Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick
My Turkish friends Mert and Mine, newly married and both excellent guides, take me to their favorite restaurant in Kusadasi, and the conversation turns to what makes a good call to prayer. Mert, who did his military service in Afghanistan with NATO, has some strong thoughts.
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Turkish rest stops compete furiously for tour bus business, and it seems they think they’ll be judged on the quality of their toilets.
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The Stadium of Aphrodisias takes your breath away…in more ways than one.
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Handling 8,000 cruise-ship tourists a day, the bus lot at Ephesus (my favorite ancient site in Turkey) is a busy place. I was told local carpet shops provide these buses and drivers to the cruise companies at no charge. And guides, who accept less than the standard pay here, are given work according to how enthusiastically and effectively they sell carpets. I guess there’s no question that each group will get to the shopping stop on time.
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In Turkey, cigarette packages come not just with printed warnings, but with graphic photos making it clear ‘ your lungs will turn black, your skin will wrinkle and turn yellow, you’ll be imprisoned by your addiction, and your sex life will suffer. Macho Turkish men prefer the “smoking causes cancer” packs to the “smoking makes you impotent” ones.
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