Social Profile
Food & Drink: Turkish food combines culinary traditions of a pastoral people originating from Central Asia and the influences of the Mediterranean regions. Lamb is a basic meat featured on all menus, often as shish kebab (pieces of meat threaded on a skewer and grilled) or doner kebab (pieces of lamb packed tightly round a revolving spit). Fish and shellfish are very fresh and barbunya (red mullet) and kiliç baligi (swordfish) are delicious. Dolma (vine leaves stuffed with nuts and currants) and karniyarik (aubergine stuffed with minced meat) are other popular dishes. Guests are usually able to go into a kitchen and choose from the pots if they cannot understand the names of the dishes. There are also a wide range of Turkish sweets and pastries including the famous Turkish Delight (originally made from dates, honey, roses and jasmine bound by Arabic gum and designed to sweeten the breath after coffee). Table service is common.
Ayran (a refreshing yoghurt drink), tea, and strong black Turkish coffee are widely available. Turkey is a secular state and alcohol is permitted, although during Ramadan it is considered polite for the visitor to avoid drinking alcohol. Turkish beer, red and white wines are reasonable. The national drink is raki (anisette), known as ‘lion’s milk’ which clouds when water is added. Drinking raki is a ritual and is traditionally accompanied by a variety of meze (hors d’oeuvres).
Nightlife: There are nightclubs in most main centres, either Western or Oriental, with music and dancing. There are theatres with concerts in Izmir, Istanbul and Ankara and most towns have cinemas. Turkish baths (hamam) are popular.
Shopping: Istanbul’s Kapali Carsi Bazaar has jewellery, carpets and antiques for sale. Turkish handicrafts include a rich variety of textiles and embroideries, articles of copper, onyx and tile, mother-of-pearl, inlaid articles, leather and suede products, jewellery and, above all, carpets and kilims. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1400-2000 (closed Sunday). Istanbul covered market: Mon-Sat 0800-1900.
Special Events: For a detailed list of special events contact the Turkish Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section). The following festivals are held annually:
Jan Camel Wrestling Festival, Selçuk. Mar Ankara International Film Festival; 1915 Sea Victory Celebration, Çanakkale. Apr Traditional ‘Mesir’ Festival, Manisa. Apr 23 International Children’s Day, Ankara. Apr-May Ankara International Arts Festival. May Efes International Festival of Culture & Tourism, Selçuk; International Nysa Culture & Art Festival, Sultanhisar; Yunus Emre Culture & Art Week, Eskisehir; Aksu Culture & Art Festival, Giresun; International Music and Folklore Festival, Silifke; International Yachting Festival, Marmaris. May-Jun International Asia-Europe Biennial, Ankara. Jun Bartin Strawberry Festival; International Tea Festival, Rize; International Offshore Races, Istanbul–Izmir; Foça Music, Folklore and Watersports Festival; Marmaris Festival; Bergama Festival; Atatürk Culture Festival, Amasya; Kafkasör Culture & Art Festival, Artvin; International Kus Cenneti Culture & Tourism Festival, Bandirma; Çesme Sea and Music Festival. Jun-Jul Istanbul International Art & Culture Festival; Traditional Kirkpinar Wrestling, Edirne; Ihlara Tourism and Art Week, Aksaray. Jul Erzurum International Congress; Tourism & Culture Festival, Iskenderun; International Folk Dance Festival, Samsun; Ceramic Festival, Kütahya; Nasreddin Hoca Festival, Aksehir; Hittite Festival, Çorum. Aug Troy Festival, Çanakkale; Insuyu Festival, Burdur; Hacibektas Veli Commemoration Ceremony; Mengen Chefs Festival, Bohn. Sep Izmir International Fair; Ertugrul Gazi Commemoration Ceremony, Sögüt; Seyh Edibâli’i Commemoration and Culture Festival, Bilecik; GAP Culture & Art Festival, Gaziantep; Javelin Games, Konya; Kemer Carnival; International Meerschaum (White Gold) Festival, Eskisehir; Sivas Congress Culture & Art Week; International Grape Harvest Festival, Ürgüp; International Fair, Mersin; Yagci Bedir Carpet Festival, Sindirgi Balikesir. Sep-Oct International Plastic Arts Festival, Istanbul; International Akdeniz Song Contest, Antalya; Culture & Art Festival, Diyarbakir; Mersin Art & Culture Festival. Oct Altin Portakal Film Festival; Ahi Brotherhood Cultural Week, Kirsehir; International Bodrum Cup; International Gullet Festival, Bozburun. Nov International Yacht Race, Marmaris. Dec International St Nicolas Symposium, Demre; Mevlana Commemoration Ceremony, Konya.
Social Conventions: Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Smoking is widely acceptable but prohibited in cinemas, theatres, city buses and dolmuses (collective taxis). Tipping: A service charge is included in hotel and restaurant bills.
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