Nobody's business but the Turks

Turkey is quickly becoming one of our favorite countries, and we could think of no better place to be “thankful” and warm during the Thanksgiving holiday.

So we missed the traditional outing of family and friends along with gorging ourselves on food and falling asleep in the upright position, but we did make new friends, soaked in the sun, walked on the beach, played a dizzying amount of backgammon and later gorged ourselves on food and fell asleep in the upright position.

This was our second trip to Turkey and this time we found ourselves in the resort town of Alanya on the southern coast, just north of Cyprus. Our hotel hosts warmly greeted Jeremy and me, and as the rain poured down on our first day, a band of locals taught us new ways to play backgammon and improve our success rate. (Their advice? Be bold! Take out that guy in your home even though it leaves you vulnerable.) At one point, our gracious host Tolga was literally sitting in Jeremy’s lap rolling the dice for him.

The next three days were sunny and beautiful. Although the ocean was a tad too cold for swimming, we did take a bus trip to boat around the Green Canyon, poked through various shops (fake Adidas sweat suits for 10 euros! They looked so real …) and later indulged in a traditional Turkish bath.

The Turkish bath is not for the meek. You are buck naked on a slab of marble as men throw buckets of soapy water on you and scrub you down violently, but with care, as if you were in a human car wash. (Get the dirt off, but don’t scratch it). You then follow with a facemask and massage.

I have yet to decide, but I’m pretty sure I was violated during the procedure. Jeremy refused comment about his massage.

Regardless, the experience left us relaxed and cleaner than we have ever been. Although these type of bathhouses are everywhere in Germany – it’s nothing like the tradition of Turkey, and none are given like the Turks. There is something very special about the country.

I think the allure lies in its social and religious tolerance. The Ottoman Empire promoted religious tolerance and it continues today. Peace talks between various countries often take place in Turkey. It’s a hodgepodge of cultural experience. Not to mention its coastline is breathtakingly beautiful. (And Turkish delights are damn delicious).

From the food to the fashion to the openness and personal nature of its people, Turkey has the best of all its surrounding influences. Imagine Europe, Asia and the Middle East having an orgy – Turkey would be their love child.