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Thank you for posting this. It is a relief to see something with good vibes that contains Turkey in it. Reading about Turkey in world news and comments is depre

Thank you for posting this. It is a relief to see something with good vibes that contains Turkey in it. Reading about Turkey in world news and comments is depressing. Believe me, Turkish people think more about lokum and food than politics. Hacı Bekir company is mentioned in the article. Another interesting point is that it is the oldest operating company in Turkey founded in 1777: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Ali_Muhiddin_Hac%C4%B1_Bekir_(1777).jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Ali_Muhi...

wavefunction 11y ago
If it makes you feel any better, I have wonderful memories of visiting Istanbul with my family when I was a child and would love to go back. The people were wonderful and friendly. Im not keen on the direction that Erdogan has been taking your country but that's something that is only my business in the sense that I can complain about him from the comfort of my own country.
- fatihpense 11y ago
  Thank you. It made me feel better! I would like to host you/have a coffe with you if you come to Istanbul again. On the subject of direction of Turkey, there are more objective and problematic indicators like press freedom. And then there are superfluous statements made by Erdogan just to get some more votes, just to troll opponents etc. Don't mind the latter. Those words are just sauces and masks, not the real stuff. Most people vote for the lesser evil, and Erdogan's party only won in the early elections after forming of a coalition has failed by other parties. Most of the people live modernly and want to live modernly. So I don't think the direction will go to extremes.
irremediable 11y ago
I've never been lucky enough to visit Turkey, though I have some hope of attending a conference in Istanbul next year. I _have_ gotten to stay with two separate Turkish AirBnB hosts here in the UK -- and both times were amazing. I'm sure it's not right to generalise from this small number of examples, but Turkish hospitality is clearly a _big_ deal. Even just visiting Turkish friends in their respective homes, there seems to be this feeling of great pride in hosting a guest. I hope it's something that English culture can learn from. Edit: hope I'm not coming over as patronising here. Just thought I'd share a more positive view.
- jwhitlark 11y ago
  I've spent some months in İstanbul over the last ten year. Lovely place, one of my favorites in the world. Some tips for Americans: * Always bring a gift for the host. * Always offer multiple times; frequently it's considered rude to accept something on first offer.
- fatihpense 11y ago
  Thank you. I would love to host you, too! If you decide to come to Istanbul, just contact me.
  - irremediable 11y ago
    Thanks for your generous offer! If I ever get the chance, I'll remember this. I'd make a similar offer for London, but I don't actually have a spare room, so it would not be very comfortable.
jwhitlark 11y ago
I know what you mean. As an American who knew next to nothing about Turkey before ~2000, it seems like Turkey is in an "Uncanny Valley" in the American mind. The results of the reform/revolution era (1920's and 30's) are astounding, and I think that the Turkish Republic doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves. It's one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" things. Usually societies that get to the point of the Ottoman Empire just collapse. That when the Empire fell, the Turks took a such a hard look at their society, decided it wasn't working, and radically changed it overnight, is a fascinating story that isn't really known here. Oh, and it's a lovely place to vacation, too. ;-)
- fatihpense 11y ago
  Thank you. I also think that reform era is an example of fast modernization and execution in general. History and geography puts Turkey in a strange position by force :) I wish Ataturk had lived longer. He had a vision that was a valuable gift to a country after a devastating war. "Countries are different, but there exists only one civilization, and for a nation to progress, it must take part in that unique civilization." [1] "We shall raise the national culture beyond the level of contemporary civilization."[1] I also admire how philosophically thought the U.S. governmental system and constitution in search of a ideal state system. It's better to appreciate good things. It's better to hope together for the future. Also, you are welcome anytime :) [1] http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-13/ataturks-revolutions-and-modernization http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-13/ataturks-revolutions-an...

wavefunction 11y ago

If it makes you feel any better, I have wonderful memories of visiting Istanbul with my family when I was a child and would love to go back. The people were wonderful and friendly. Im not keen on the direction that Erdogan has been taking your country but that's something that is only my business in the sense that I can complain about him from the comfort of my own country.

fatihpense 11y ago
Thank you. It made me feel better! I would like to host you/have a coffe with you if you come to Istanbul again. On the subject of direction of Turkey, there are more objective and problematic indicators like press freedom. And then there are superfluous statements made by Erdogan just to get some more votes, just to troll opponents etc. Don't mind the latter. Those words are just sauces and masks, not the real stuff. Most people vote for the lesser evil, and Erdogan's party only won in the early elections after forming of a coalition has failed by other parties. Most of the people live modernly and want to live modernly. So I don't think the direction will go to extremes.

irremediable 11y ago

I've never been lucky enough to visit Turkey, though I have some hope of attending a conference in Istanbul next year. I _have_ gotten to stay with two separate Turkish AirBnB hosts here in the UK -- and both times were amazing. I'm sure it's not right to generalise from this small number of examples, but Turkish hospitality is clearly a _big_ deal. Even just visiting Turkish friends in their respective homes, there seems to be this feeling of great pride in hosting a guest. I hope it's something that English culture can learn from. Edit: hope I'm not coming over as patronising here. Just thought I'd share a more positive view.

jwhitlark 11y ago
I've spent some months in İstanbul over the last ten year. Lovely place, one of my favorites in the world. Some tips for Americans: * Always bring a gift for the host. * Always offer multiple times; frequently it's considered rude to accept something on first offer.
fatihpense 11y ago
Thank you. I would love to host you, too! If you decide to come to Istanbul, just contact me.
- irremediable 11y ago
  Thanks for your generous offer! If I ever get the chance, I'll remember this. I'd make a similar offer for London, but I don't actually have a spare room, so it would not be very comfortable.

jwhitlark 11y ago

I know what you mean. As an American who knew next to nothing about Turkey before ~2000, it seems like Turkey is in an "Uncanny Valley" in the American mind. The results of the reform/revolution era (1920's and 30's) are astounding, and I think that the Turkish Republic doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves. It's one of those "truth is stranger than fiction" things. Usually societies that get to the point of the Ottoman Empire just collapse. That when the Empire fell, the Turks took a such a hard look at their society, decided it wasn't working, and radically changed it overnight, is a fascinating story that isn't really known here. Oh, and it's a lovely place to vacation, too. ;-)

fatihpense 11y ago
Thank you. I also think that reform era is an example of fast modernization and execution in general. History and geography puts Turkey in a strange position by force :) I wish Ataturk had lived longer. He had a vision that was a valuable gift to a country after a devastating war. "Countries are different, but there exists only one civilization, and for a nation to progress, it must take part in that unique civilization." [1] "We shall raise the national culture beyond the level of contemporary civilization."[1] I also admire how philosophically thought the U.S. governmental system and constitution in search of a ideal state system. It's better to appreciate good things. It's better to hope together for the future. Also, you are welcome anytime :) [1] http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-13/ataturks-revolutions-and-modernization http://www.atam.gov.tr/dergi/sayi-13/ataturks-revolutions-an...