must-visit place. We did a balloon ride (3:30 am wake-up call!!!) and not only did I enjoy the wonderful view, but was impressed with all the logistics coordination between the team on the balloon and their ground support so that our "captain" was able to land the balloon right on its trailer. We also spent time visiting underground cities and meeting people living in the area (not in the underground cities any longer, LOL) - some of whom have taken in Syrian refugee families.
We also visited the Antalya region (we were advised not to go into the city) and spent a couple days at the Mediterranean beach at Side - but stayed well away from the BIG tourist hotels, preferring the homier older section right next to the old Agora. We were right next to an extended Turkish family on the beach. Grandmom was wearing a headscarf and a long over-garment (and didn't go into the water). Her two daughters were both in skimpy bikinis and their husbands were having a wonderful time taking care of the kids, while the moms swam and sunbathed.
During a lull, Grandmom (who was likely younger than I) sat down in the lounger next to mine, got comfortable, pulled out a cigarette and took a long and apparently satisfying puff. I must have looked somewhat surprised at that because she looked at me, smiled and gave a distinctly roguish wink. Then we both chuckled. I wish that we could have conversed because it would likely have been fun for us both.
At one roadside stop, one woman who heard me speaking English, approached me with her cellphone. I presumed that she wanted to take a picture of or with me - not an uncommon occurrence, btw. But I finally understood that she wanted me to speak on it. She called the number of her niece in Istanbul, who was an English speaker, and we had a three-way conversation.
While we in the West may not quite understand how they do it, the Turks in Turkey seem to have found a way to maintain a balance between the religious and the secular that suits their culture, even though the secularists are still - rightfully so - nervous. I hope that balance can be maintained.
IMO, the surest way to drive people into the arms of fundamentalists is to deny them rights that they believe should be basic ones, such as the ability to worship as they please.
More American should go and see for themselves what life is like outside the US bubble and their own comfort zones. They will find that their comfort zones will expand immensely and will be appalled at how little they actually know about life in non-Western countries. There is too much media bias about Muslim and predominantly-Muslim societies generally - and oftentimes even bias from former immigrants who have since become Americans. In some cases, the latter may have very little idea how their countries of origin may have changed for the better since their departures.
Sorry - I didn't mean to get on my high horse! Glad to know that you too have friends there.
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