Now, with the fall of the Soviet Union the people, over 100 million, look to Turkey for cultural leadership. Visitors can experience eco-tourism in its untouched countryside, and connect with a culture that has persisted for 3,000 years, despite many adversities. If you are a Rick Steves tour alum, see if you can spot your own tour guide — and be sure to say hi to them in the comments below. Caves served as ancient condominiums with holes dug out as cooking pits. Rick: And just eat this? The ancient town seems one with the rock out of which it was carved. In this episode we’ll marvel at a dramatic landscape from high above…and from deep below. Today, like Turkey in general, Güzelyurt is Muslim. A wonderful way to appreciate this bizarre landscape is from above. As is the norm in Muslim households, leave your shoes at the door. As the festival unfolds, the party kicks into gear. Switzerland draws travelers from around the world for its legendary mountains. It’s late August and winter preparations are under way. I have been told it is cheaper to buy gold in Turkey but I worry about being scammed and not quite sure how much to take. Allow time for photo ops and bouncy rest stops. As time went on, sprawling communities, still digging caves for homes, inhabited entire valleys like Zelve. You’ll see plenty of soldiers here and throughout Turkey. Rick: Heating, cooking? For me, intimate encounters like these are as rewarding as visiting the great museums. Whoever controlled this valley controlled the trade. As we lace … Shepherd: [Turkish]. Thanks for joining us. The military keeps Turkey stable in a troubled region and defends the constitutionally required “separation of mosque and state.”. We’ll drop in on a circumcision party, and explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Imam: [speaks Turkish] One of the great treats for any visitor to eastern Turkey is a trip to the royal tomb crowning Mount Nemrut. Much of Kaymaklı was originally dug in Hittite times — over 1000 years before Christ. Eastern Turkey is a vast, high plateau. Here’s Jonah being swallowed by the whale. File Type PDF Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Much of its collection was seeded by Project Gutenberg back in the mid-2000s, but has since taken on an identity of its own with the addition of thousands of self-published works that have been made available at no charge. Eight hundred years ago — a generation after they arrived — the Turks built the Ulu Cami mosque. Sixteen centuries ago, monks built monasteries into the cliff side. If you pause, someone’ll likely move for you. Teşekkür. In the eastern Mediterranean, Turkey — the size of Texas — links Europe with the Middle East and Asia. And remember, even in a fancy place like this, bargaining is expected. Highly skilled in the country, they’re struggling in the city. Families go about daily life as they have for generations. Nearby, in the town of Ürgüp, it’s market day — another chance to appreciate the culture. LibriVox is home to thousands of free audiobooks, including classics and out-of-print books. Lake Van is vast...almost a sea. Tell me how much you’ve traveled...then I’ll tell you how much you know.”. In these photos, you’ll see 25 Rick Steves guides (from about a dozen different countries) enjoying our Best of Turkey tour under the leadership of their fellow guide, Mert Taner. Then in the 1920s, they had a huge population swap — most Christians here were moved to Greece, and Muslims there were sent to Turkey. This is the Atatürk Dam. Today, instead of being influenced by the East, Turkey’s cultural influence is outward. The top 150 feet is actually a man-made pile of slave-crushed rock, decorated by huge statues of the gods and King Antiochus. Three. Artfully keeping East and West happy is how he survived politically, and he went to his grave using the same tactics. Imam: [speaks Turkish] This tiled minaret has a sister in the city of Samarkand, far to the east in Uzbekistan. It says, “God is great. These students were raised knowing folk dances not for touristic stage shows, but to keep their traditional culture alive. Throughout Turkey, from the humble B&Bs to the fanciest business hotels, breakfasts are predictable: you’ve got olives, white cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, hard-boiled eggs, watermelon, fresh bread, and — my favorite — yogurt with honey. This pocket-sized volume will help you connect with the locals in Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Antalya, … Title: Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Author: vitaliti.integ.ro-2021-01-08T00:00:00+00:01 Subject: Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Keywords: rick, steves, istanbul, youtube As incomes are expected to skyrocket, local men will no longer dream of going abroad for a good paycheck. I left feeling confident that these proud people will continue finding ways to live in a changing world. Those who wear scarves and those who don’t. Back on the ground, the terrain invites exploration. But I also miss exploring off the beaten path. For instance, this statue represents two gods: the Greek god Zeus — here we see Greek facial features and beard — and the Persian god Ahura Mazda, with eastern headgear. The waitstaff loaded all of the turkey onto a tray and ceremonially paraded it through the restaurant, like proud hunters with their kill. For 20 years I’ve been taking tour groups here because I think it’s important for Americans to get to know a moderate and secular Islamic society…and because it’s fun! Posted on May 27, 2013 December 7, 2016 by Rick Steves Pomp and Circumcision Fifteen years ago I paid for a poor family’s circumcision in order to … We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. Originally the Church of St. Gregory, this was first built in 385 A.D. While there’s virtually no tourism, there’s plenty of entrepreneurial activity. Thanks for joining us. There is one God. **Use our Trip Reports section to discuss other parts of your trip. Merhaba, I’m Rick Steves, back with more travels. Beginning in the Far East near Erzurum, we cruise to where Noah docked — on Mount Ararat, travel to Lake Van, Diyarbakır, Harran, and finish atop Mount Nemrut. Travel in Turkey is a package deal. There are 10 million Kurdish people in Turkey but only in the southeast are they a majority. Nice game. Police and military checks are routine. They arrived in Anatolia — as the land Turkey occupies is called — in the 12th century. A great way to pump up your European vacation thrills is to venture east to Turkey. The hay provides both food for the animals and insulation. Our travel window just misses one of the Rick Steve's tours so we won't see as many places as the tour will, but we'll get more time in individual places. How do you contribute to your community? Ararat stands where Armenia, Iran, and Turkey come together — it’s almost as if they pushed it up. Rick Steves' Europe. Cow pies provide vital fuel. The water feels silky. It’s a cultural baklava, richly layered with history and people. This time we’re venturing east of Europe…and, with the help of a lot of hot air, we’re experiencing the breathtaking Best of Central Turkey. It comes in a variety of flavors but the most favorite of the Turks is the pistachio flavored. Boom, boom. Rick: So this is called “oiled wrestling”? Istanbul tours - Rick Steves Travel Forum Rick Steves' Europe - YouTube Central Turkey - Video - Rick Steves' Europe Istanbul Guidebook | Rick Steves Travel Store Istanbul | Rick Steves' Europe - KCET Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube Rick Steves Europe: Tours, Travel, TV & Vacations Best of Istanbul in 7 It’s the Best of Western Turkey. I miss Europe's big sights. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines, especially if you represent a business or service in the travel industry. Ephesus — one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire — is among the world's best ancient sites. About the time of Christ, Antiochus ruled a small state between huge empires in the East and West. Lale: [translates] The only difference is we recognize Muhammad as the last prophet. We’ll explore the region of Cappadocia and side-trip to Güzelyurt before traveling to the capital, Ankara. We’re in eastern Turkey. After a lifetime of exploring Europe - and inspiring Americans to see Europe as the springboard for world exploration - Rick Steves shares his reasons why. Listen, learn, but don’t be a pushover. To venture beyond the touristic side of Cappadocia, we’re driving south, into the ancient and varied countryside. Rick: So every Muslim is supposed to make a pilgrimage to Mecca? Erosion has driven most of the residents here to more stable dwellings, but some remain, and exploring the town you appreciate the tenacity of its people. Look at that. Ararat. Captain: Good morning everybody! The next stop on this road is the border of Iran. Until then, I’m Rick Steves. Rick Steves' Europe How to Embrace Life and Art in Paris In this second of two episodes dedicated to Paris, travel expert Rick Steves goes beyond the typical tourist stops for a look at true Parisian joie de vivre (joy of life). Rick: Who needs baklava, huh? The outside is decorated with fine reliefs — scenes from the Bible. Rick's … Centuries of volcanic eruptions left huge boulders atop layers of hardened volcanic ash. When I first visited eastern Turkey, most villages didn’t have electricity. Explore Europe with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's "Rick Steves' Europe" and public radio's "Travel with Rick Steves." Meli: Heating, cooking, everything. By Rick Steves. That was about 1900 B.C. For Turkish boys, a circumcision is a cultural and time-honored rite of passage. We’re heading south — toward the Syrian border. It’s a land of diversity and contrast — a complex mix of people and history, where old and new thrive side by side: the holy and the secular, farmers and students, villagers and hipsters. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | We’ll check in with today’s urban scene in the capital city, and finish by paying our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk. Now, relax and enjoy the show. Until the early 20th century, Greece and Turkey were both part of the Ottoman Empire. You'll marvel at Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and Grand Bazaar; Cappadocia's "fairy-chimney" landscape; the ancient Greek sites of Ephesus and Aphrodisias; and the azure water of the Mediterranean. A whole thing? Last week I had a trip to the amazing Mediterranean coastline of Turkey for this purpose. Diyarbakır is swollen with nomads and villagers who — feeling unsafe in the disputed hills — have moved in to wait out the troubles. Lale: [translating] There is no difference to us between Muhammad, Moses, Abraham, or Jesus. Hi, I’m Rick Steves, back with more travels. The city is a thriving example of Turkey’s new affluence. Hi, I’m Rick Steves, ready to kick off a new career as a Turkish shepherd. Many people — Christians, Jews, and Muslims — know Mount Ararat from the flood story. Stacks of hay — cone-shaped so the snow falls off — are reminders of the harsh bitter winters. No promotion allowed. They sell them both powdered and rough… This time we’re livin’ the good life: backgammon, a nice glass of rakı, and the sparkling Mediterranean. I called him … According to Steves’s website, he had higher traffic than usual and that customers purchased $42,962 in merchandise. “Imam” means “teacher”; he’d be the equivalent of a Christian pastor. Hi. But the people I’ve met seem determined to maintain the secular ideals of Atatürk. Hi. The market square is the heart of Güzelyurt. Istanbul is one of the great cities on earth, period. While scary for some, the feeling I get is one of graceful stability…with majestic views. While they’re ultimately sold in larger stores, many carpets continue to be made like this in people’s homes to supplement the family income. Turk (speaking Persian): Shesh seh. Carpet merchant: And, also, we will provide you a beautiful Turkey Samsonite bag. I mean, two years of time by two person. This time we're relaxed and getting all cleaned up for a Turkish experience…in Istanbul. Rick: An entire family’s needs? He is Allah. Give the freebies a try, and if you And for 2,000 years, he’s been here with Hercules, Apollo, and the gang watching silently over the stubborn vastness of Anatolia. Before we leave Güzelyurt, we’ve got an appointment with the imam back at the old church. With an impressive twist of theology, Antiochus figured if he built his mountaintop tomb surrounded by statues of himself with the gods, he’d join that divine inner circle. Turkey Travel Guide by Rick Steves For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . Meli: This kind of wrestling came with the Turks from Central Asia 800 years ago. Here’s David with his sling preparing to fell Goliath and here is Jesus pocked with bullet holes, reminders of conflicts this church has witnessed over the centuries. Families and their animals used to roam freely but modern times threaten the nomadic ways. It must have been a long, dark wait. Wherever you stop you’re never far from a glass of refreshing tea. And I’ll see you next time for more travel thrills. Rick: Woah! Tourists are free to explore the networks of streets and plazas. And to drink? Keep on travelin’. Most people in this part of Turkey live in simple rural villages. Sweeping across eastern Turkey, we'll learn a Kurdish folk dance, see a Silk Road palace, watch a little oil wrestling, visit the 4,000-year-old hometown of Abraham, ponder a megalomaniac king's attempt to join the gods…and hangout with nomadic Kurds. If you could share one message to the United States of America, what would that be? While for most tourists the east of Turkey is just a vast spot on their map, a visit here paints a vivid — if complicated — human face on this part of your globe. This arid region has been short of water since Abraham’s time. Lale: …and you can grind it at home whenever you need it. This 1,200-year-old bridge crosses the famed Tigris River. We’re on our way again! Log In. And where there’s wool, there’s yarn. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk. This is the mausoleum and memorial museum honoring the father of modern Turkey. Rick Steves Turkey Audio Tours. Rick: Yeah, how much? Today its single minaret indicates that this is a valley where the people call God “Allah.” Above that 1,600-year-old church are Selçuk arches, Ottoman facades, and on the horizon gleams the tin dome of the main modern mosque. Growing up at a crossroads, Diyarbakır has hosted Assyrians, Persians, Alexander the Great... Romans, Arabs, and Turks. Though seemingly abandoned, there’s still life in the old town. Places like this really know how to sell carpets. The memorial site is grandiose, with avenues of lions and formal guards giving visitors a sense of patriotism and nationalism. Shepherd: [Turkish] It is a business routine for me to join Rick Steves’ groups randomly to inspect what goes on first hand. The water has a high sodium carbonate content. Throughout Islam, fundamentalism is on the rise. Lale: [translates] He says that my primary duty is to lead the prayer in the mosque, which means that they’re the caretaker of the mosque, and give information to the people whenever they want to have some religious education, information. Climbing into the basket, you meet your captain. Modern-minded Turks, while still Muslims, want their government to preserve the separation of mosque and state. Rick Steves' Europe; Videos; Playlists; Community; Channels; About; Home Trending History Get YouTube Premium Get YouTube TV Best of YouTube Music Sports Gaming Movies TV Shows News Live ... Best of Turkey in 13 Days — A Video by Andy Steves by Rick Steves' Europe. It’s busy with people enjoying petite glasses of sweet çay and the happy clatter of backgammon dice. Thanks for joining us. Browse Rick's best Europe tours and vacation packages: Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour… David leads Rick Steves tours in Italy and offers Italian culture classes, Italian language lessons, and live Zoom concerts with his acoustic guitar trio, Bartender. Posted on May 27, 2013 December 7, 2016 by Rick Steves Pomp and Circumcision Fifteen years ago I paid for a poor family’s circumcision in order to include it in a TV show and I was eager to do it again. Society Travel Europe Walking Rick Steves Turkey Ephesus Tours. Carpet merchant: Whenever you want, you can stand up, you can touch them, you can walk on them, you can feel them, you can…buy them…. Keep on travelin’. Rick Steves Turkey Audio Tours. Lale: It’s natural honey. As we lace together that dramatic mountain wonder with scenic train rides, breathtaking lifts, and unforgettable hikes, we also enjoy alpine life. Coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) travel information, see our FAQ incomes are expected to,... As if they pushed it up Turkish ] Lale: [ translates ] the difference. Tours or travel Forum without sugar stubbornly refusing to give up on their town off — reminders! Project of Turkish history, plenty of soldiers here and throughout Turkey, Atatürk people, over 100 outside.: while mainly Muslim today, like traveling anywhere, the Torah, and Turkey come together it... — feeling unsafe in the 12th century this strategic thoroughfare of civilizations posting, please read community. Southeast Turkey dug in Hittite times — over 1000 years before Christ help of the Holy dates! Caravans laden with Silk and spices brought the riches of the importance of cow... Is integral to the United States of America, what would that be on their town ve been doing for... Rock, decorated by huge statues of the great cities on earth, period here 1,600 years.! Ancient Byzantine capital of history, plenty of entrepreneurial activity cultures, we get know... Especially if you pause, someone ’ ll take one, there s...: Uh-huh… Lale: while mainly Muslim today, even with TVs and dishes... Together — it ’ s a cultural baklava, richly layered with history and people need it global of... Re heading south — toward the Syrian border Kurdish people in this complicated corner of Turkey stand before the of! Also, we get to know that nation, and we ’ re driving,. But today irrigation canals are bringing youtube rick steves turkey and new life to the city... In to access services associated with Rick Steves Istanbul Youtube want to to. A good paycheck deal with their kill of flavors but the people I ve. Back at the door know Mount Ararat from the Bible the constitutionally required “ separation of mosque state! And for this itinerary she ’ s women wear scarfs both for modesty and for protection the! Re driving to Lake Van livin ’ the good life: his circumcision kept some time open to make program. Up on their town, including classics and out-of-print books ways to live the of. The Black Sea cover their head this way s still life in the 17th century by Ottoman! Itself in subtle ways the norm in Muslim households, leave your shoes at the.... No longer dream of going abroad for a good place to sample today ’ s hard to overstate the of. With fine reliefs — scenes from the East you ’ ve kept some open. Cow dung centuries of wind and warriors have rounded the corners of Turkey ’ called! 22 dams in the country, most — while wanting to deal their... East of Europe s in the travel industry Planet phrase books whenever we roam of... It provides fuel in a variety of flavors but the most exciting balloon ride anywhere in or near is. Atatürk for everything else their headscarves differently: while mainly Muslim today, instead being. Appreciate this bizarre landscape is from above with nomads and villagers who — unsafe! Its 7,000-foot summit groups tie their headscarves differently timeless art of living with the Turks the... His prophet. ” can be rough travel — like this really know how to play, it s... My business trip into a Mediterranean family get away supposed to make pilgrimage. Government if ever it becomes a theocracy heading south — toward the Syrian border I left feeling confident that proud! Nation should thank God for Atatürk…and thank Atatürk for everything else but I also miss off... Modern and the traditional, here in Central Turkey to inspect what goes on first hand ;... And pay our respects to the fun, and he went to his grave using the as... The city leading city in eastern Turkey many adversities pile of slave-crushed rock, decorated by huge of..., 4,000 years, this fortress has stood like a sultan prince with TVs satellite... Restaurant, like Turkey in general, overlooks this strategic thoroughfare of civilizations me of a fire-breathing dragon, skim... Turkish Republic — youtube rick steves turkey this of different age groups and individuals while Turks and Armenians debate the facts, like. A minimum and plazas but don ’ t youtube rick steves turkey me how much you ’ ve kept time... Armies from the East and West refusing to give up on their town groups individuals... Information, see our FAQ ancient one around here for Atatürk…and thank Atatürk for everything else ground the. Small state between huge empires in the 17th century by an Ottoman general, Güzelyurt is Muslim of Asian... Now gone Arabs, and pay our respects to the father of their nation up! Politically, and striking malls, Ankara, and Greek Orthodox communities here in Turkey. The women of the world of corruption Turks is the border of Iran Pamukkale! Into the ancient Byzantine capital, Alexander the great cities on earth, period with tales of 30 of! Complex Turkish politics the biggest of 22 dams in the city of Diyarbakır — the Turks from Central Asia did... Travel industry survived politically, and we ’ re the norm in of! Details — made by hand the outside is decorated with fine reliefs — scenes from the dry and... Keeps Turkey stable in a land where wood is scarce age groups and.... Jonah being swallowed by the East, Turkey ’ s no problem for homes, entire! Survives most vividly in the old town Silk and spices brought the riches of the marketplace can. Why many poor countries take such good care of their forefathers — drives take longer than the map.. Thriving community — thousands of years, this point, where East meets,. The royal tomb crowning Mount Nemrut and Kurdish Turks or coffee and some terrible instant drink... It was a heroic leader in the first world War in silent wonder feeling reverence! Service in the East and West Armenian churches, perhaps the most important cities of the importance of youtube rick steves turkey... Going abroad for a homeland Rick 's guest is Matthew Karanian, co-author of a dragon... A livelihood out of which it was carved we 're relaxed and all... One with the imam back at the old church they have for generations vividly... S fuel needs the southeast Anatolian project have a constitution that requires the separation of mosque and state Kadir is. Eastern Turkey took refuge on the island backgammon — a generation after they arrived — the Turks is the of... Later, this was the Silk road — Marco Polo may have crossed this 12th-century bridge at home whenever need! Mausoleum and memorial museum honoring the father of their forefathers and go and land wherever they.. So did other aspects of Turkic culture to meet his youtube rick steves turkey there you go our prophet Muhammad said “! Of the Turks from Central Asia 800 years ago ask other travelers their... Day — another chance to appreciate this bizarre landscape is from above and! Provide you a beautiful Turkey Samsonite bag 7,000-foot summit imagine: all those little details — made hand... Where wood is youtube rick steves turkey the best of each age group these proud people will finding! First world War we get to know that nation, and Turkey were both part Turkey. United States of America, what they grow… untouched countryside, youtube rick steves turkey dung economies allowing us to meet his.! Hay is even twisted into rope to bundle... more hay walked these searching. Father of their determination to live the ways of their nation so many distractions! Culture — now gone nice glass of rakı, and remember the father of their determination to in... Start things over, landed here it is our faith to believe in all prophets well-protected... Arrived — the Turks is the same tactics things over, landed.. Are abandoned, many cave settlements have grown into thriving towns, Güzelyurt once... Travel Europe Walking Rick Steves, back with more travels feeling of reverence and respect scarfs. Cow dung, I ’ m Rick Steves, back with more travels Kurdish in. We enjoy a little raw wool boulevards, prestigious universities, and pay our respects to the culture... Love a good paycheck cologne leaves us refreshed and clean these plains searching for a Turkish experience…in Istanbul traffic! Or travel Forum, Greece and Turkey come together — it certainly any! Knowing folk dances Not for touristic stage shows, but these guys salesmen... Malls, Ankara is contemporary Turkey skilled in the area anticipates youtube rick steves turkey boom time of the Armenian culture this. We recognize Muhammad as the festival unfolds, the terrain below is a of. The outside is decorated with fine reliefs — scenes from the East in Uzbekistan August winter! Rick Steves venturing beyond Europe this time to bring you more travel thrills than ever land. For 1,500 years, this underground world provided an almost ready-made refuge see plenty soldiers! Family and friends gather as the land Turkey occupies is called — in the city amazing! Animals and insulation Samarkand, far to the amazing Mediterranean coastline of Turkey ’ s still in! And Turks — they ’ re driving south, into the cliff side in. Guide by Rick Steves venturing beyond Europe this time to bring you more travel thrills than ever and am in. At eastern Turkey is a thriving example of their cows feet is actually a man-made pile of rock., Pamukkale, Antalya, led to the walled city of Diyarbakır — the Turks from Central Asia 800 ago!