Turkey Information

[Emma]

jj said:

Turkish Women

Turkey is a battle between tradition and progressive thought, between Islam and the WASP club of the European countries. As with many other aspects of Turkish culture the role of women in society is a tug-of-war, fought with varying degrees of enthusiasm and success in different parts of the country.

As this guide is aimed primarily at visitors to Turkey let's talk about the differences you might notice upon arrival in Istanbul, or Ankara, or one of the coastal resorts (3 fairly different parts of Turkey). For me the first noticeable change is that women are not employed in restaurants, cafes and bars. Chefs, waiting staff, barstaff are almost all male. This is as true in all parts of the country.
This is not to say that women are not being accepted into the workplace. Banks and offices, travel agencies, tour operators are all employing women and Turkey has it's share, well probably slightly less than it's share, of female entrepeneurs. What is different is the visibility of working women to the visiting foreigner.

This is also reflected in the clientele of eating and drinking places. Outside of 'touristy' areas you will find a scarcity of couples or unaccompanied women in many cafes and restaurants.

It is not unusual to see 40 or 50 men chatting and drinking tea in a smoke filled room or on a sunny terrace without a single woman present. I am not surprised that many women find this intimidating, I find it intimidating as well.

Guide books will tell women to seek out the Aile Salon or family room, not such a bad idea but it's a little bit like having to sit outside of the pub with a packet of crisps and a bottle of fizzy orange.

I know it was different for me as an English girl but I never felt out of place or that I shouldn't be drinking with the men.......massive cultural differences though.....

[jj]

emma said:

jj said:

Turkish Women

Turkey is a battle between tradition and progressive thought, between Islam and the WASP club of the European countries. As with many other aspects of Turkish culture the role of women in society is a tug-of-war, fought with varying degrees of enthusiasm and success in different parts of the country.

As this guide is aimed primarily at visitors to Turkey let's talk about the differences you might notice upon arrival in Istanbul, or Ankara, or one of the coastal resorts (3 fairly different parts of Turkey). For me the first noticeable change is that women are not employed in restaurants, cafes and bars. Chefs, waiting staff, barstaff are almost all male. This is as true in all parts of the country.
This is not to say that women are not being accepted into the workplace. Banks and offices, travel agencies, tour operators are all employing women and Turkey has it's share, well probably slightly less than it's share, of female entrepeneurs. What is different is the visibility of working women to the visiting foreigner.

This is also reflected in the clientele of eating and drinking places. Outside of 'touristy' areas you will find a scarcity of couples or unaccompanied women in many cafes and restaurants.

It is not unusual to see 40 or 50 men chatting and drinking tea in a smoke filled room or on a sunny terrace without a single woman present. I am not surprised that many women find this intimidating, I find it intimidating as well.

Guide books will tell women to seek out the Aile Salon or family room, not such a bad idea but it's a little bit like having to sit outside of the pub with a packet of crisps and a bottle of fizzy orange.

I know it was different for me as an English girl but I never felt out of place or that I shouldn't be drinking with the men.......massive cultural differences though.....

That wasn't my quote Emma, just a piece I picked up on Turkey info I agree with you.

[marmaris98]

here's me thinking you were a hive of information

[The March Hare]

Subject: Turkey and Religion


Turkey

Religion

The history of the major religions is inextricably mixed with the history of Anatolia. Both have developed and advanced together. Early Paganistic ritual slowly gave way to Christianity, only to be replaced by the Islamic faith of the invading Selcuks. The legacy of this religious past is scattered throughout Anatolia, from the ruins of temples dedicated to Zeus and Athena to the Mevlana Tekkesi of Konya. Turkey is visited by thousands of religious pilgrims from all corners of the world every year, and they are all welcomed in the tradition of Celaleddin Rumi, who wrote:

Come, come again, come! Infidel, fire-worshipper, pagan, Whoever you are, however often you have sinned, Come!
Our gates are not the gates of hopelessness. Whatever your condition, Come!

Christianity

The First Christians

Anatolia, often labeled the cradle of civilization, can without exaggeration also be titled the cradle of Christianity. It was in Antioch that followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians by their Roman rulers, and the Armenians, Assyrians and Aramaic-speaking Suryanis of eastern Anatolia were among the first non-Jews to adopt the new religion. The Armenians, converted by St. Gregory the Illuminator, became the first nation to accept Christianity as the state religion. St. Paul, a native of Tarsus, took advantage of the excellent Roman road system to travel three times through southern and western Anatolia, preaching and converting as he went. He also lived for over two years at Ephesus. Many of his epistles are addressed to the peoples of Anatolia; the Cappadocians, the Ephesians, the Galatians, etc. John, Philip, Barnabus and Peter also proselytised in Anatolia. John's Book of Revelation was written while in exile on the island of Patmos, and was addressed to the seven churches of Asia Minor -- Laodicea (near Pamukkale), Sardis (east of Izmir), Philadelphia ,(Alasehir), Thyatira (Akhisar), Ephesus, Smyrna(Izmir), and Pergamum (Bergama).

The Byzantine Empire

For two centuries the Roman authorities fought the rising spread of Christianity with persecution and terror. The turnabout came when Constantine the Great embraced Christianity and in 330 AD dedicated Constantinople the new capital of the Roman Empire, thus establishing the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire, which was to last for well over a thousand years until it was conquered by the Ottoman army. With the seat of Christianity located at Constantinople, believers set about stamping out all remaining traces of Paganism. Monasticism and ascetism emerged in the fourth and fifth centuries, and became very influential. In Antioch the anchorites demonstrated their piety by living on pillars, while the dendrites lived in trees. In 537, Justinian I built the cathedral of St. Sophia, an architectural masterpiece and the greatest legacy of the Byzantine Empire.

The early Church was plagued by deep-rooted doctrinal and theological disputes, the most contentious of which was the true nature of Jesus Christ; man, God or both at once. In an effort to solve these differences and define the doctrinal faith of the Christian Church, seven Ecumenical Councils were held. These Councils, convened by the Emperor, excited much public interest and speculation. The First Ecumenical Council took place in Nicaea (now Iznik) in 325 AD, and drew up a declaration of faith, the Nicaean Creed, which is still used today. At the second Council Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Empire. Subsequent Councils, held in Ephesus and Constantinople, debated the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the human versus the divine nature of Christ and the function of icons in worship. The fourth Council resolved that Christ was ‘truly God, truly man’ in one being, but the Armenian and Syrian Orthodox refused to accept this, stressing Christ’s single Godlike nature, and did not take part in subsequent Councils. In 1054 a schism took place between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches which was both theological and political. Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius excommunicated each other. These orders remained in effect until they were annulled in 1965.

In 1095 Pope Urban called for a holy war against the 'infidel' Selcuks who had taken Jerusalem in 1071, thus launching the Crusades; Christian wars with motives as much political and materialistic as spiritual. The first four Crusades were fought partly on the lands of Asia Minor. Following successful campaigns in Anatolia, the Crusaders built a chain of castles along the southwestern coast, the ruins of which can still be seen today. In 1204 the declining Constantinople was sacked by the Crusaders who ruled for sixty years before the Byzantines retook it. The Catholic Community in Turkey dates back to the Crusades and to expatriate settlers who came since for diplomatic or commercial purposes. Similarly there have been small Protestant and Anglican Communities in Turkey since the nineteenth century.

Islam

Islam, which means submission to God, developed from the divine revelations made to the ProphetMuhammad (570-632 AD). Muhammad was born into the Kuraish tribe in Mecca and God's revelations to him were recorded in the 114 suras (chapters) and 6,236 ayets (verses) of the Koran. It provides the basis for legal and judicial systems and prescribes a pattern of daily individual and community living. Supplementing the Koran is the Sunna, which developed from the traditions, moral sayings and parables of Muhammad (Hadis), and on which much of Islamic common law is based.

The nomadic Central Asian tribes were converted from the Shamanism of their ancestors to Islam by the Arabs of Persia. The Selcuks were responsible for converting large numbers of the native peoples of Anatolia. Today, although modern Turkey is a secular republic, Islam is the religion of 98% of the population of Turkey.

The main division in Islam is between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. The Shiites believe that Ali,Mohammed's cousin and son-in-law, and his successors were divinely ordained caliphs. Although they believe in the Prophet Muhammad and the Koran, their religious practice varies substantially from that of the Sunnis. The majority of Muslims in Iran and Southern Iraq are Shiite. In Turkey, the majority are Sunni.

Religious Beliefs

Acceptance of monotheism is the most important facet of Islam. God is One; omnipresent and omnipotent, pervading all aspects of life. Muhammad stressed God's everlastingness, as well as his loving, bountiful and forgiving nature. God had ninety nine names, reflecting his many attributes.

On the Day of Judgement each individual's faith and deeds will be weighed and one will either enter paradise - a beautiful garden full of heavenly food, drink and beautiful women - or be cast into the fires of hell along with the faithless and the greedy. Martyrs for the faith do not wait for Judgement Day but enter paradise immediately.

Heaven and earth are populated with invisible spirits known as jinn, who serve as God's messengers and record one's deeds. Rebellious jinn are devils, who seduce people into evil ways.

Muslims believe that God sent many human messengers to teach the world His ways, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Muhammad was the last and greatest of these.

Religious Duties

These duties are termed the five pillars of Islam. The first is to profess the Kelime-i Sehadet, the Muslim creed of belief: "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his prophet". The second is prayer in the direction of Mecca (namaz). Five times each day the muezzin issues the Call to Prayer (ezan) from the minaret of every mosque with the words Allahuekber, or God is incomparable. The third is alms (zekat); every Muslim is expected to give generously of his earnings. The fourth requirement is fasting from sunrise to sunset for the holy month of Ramazan (oruc), and fifth is the pilgrimage (hac) to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

order, men and women gather together in their place of worship, called a Cem evi, and during prayer face each other rather than Mecca, using Turkish rather than Arabic. They fast for three days in Muharrem instead of for the month of Ramazan.

Sufism

Within Islam, particularly from the eight century onwards, there was a strong ascetic, mystic movement, known as Sufism. This was made up of religious communities or brotherhoods (tarikat), usually founded by a charismatic sufi or dervish and led by a sheik. The rituals of such brotherhoods were strongly influenced by pre-Islamic and eastern occult practices and beliefs. These mystics desired to know, love and be in complete union with God. They were largely responsible for the early spread and popularization of Islam. Under the Ottomans they lived in tekkes or lodges, which were similar in nature to monasteries, and lived off alms. Two important Sufi brotherhoods were founded in Turkey.

The Bektasi order of dervishes was founded in the 13th century by a philosopher named Haci Bektas Veli (1209 - 1271). Their annual feast day is held on the fourteenth of August in Hacibektas, near Kayseri, and is attended by hundreds of thousands from all over Turkey. Accepting Ali as the legitimate imam (leader) this sect appeals to Alevis. It is a liberal, tolerant sect among whose unorthodox practices are allowing the drinking of wine and women leaving the house uncovered - Haci Bektas pronounced that "a nation which does not educate its women cannot progress". Bektasi dervishes were largely responsible for the conversion of the Christian inhabitants of Anatolia to Islam. The Ottoman Janissary Corp, Christian converts and the most powerful soldiers in the Ottoman Empire, were mostly Bektasi. When they became too powerful, both the order and the janissaries were abolished in 1826. The order revived at the turn of the century only to be banned along with other orders by Ataturk in 1925.

Mevlana

Founded in Konya by the mystic and poet Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi (1207 - 1273) this sect influenced Islamic thought throughout the Middle East. Rumi was an accomplished poet whose long work of poetry The Masnawi is regarded as a masterpiece of Persian literature. It is often called the Divan of Shams-i-Tabriz after the wandering dervish who was Rumi's inspiration and spiritual companion. During the Mevlana service, known as a sema, the dervishes wear a full-length white flowing gown, which swirls as they perform their distinctive whirling dance, accompanied by the
plaintive strains of the ney. December 17th, the anniversary of Mevlana's death, is especially celebrated. Although they were closed by Ataturk, they continue to perform the sema on special days, and their tekkes are designated folkloric venues, where foreigners are welcome to come and watch. Especially recommended is Fatih Tekke in Istanbul, where the sema is performed every Monday

[jj]

Religious Festivals

Islamic Calendar


2 Calendars operate in Turkey. The official Turkish calendar is exactly the same as that used almost everywhere else, the Gregorian. Religious festivals however follow the Hijri calendar - a lunar calendar which is offset from the Gregorian by 11 days every year. The practical effect of this is that the positions of the various religious holidays and festivals are not fixed but rather move in relation to the year. This year for example was particularly interesting and presented a conflict of interests. The first day of fasting coincided with new year's eve, tricky one really.
Practicalities
The government has to balance the secular nature of the Turkish republic with the wishes of the 99% of Turks who are Muslims and a compromise has been reached. The Muslim Sabbath is Friday which technically starts at sunset on Thursday. Shops and businesses remain open but mosques and baths (Hamams) will be busier on Friday than during the rest of the week. Sunday is the secular Sabbath and some, but not all, shops will close. Confusingly enough most museums will have a different day on which they're closed, often Monday.
Major Festivals
Ramazan - A period of fasting, taken seriously by a lot of people. Even casual Muslims will often give up drinking or smoking for this 30 day period when the devout will refrain from eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset. When people do break the fast they like to do so in style and many restaurants (especially in the big international hotels) will cater to the fasters and put on lavish menus with a traditional focus.
As a non Muslim you'll find that a little sensitivity during this time is probably a good idea. In rural or conservative areas of the country you may find open restaurants a little scarce but in the cities life goes on pretty much as usual. Wherever you are it's a little rude to eat in the streets etc. The plus side is that you can get the excellent pide , a flat bread, almost anywhere and it's very tasty.
Seker Bayram follows Ramazan. An important family holiday and a difficult time to travel as many people will spend at least part of this 3 day festival with relatives. If you're planning to travel over this period make sure you've booked both ways in advance. It's a time for giving sweets and presents to children and friends and generally celebrating the end of the fasting period.
Kurban Bayram - If you're familiar with the opening verse of Bob Dylan's 'Highway 61' then you'll know a little about the origins of Islam's most important religious holiday. The ram that Moses ended up sacrificing in lieu of his son Isaac is probably not popular amongst Turkey's livestock, many of which meet their respective makers during the 4 day festival.
Kurban, or sacrifice, Bayram is an important affirmation of one of the key tenets of Islam, shared social responsibility. Families who can afford to sacrifice an animal will do so and there is a complex code stipulating how the carcass should be distributed amongst friends, family and charitable concerns. It's a major public holiday and many shops and businesses will close, perhaps for a week. The burden on the transport system is severe and the newspapers will publish a head count of road traffic mortalities after the holiday. Travelling before the holiday you'll notice the build up sheep, goats and cattle on the outskirts of towns and cities as their owners bring them in to be sold. On the day itself the more squeamish may want to keep out of the way as many animals are despatched in gardens or the street.

[The March Hare]

It’s time for “Aþure”

According to the Moslem calendar, the tenth day of the month of Muharram is the “Aþure Day”. Throughout the month of Muharram, it is customary to cook Aþure at homes. The traditional Aþure Day was on the 9th of February this year.

Here is the recipe for Aþure for those who wish to cook it and give out to friends:



For 10 servings



Time for preparation: 1 hour



Time for cooking: 5 hours







Ingredients:



2 glasses of wheat suitable for Aþure



1 glass of chickpeas



5 glasses of granulated sugar



1 glass of dried beans



15 glasses of water



½ glass rice



1 glass of raisins



1 glass of apricots - cut in cubes



1 glass of chopped dried figs



1 orange







For coating:



1 glass of currants



Ground walnuts, pistachios



Cinnamon, grains of pomegranate







Preparation:



*Leave the wheat, beans, chickpeas and raisins in separate bowls filled with water overnight. The next day drain the wheat and place it in a big steel saucepan. Add 15 glasses of water and bring it to boil. Strain the foam on the surface and close the lid, letting it simmer for 30 minutes. Drain the beans and chickpeas and cook them in boiling water in separate pans.



*Wash and drain the rice and add it to the wheat. Cook over low heat for about 4.5 hours until the wheat grains are softened up, stirring now and then.



*As the water of the wheat thickens, add granulated sugar, chickpeas and dried beans. Peel the rind of the orange in thin slices and add them to the mixture. Add currants and dried apricots and stir. Bring it to boil and remove it from the heat.



*After Aþure is cooked, add the chopped figs and stir. Pour into bowls while it is hot. When cooled off, decorate the bowls with the ground walnuts, pistachios, currants, cinnamon and grains of pomegranate and serve. You may sprinkle rosewater over it if you so wish

[The March Hare]

Immortal Opramoas

Rhodiapolis was erected on an elevated region in the Sarýsu District of Kumluca, Antalya, called Eskihisar by the present residents. It was called Rhodiapolis after the colonials who arrived here from Rhodes in the antique period and established the city. However, this region is not as generous to us as it was to Opramoas. With the exception of the theatre, the buildings mentioned in the inscriptions are not recognizable. Most of the ruins revealed after a forest fire in the region are dated to later periods.



In front of the remains of the theatre, there is a heap of stones, left over from treasure seekers, which appears to be a mausoleum of the famous tycoon Opramoas, as ascertained by the long scriptures among the rubble. Opramoas decorated the walls of his tomb by scriptures about the good deeds he performed during his lifetime, letters from the emperor and records of the assembly. These scriptures are regarded as one of the longest in Anatolia in the Greek language where information is furnished about administrative, social, and economic activities and relations. In addition to this magnificent long scripture, other inscriptions discovered in Lycian cities in the region furnish various details about Opramoas.
Who is this Immortal Opramoas, mentioned in the heading of our article? Why is he immortal? In most of the scriptures he is mentioned as Opramoas of Rhodiapolis. However, many cities in the Lycian Region granted him the right of citizenship because of his donations and, guided by more than a sense of loýyalty, competed to have a share of the honour of his name. By the aid of his family tree, it is possible to list a lot of names under Opramoas. However, such names which do not address to the mind's eye and are read in passing, listing them as the father, the son, the daughter, the in-laws etc. may only be interpreted as details significant only for experts and his followers. On the other hand, guided by these names, we get a picture of prosperous families and individuals like Opramoas of the cities in the
region who enhanced the wealth of these cities.
Based on the information on the scriptures, we ascertain that Opramoas lived in the first half of the second century B.C., was appointed to prominent posts in the years 110-155, sharing his wealth with the community. His lifetime was a period where the Roman Empire provided for peace in Anatolia and the public works in the cities were highly developed. During this period, due to a violent earthquake in 141, many cities were greatly demolished and from the east to the west in more than 30 Lycian cities the public buildings were rebuilt and repaired with donations by Opramoas.
In addition to assisting the reconstruction of cities and public buildings, wheat was distributed to the needy citizens, dowry was provided for some government employees and young girls, funeral expenses of the elderly were met and financial aid was extended to the youngsters for their education and nourishment.
Besides financial aids cited briefly above, Opramoas also undertook to meet the expenses of festivals and ceremonies organized in honour of the Gods and Emperors. He also established institutions to hold festivals in his name every four years and to pay for such expenditures. In this manner, he was the forerunner of foundations of our day. Unfortunately, the duration of these institutions cannot be ascertained today.
Researches state that during his lifetime Opramoas spent or donated an amount of approximately 3 billion denar for the activities outlined above. Considering that the wage of a shepherd or an unqualified worker was about 10 denar at the time, we could make an evaluation of the value of funds and real estates which Operamoas devoted to such donations and charitable work.
One cannot help wondering about the source of such a wealth. From the scriptures we understand that Opramoas owned many lands in various cities in the Lycian region some of which he donated directly for charitable activities while he turned over the income he incurred from the others for the same purpose. Furthermore, the rents he received from his lands and the interest he received from his commercial ventures made up a portion of his wealth.
In addition to his wealth, Opramoas also acted as an administrative, military and religious leader in the Assembly of the Lycian League and in prominent cities in the region and was honoured many times by the Assembly of the League. Most of these honours were also approved by the Roman Emperors.
During the scope of his lifetime, Opramoas extended his charity and generosity, sharing his wealth with the needy people in this region, as a result of which, I am sure, he led a happy life, engraving his name eternally in time and thus achieving immortality intentionally or unintentionally. We can only hope that there will be more people like him as time goes by.



Hüseyin KÖKTÜRK
Archaeologist

[juicyjude]

Where do you get all this from Bob? You are such a mine of info.Bless you.

[jj]

There are several websites you can go on to get information about any country.....if you type in for instance Turkey information - the web will come up with a list of sites just click on them until you find what you are looking for and then copy and paste into your posting as usual;)

[juicyjude]

Thanks JJ ;D

[The March Hare]

y



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TURKISH DAILY LIFE

Some people might think that because of the religion they will not find certain kind of amusement in Turkey. That is not truth. Turkey is a laic and democratic country where religion and government are seperated. In Turkey you can find beer, wine and a special national alcoholic drink called Raki. Turkish people enjoy eating, drinking and dancing. The Turkish cuisine is very rich and millennial. Over the weekend you will see full bars and tea gardens with young and mature, women and man enjoying their tea, coffee or also beer and Raki. Nights can be long and enjoyable in Turkey. You just need to find out the right place that matches your wishes. In Turkey you will find a lot of tea gardens, restaurants, bars and discos. All over the country there are places called by the Turks "Cay Bahcesi" that means "Tea Garden". Those are the most loved places to chat and met friends.
Tea is the national hot drink of Turkey - Any place, any time - it is time to drink black tea. In Turkey, tea is not drunk from porcelain cups or mugs but in glass cups as in the picture above. There are two types of tea: "koyu cay", the strong one and "acik cay" the light one. As Turkish tea is prepared by mixing tea and water you can order either of them. Although artificial, tourists love "elma cayi", an apple tea. You can also ask for the famous Turkish coffee is prepared with the coffee powder and also served with it. The powder sinks to the bottom of the cup and you can appreciate the delicious coffee. If you want to try a real tipical turkish drink, ask for ayran. The ayran is made of a mixture of water, yogurt and salt. Usually the ayran is drunk more in the summer because it is a cold drink. But the Turks also drink ayran in the winter. Ayran is white and its consistence is creamy. This drink is very healthy and can be drunk by the meal.

In general, Turks care little about money, and they try to think about life in a way which allows them to get the most out of it while putting out as little effort as possible. Families are the pillars of Turkish society. Children look up to their parents with deference. Parents cherish their children more than anything on earth. Furthermore, Turkish first names are quite poetic: Moon Princess, or Dew drop, for girls, and Light, Hope or Silver Prince for boys. Hospitality is a very honored tradition in Turkey. Rural families will generously offer room and board to wandering tourists.

Cultural Daily Life

Through the centuries, Turkish artists and artisans have developed styles of art that are uniquely Turkish. Early Turkish artists turned their creative talents to architecture, music, poetry, weaving, wood and metal working, ceramics, glass-blowing, jewelry, manuscript illumination and calligraphy.Through the centuries, Turkish artists and artisans have developed styles of art that are uniquely Turkish. Most people today are familiar with the silhouette of Turkey's mosques, their soaring domes and slender minarets. Less well-known is the beauty of their interiors the intricate woodwork of the pulpit or "mihrab," their startling blue and green tiles, their richly-worked carpets, and their stunning calligraphy.

Today, a new flowering of Turkish art and culture is taking place. Turkish painters and sculptors exhibit at home and abroad, in galleries and biannual festivals. Turkish musicians of international acclaim perform regularly in classical concerts abroad and record on international labels, some of which have been built up by Turks. Turkish writers are increasingly translated and appreciated. And Turkish architects design throughout the world.Growing private sponsorship of cultural events means that Turkey holds more than a dozen international fine arts and culture festivals a year and hundreds of local ones. Most widely acclaimed are the annual International Istanbul Music, Theater and Film Festivals, which attract participants and spectators from around the world. Fast growing in numbers are jazz and blues festivals. Theater is especially popular in Turkey , with talented companies performing the works of Shakespeare , Brecht and Chekhov as well as new works by Turkish dramatist. Most of Turkey's largest cities also have regular seasons for opera, symphony, chamber music and ballet. Turkey's own musical heritage is rich, and traditional music is as important to young people as contemporary or pop.

Turkish cinema, though small by international standards, is exploring new directions and tackling new themes, often in co-productions with other countries. The establishment of the Turkish Republic had a great impact on literature and scholarship.This measure and others aimed at making the Turkish language easier to learn mean there is virtual universal literacy. Though the great works of Ottoman scholars, thinkers, writers and poets are still studied, it is the writers of today whose works fill the book shops. Education in Turkey is universal, coeducational and obligatory for the first eight years. All public schooling through high school is free of charge and public universities are inexpensive.Turkey has around 70 universities and over 800,000 students, many from neighboring countries, enrolled in university or graduate programs. Turkish faculty members regularly share and exchange duties with professors from other countries. Sixteen of Turkey's universities are private and several more are expected to open over the next few years, another indication of the growing support of the private sector for Turkey's cultural life.

[The March Hare]

Ölüdeniz succeeds in getting drinking water

The Ölüdeniz district, one of the most popular tourist centres in Fethiye, is about to acquire drinking water resources. The lack of this resource was a great problem especially during the summer months which is expected to be resolved before the forthcoming summer.

The Ölüdeniz Municipality invited bids for the supply of drinking water a while ago and signed a contract with the successful bidder, which was Aydýn Construction. The contract was mutually signed by Ali Aydýn, the owner of Aydýn Construction which quoted the lowest bid of 2 million 498 thousand YTL, and the Mayor of Ölüdeniz, Keramettin Yýlmaz.

Mayor Yýlmaz made a speech at the ceremony of signing the contract, saying that in the first stage those areas devoid of drinking water will be supplied before the summer season. On the basis of the contract, 78 thousand meters of pipes will be laid down in the area covering Hisarönü and Ovacýk. The duration of time for the work was established as 2 years in the specification for the bids.



Ali Aydýn, the owner of Aydýn Construction, stated that work will be started as soon as the land is allocated, adding, “We shall install a total of 78 kilometres within the framework of the project covering Ovacýk and Hisarönü. The duration of work is specified as 2 years. However, in as much as no problems are foreseen in the funds to be provided, we shall complete our task much sooner.”



The Mayor of Ölüdeniz, Yýlmaz, said that as soon as the pipeline was completed, the transportation of water by tankers would be terminated, and commented as follows: “With this project, the water problem in Ovacýk and Hisarönü will cease to exist. Transportation of water by tankers will come to an end. We will meet the expenses for this work from the budget of our municipality. Furthermore, our municipality already has the funds available for this project.”

[The March Hare]

Practical Information

Local time:
GMT+3 hours (April-September) GMT+2 hours (October-March)

Time Differences:
Argentina -5, France -1, Netherlands -1, Australia +8, Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria -1, Greece 0, Sweden -1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland -1, England -2, Japan +7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EST) -10 (WEST)
* These time differences are for the period October-March; however, they may show variances according to each country's own time-saving adjustments.

Petrol:
Super (peremium) - Unleaded (at some places). Normal (regular) - Diesel.

Electricity:
220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.

Water:
Although tap vater is safe to drink since it is chlorinated, it is recommended to get advice from the concemed authorities of the places resided.

Weights and Measures:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters , 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches
1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards
1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles
1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds

Area:
1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres

Capacity:
1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres, 1 litre = 0.2199 UK gallons
1 US gallon = 3.7831 litres, 1 litre = 0.2643 US gallons

Newspapers and Magazines:
Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities and tourist areas. Also there is a Turkish daily newspaper, Daily News, published in English.

Tipping:
At various establishments like hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 5%-15% of the total is common. Taxi and "dolmus" drivers on the other hand, do not expect tips or even rounded fares.

Visiting a mosque:
Five times a day, the "müezzin" calls the faithful to prayer in thi mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque durin prayer time. Women should cover their heads and ams, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed

[juicyjude]

Never been into a mosque but would love to go.

[marmaris98]

we went to one with school ,in this country

[The March Hare]

Readying for Solar Eclipse

The total solar eclipse, which will be able to be observed from Turkey on March 29, has created a huge sensation in the tourism sector as well as the scientific world.


The occupancy rates in hotels has increased thanks to those who want observe the solar eclipse in Turkey. The solar eclipse will expectedly make a 20-25 percent contribution to the tourism sector. Tourism sector investors say that some that hotels are usually closed until the official start of the tourism season in late April or early May have open their and have started taking reservations for the solar eclipse.




Antalya (a southern Turkish city where solar eclipse will be best observed in Turkey) began March with a frenzy of bookings. Preparations continue in the city for the total solar eclipse that will take place at the end of March, and there has been an increase in the number of reservations in hotels in the months prior. NASA revealed Antalya as the best location to view the eclipse. The eclipse will pass through 13 cities in Turkey, starting in the Side region.




Side Tourism Sector Association Chairman Cengiz Haydar Barut said some of the hotels have opened the season early in order to benefit from the flock of tourists coming to watch the solar eclipse. Barut said preparations continue to provide a comfortable atmosphere both for professional observers and tourists hoping to see the eclipse; remarking there has been a strong demand for accommodation in the region.




Side alone received 50,000 reservations, and the demand for reservations is expected to increase even more in the last days. There has been a drop in the usual level of reservations due to some unfortunately events occurring in Turkey, yet, we will overcome this, told Barut.




Stressing that the whole of Europe is closely interested in this phenomenon, the chairman told, “The British in particularly are very interested. British, Dutch and northerners are hoping for a front seat for the event. NASA officials, Japanese and British scientists will also attend, and scientists from around the world and various universities have also made their reservations. “




Hane Otel is just one of the hotels starting this year’s tourist season earlier. A hotel spokesperson says that they have been preparing for the eclipse for the past three years, noting that they made half of their reservations by October 2005. Since the total solar eclipse will be watched in Antalya, some tourists will tie the March 29 event in with their annual vacation.




Alanya Tourism Sector Investors Foundation Chairman Mufit Kaptanoglu is expecting 15-20 percent occupancy in the city, which has a relatively quiet winter season. He said that they will distribute special eclipse glasses to all tourists who visit Alanya that day. Kaptanoglu said they commissioned a number of employees to organize the distribution of the special glasses.




Professional Hotel Managers Foundation President Tayfun Zeytinbas said that Turkey should try and make the most of the March 29 event.




Ahmet Ozden, Turkey Travel Agencies Union Manavgat Regional Director, said an Israeli tour operator requested reservations for 50 rooms.

[The March Hare]

News
Caretta Carettas coming
The traditional journey of millions of years of Carettas is going on. The Caretta Carettas start laying eggs during the month of May but this year they have come earlier to the Dalyan coastline. The Caretta Carettas swim millions of miles across the Atlantic Ocean every year, in linewith their natural instinct of millions of years, to come to the Iztuzu coast of Dalyan, Ortaca, to lay their eggs. They move 2-3 miles inland along the Iztuzu coastline to dig up holes for their eggs and numerous tourists come here every year to watch them. The Caretta Carettas are not scared of people and tourists stay on the beach all day long to observe them closely.

The coastline is under protection of the Organization for Special Environmetal Protection and tourists are allowed to roam along the beach between 08:00 and 20:00 hours. The beach is left to Carettas for the remaining time.It is observed that the number of Carettas coming to Dalyan is higher this year and the residents claim that, “ýt may be due to favourable weather conditions” while the regional authorities point out thatthe fishnets constitute a threat for the Carettas and warn the fishermen to act with greater care

[The March Hare]

Turkey May Join E.U. In 2015
BRUSSELS - Danuta Huebner, a member of the European Commission, predicted on Friday that the European Union (EU) would expand rapidly in the next decade, with Turkey joining the bloc around 2015.

In a speech prepared for a seminar at Sussex University in Britain, Huebner said that Croatia might catch up with Bulgaria and Romania to enter the 25-nation EU in 2007.

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'But of course a massive change will occur as the Union grows to absorb Turkey and possibly Ukraine by around 2015. These two countries will add around 125 million citizens to the Union, bringing the total population to around 635 million or 40 percent more than today,'' she said.

Huebner said that with such as unprecedented enlargement, the EU would face a tough choice of either significantly increasing its budget or trimming some policies, which include aid for poor regions and generous assistance to farmers.

She added that the entry of Turkey and Ukraine might require changing EU institutional rules which governments agreed last year when they signed the bloc's first constitution.

[The March Hare]

Turkey on her way to EU
The 41 years of endeavour by Turkey are finally bearing fruit and the most prominent obstacle on the road to the European Union is overcome. The European Union Commission indicated willingness to start negotiations on Turkey's membership. Nowadays, expectations are concentrated on the summit of the leaders to take place in Brussels on the 17th of December. On the recommendations of the Commission, covered by 9 pages and 7 chapters, the method to be followed during negotiations is furnished in detail. In case the leaders give the green light on the 17th of December, the details of the “negotiative adventure” of Turkey, which is expected to last at least 10 years, are established.

In its Progress Report, the European Union Commission recommended the start of negotiations with Turkey to the European Council by a majority of votes. However, the report indicates that negotiations will be suspended in the case of violations of human rights and regression from reforms.

The European Union Commission has now officially recommended the start of negotiations with Turkey. The decision taken by the Commission was made public by the President of the European Union Commission, Romano Prodi, and the Authorized Representative for Expansion of the EU Commission, Günter Verheugen. In the Progress Report of EU Commission, it was stated that “Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen Criteria ‘sufficiently'”. It was further emphasized in the report that the negotiations “may be suspended” in case of violation of human rights and regression from reforms.

The report was approved at the EU Commissison by a majority of votes. It was ascertained that the Dutch member Frits Bolkestein and the French member Pascal Lamy indicated negative votes. The report also included the statement: “Naturally, the negotiations have an open end and no guarantee may be given for the results”. The term “naturally” was added to the text upon a request from Ankara. Thus, the terminology was “softened up” and more “generalized

[The March Hare]

News
Foreigners in Turkey
Anatolia is faced with an entirely different type of immigration at the start of the 21st century.

Dr. Birol Akgün states that while the immigrants to Anatolia during the 20th century were mostly our “relatives” of Turkish origin, it is the first time since the Lausanne Treaty that citizens of the Western world such as German, British and US nationals are settling in our cities and even in our villages and distrýcts.

Akgün, a teacher at the International Relations Section of the Faculty of the Science of Economics and Administration of the Seljuk University, has performed research entitled “Foreigners in Turkey”, aimed at establishing the purposes, educational level, age, sex, nationality, financial resources and living standards of foreigners coming to Turkey.

Associate Prof. Akgün claims that Turkey is faced with an entirely different type of immigration since the beginning of the 21st century. He comments as follows: “During the 20th century, the immigrants to Anatolia were mainly our ‘relatives’ of Turkish origin, whereas now,for the first time since the Lausanne Treaty, citizens of Western countries such as Germany, England and the USA are moving into our cities and even into our villages and districts.”

Akgün carried out this work with Research officials Zeynep Þahin and Ali Harmancý, which revealed that one third of foreigners arriving in Turkey legally came here for purposes of further education and finding a job.

Based on the data of the State Institute of Statistics (DIE), the number of foreigners living in Turkey was 72.000 in 1994 which increased to 161.000 in 2001. However, the report points out that, according to the records of the security forces, a total of 461.483 illegal immigrants were caught during the years 1998-2003 and therefore the correct figures are many times more than the data furnished by the DIE.

The research entitled “Foreigners in Turkey” was based on foreigners living in Ankara, Konya and Antalya, and was carried out on the basis of representative evaluations. Dr. Akgün explained the reason for choosing these three cities as, “In Konya and Ankara most of the foreigners are from the Middle East and the Eastern Bloc as well as from Turkish States for further education or for work; while citizens of Germany and other Western European countries have chosen to settle in Antalya. We have therefore carried out our public survey in these three cities.”

The research underlines the problems faced by foreigners living in Turkey. The results of the research indicate that foreigners are not subjected to any serious and wide-spread discrimination either by the authorities or by the communities in Turkey.

Among the participants in the survey, 36.9 per cent state that they have sensed no discrimination when applying for a job or at work. The percentage of those feeling themselves secure in Turkey is 87.7 while those feeling unsafe is 12.3 per cent. The major difficulty the foreigners have is unemployment and economical problems due to failure to obtain a work permit or the difficulties encountered in obtaining one. The other problems are the health insurance, the difficulties involved in educational field and the cultural adjustment.

Associate Prof. Akgün states that the issues about the participation and comformation of foreigners in political, social and cultural life have their foundations in social integration on one hand and assimilation and discrimination involved in asserting their personality and feeling secure on the other hand. Akgün says, “With this research, we tried to find answers to questions on the general trends of foreigners on matters of adjustment and coordination and whether they wished to continue living in Turkey or not.”