25 Things You Should Know About Turkey

I knew very little about Turkey before I went there. But I didn't mind. I wanted to be surprised. There are a few things I wish I had known beforehand though. Like that I would have to give up avocados. If I had known that, I would have embarked on a guacamole diet before I left. Now that i'm home, the guacamole diet will commence. Anyways, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a rundown of some of the well-known quirks and delights of Turkey. So here it is, your mini introduction to Turkey!

Galata Tower in Istanbul

25. Dogs and cats are everywhere and people try to take care of them. So if you love dogs and cats, this is the place for you.

24. GMOs are completely banned in Turkey. So the produce is non-GMO, cheap and did I mention delicious? And i'm pretty sure it's fairly organic because you can still find little stowaways on it from time to time.

23. It's not dangerous. Just exercise the same caution you would anywhere else. You'll be fine.

22. The scenery is abundant and incredible.

21. The driving is absolutely insane. In a car, you narrowly escape accidents daily. Don't read in the car. You'll regret it.

20. During the month of Ramazan, Muslims fast during the day to teach themselves empathy for the less fortunate.  Around 3 a.m. some people will also go around beating a drum and asking for donations of food. The drums make the street dogs bark. Basically, if you're going to be there during Ramazan, don't forget your ear plugs.

Kunefe, a dessert of shredded wheat, melty cheese and honey.  A must try.

19. Be prepared to eat lots of Turkish food. This may seem like an obvious statement. But there just aren't options to eat many other kinds of foods. That's because Turks love everything Turkish and don't see the need to venture out into new flavors. And it's not easy to get the ingredients to replicate foreign foods on your own. For example, avocados, cilantro and limes are practically non-existant so all you lovers of Mexican food, be forewarned.

18. There will be calls to prayer 5 times a day/night. They will be loud. People don't stop what they're doing during the call to prayer and you don't have to either. Since one of them happens in the middle of the night, it's another good reason to bring ear plugs.

17. Bread is everywhere all the time. Like if Panera turned into a country. It's not a place for the gluten intolerant. Turks, especially the men, often have a belly which they affectionately refer to as a "Turkish Balcony". Eat all the bread thats offered to you, and you'll have one too.

16. Some women are incredibly covered up. They will even swim covered head to toe. It might be 100 degrees outside but the women will still be in pants, socks, shoes, long sleeves, and some kind of light overcoat. It's amazing they don't pass out.

15. Wikipedia is banned.

Gourd lamps are a local specialty. This man had some of the best!

14. Eat turkey in Turkey. It's somehow better here than anywhere else.

13. Turkey is most likely Adam and Eve's old stomping grounds and the final resting place of the ark. It is also the place where you can literally walk in Paul's footsteps.

12. Turkish people love children. They pick up strangers' babies and kiss them and it's no big deal. If you have a cute baby, they will do it to you too. So don't worry. However, this also means that they tend to spoil their kids.

11. The UV index is moderate in Turkey. If you plan on staying a long time, bring quality sunglasses with UV protection. Otherwise you could damage your eyesight.

10. People smoke like crazy.

Spices for Turkish meatballs.

9. Don't be nice when lining up for things like the bus or the escalator. Wimps will be pushed aside. Just jump in there and hold your ground. Don't feel bad about it.

8. If grandma boards a crowded bus, give her your seat. Is a lovely rule that everyone abides by.

7. If someone offers you something you don't want, you must refuse it at least 3 times or they won't believe you. If you want to give someone something, they will refuse at first. It's a code of honor. Just keep at it, they might eventually say yes.

6. There are always hand washing stations outside of mosques. You don't have to be a Muslim to wash your hands there. We find it useful.

5. Renting a place for three months or less is not easy due to the new rental laws. However, rental agreements for a year are not a problem. The longer you stay, the better a deal you'll get.

Some finds at an antique shop in Bodrum.

4. This is a land of squatty potties and not being able to flush the toilet paper. Be ready.

3. The exchange rate is good. At the time of this writing: 1 Turkish Lira = 0.28 USD.

2. Meat, alcohol, electronics and weird things like floss are expensive. For instance, you can get one kilo of ground beef or 36 kilos of eggplant. Same price, your choice. Clothing is affordable though.

1. Jehovah's Witnesses were granted legal registration in July 31, 2007.

Cemile, a lovely pioneer sister from the Bodrum congregation.

Alright, so there's my list. There is still much to say, but this is a good place to start. If you have other questions about Turkey, please leave them in the comments below and I will get to them as soon as possible!