So I got to the airport absurdly early, my flight does not leave for more then two hours, the bus was faster then I thought. Moreover I think Turks do the same thing I do in America for a domestic flight: get to the airport 50 min before the flight leaves. On the plus side I got a seat on an exit row. O well, so while I am here I guess I rant about a few things.
A few stereotypes to dispense with:
The small one first: safety
I left much safer in Istanbul then I did in Paris, Madrid, and especially Brussels. And I say that as a man a few years older, wiser (maybe), and more conservative then when I traveled in the above-mentioned cities. I found people to be warm and friendly. Now if you walk down any street, which is lined with restaurants, you will be hassled by the guys trying to get you to sit down at their restaurant. However, a dismissive gesture, or a hayir or tamam (no, ok / alright) and they will leave you alone. If there is anything to be afraid of in Istanbul it is the cars, trucks and bus, who understand the laws of physics very well and expect you to get of the way, because they don’t want to stop.
The elephant in the room: Turkey is an Islamic country, therefore: no one drinks, everyone is very religious and women dress conservatively right? Saying Turkey is an Islamic country is like saying that America is a Christian country, what does that statement really mean? Legally speaking both statements are false as both nations are constitutionally secular. If such a statement means that a majority of the people of the nation are Muslim or Christian then we can evaluate it.So a number of people said to me that I would have a hard time finding alcohol since Turkey is a Muslim country. There is certain logic to such a statement, the Qu’an forbids alcohol, therefore in Muslim county it should be hard to find. Ok, by this same reasoning it should be hard to find overweight people in America because the Bible forbids sloth. There should be few rich people as they gave their wealth to help the poor, few murders, and in America we sell our daughters into slavery and stone idolaters, yes?
They have booze...just not very good booze. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSad but true, although Turkish beer is better then a number of german beers I have had (which is not saying much). I do miss Portland when it comes to beer, and weather.
ReplyDeleteI hope you continue this line of thinking about dispensing stereotypes throughout your trip...found this posting interesting.
ReplyDeleteJosh, Your blog is so fun to read so far. Please keep updating it. And the photos are FANTASTIC, for sure. Please keep an ear out for interesting music for me...you don't have to purchase, just send names!!!
ReplyDeleteYour cousin Buck Calhoun