: The national flower of Turkey is a tulip. Good reading: Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad is a classic account of tourism in Turkey. Many of Twain's observations about Istanbul still hold today. |
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