Flashback Friday to Turkey with Andi On Adventure
“Oh s**t! That evil carpet salesman ripped me off!” I thought to myself as the tears started to flow. After a sleepless night on a bus ride from hell, I was just too tired to stop them. I wandered slowly through the Istanbul alley, and plopped down on a low brick wall, sobbing uncontrollably. Melting down. Then the Old Man with the kind eyes approached…
I visited Turkey a few years before 9/11 changed the world forever and arrived in the country with few expectations other than feeling slightly nervous about the people, believing I needed to be very cautious. This was a Muslim country, after all, and a tall blonde American woman did not blend in very well. So I was cautious at first, careful not to trust anyone, careful not to let my guard down and end up in a Turkish prison like in that old movie, “Midnight Express”.
Cautiously trusting…
Wandering through the country, I often seemed to find myself standing on a street corner with my pack on my back, Lonely Planet guide in my hand, and a very confused look on my face. Within moments, total strangers would stop to help even if they spoke little English. And I slowly began to accept that the Turks were not the evil people I had feared and I gradually opened up and got to know them. I felt safe and finally relaxed into the country and embraced the culture.
The beauty and magic of Turkey unfolded slowly over the following weeks…
Read more of Andi’s amazing adventure here:
http://andionadventure.com/2016/05/23/life-lessons-turkey-meltdown-istanbul-alley/
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Links of Interest:
Turkey Encyclopedia Britannica - http://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey
20 Facts About Turkey You Never Knew - http://www.roughguides.com/article/20-facts-about-turkey/
17 Facts About Turkey That Will Surprise You - http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/17-facts-turkey-will-surprise/
Country Facts - Turkey Facts for Kids - http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/turkey.html
