| Some people
might think that because of the religion they will not
find certain kind of amusement in Turkey. That is not
truth. Turkey is a laic and democratic country where
religion and government are seperated. In Turkey you can
find beer, wine and a special national alcoholic drink
called Raki. Turkish people enjoy eating, drinking and
dancing. The Turkish cuisine is very rich and
millennial. Over the weekend you will see full bars and
tea gardens with young and mature, women and man
enjoying their tea, coffee or also beer and Raki. Nights
can be long and enjoyable in Turkey. You just need to
find out the right place that matches your wishes. In
Turkey you will find a lot of tea gardens, restaurants,
bars and discos. All over the country there are places
called by the Turks "Cay Bahcesi" that means "Tea
Garden". Those are the most loved places to chat and met
friends. Tea is the
national hot drink of Turkey - Any place, any time - it
is time to drink black tea. In Turkey, tea is not drunk
from porcelain cups or mugs but in glass cups as in the
picture above. There are two types of tea: "koyu cay",
the strong one and "acik cay" the light one. As Turkish
tea is prepared by mixing tea and water you can order
either of them. Although artificial, tourists love "elma
cayi", an apple tea. You can also ask for the famous
Turkish coffee is prepared with the coffee powder and
also served with it. The powder sinks to the bottom of
the cup and you can appreciate the delicious coffee. If
you want to try a real tipical turkish drink, ask for
ayran. The ayran is made of a mixture of water, yogurt
and salt. Usually the ayran is drunk more in the summer
because it is a cold drink. But the Turks also drink
ayran in the winter. Ayran is white and its consistence
is creamy. This drink is very healthy and can be drunk
by the meal.
In general, Turks care little about money, and they
try to think about life in a way which allows them to
get the most out of it while putting out as little
effort as possible. Families are the pillars of Turkish
society. Children look up to their parents with
deference. Parents cherish their children more than
anything on earth. Furthermore, Turkish first names are
quite poetic: Moon Princess, or Dew drop, for girls, and
Light, Hope or Silver Prince for boys. Hospitality is a
very honored tradition in Turkey. Rural families will
generously offer room and board to wandering tourists.
Cultural Daily
Life
Through the centuries,
Turkish artists and artisans have developed styles of
art that are uniquely Turkish. Early Turkish artists
turned their creative talents to architecture, music,
poetry, weaving, wood and metal working, ceramics,
glass-blowing, jewelry, manuscript illumination and
calligraphy.Through the centuries, Turkish artists and
artisans have developed styles of art that are uniquely
Turkish. Most people today are familiar with the
silhouette of Turkey's mosques, their soaring domes and
slender minarets. Less well-known is the beauty of their
interiors the intricate woodwork of the pulpit or "mihrab,"
their startling blue and green tiles, their
richly-worked carpets, and their stunning calligraphy.
Today, a new flowering of
Turkish art and culture is taking place. Turkish
painters and sculptors exhibit at home and abroad, in
galleries and biannual festivals. Turkish musicians of
international acclaim perform regularly in classical
concerts abroad and record on international labels, some
of which have been built up by Turks. Turkish writers
are increasingly translated and appreciated. And Turkish
architects design throughout the world.Growing private
sponsorship of cultural events means that Turkey holds
more than a dozen international fine arts and culture
festivals a year and hundreds of local ones. Most widely
acclaimed are the annual International Istanbul Music,
Theater and Film Festivals, which attract participants
and spectators from around the world. Fast growing in
numbers are jazz and blues festivals. Theater is
especially popular in Turkey , with talented
companies performing the works of Shakespeare ,
Brecht and Chekhov as well as new works by Turkish
dramatist. Most of Turkey's largest cities also have
regular seasons for opera, symphony, chamber music and
ballet. Turkey's own musical heritage is rich, and
traditional music is as important to young people as
contemporary or pop.
Turkish cinema, though
small by international standards, is exploring new
directions and tackling new themes, often in
co-productions with other countries. The establishment
of the Turkish Republic had a great impact on literature
and scholarship.This measure and others aimed at making
the Turkish language easier to learn mean there is
virtual universal literacy. Though the great works of
Ottoman scholars, thinkers, writers and poets are still
studied, it is the writers of today whose works fill the
book shops. Education in Turkey is universal,
coeducational and obligatory for the first eight years.
All public schooling through high school is free of
charge and public universities are inexpensive.Turkey
has around 70 universities and over 800,000 students,
many from neighboring countries, enrolled in university
or graduate programs. Turkish faculty members regularly
share and exchange duties with professors from other
countries. Sixteen of Turkey's universities are private
and several more are expected to open over the next few
years, another indication of the growing support of the
private sector for Turkey's cultural life.
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