A few useful things about Turkey.
A few useful things about Turkey.
Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the holidaymaker a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From April to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of mountains and lakes. Turkey also has a magnificent past and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if you spend only a short while in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great heritage. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common: the extreme friendliness and hospitality of the people of this unique country.
Turkey proudly sits astride two continents: a position that has given rise to a culture that reflects both East and West. It is a country where European aspirations sit comfortably alongside Asian traditions and the volatile atmosphere of the Middle East morphs seamlessly into the relaxed outlook of the Mediterranean world.
Such a rich history has left an indelible mark and Turkey abounds with historic sites and archaeological wonders set in a varied and beautiful landscape. The Mediterranean coastline is punctuated with well-preserved Greco-Roman cities such as Pergamom and Ephesus, while the austere and rugged Anatolian plateau has cave churches hidden away in the improbable fairytale landscape of Cappadocia. Istanbul, still very much the pulse of the nation, has even more to offer, with Roman aqueducts, Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques and palaces.
Getting about:
The Dolmus (dolmush) is typically Turkish and can be found everywhere. These are mainly minibuses traveling relatively short distances. A dolmus usually waits in the bus station until it is full and then leaves. You can board a dolmus anywhere on its route by signaling it to stop for you. Similarly you can get off at a convenient point anywhere along the route. The destination of the dolmus is posted in the windscreen. There are services to all places on the Bodrum peninsula. In summer the latest hour of departure of the minibuses or dolmus is 24.00.
This kind of public transport is cheap and efficient and works very well all over Turkey. The bus in Turkey is still the main form of transportation. Every town, every area in Turkey can be reached from the bus station, the *otogar*. Otogar is a word combination, ("Oto" means car, "Gar" comes from the French word Gare for station). Go there and you'll find all bus companies - tickets can be obtained right here.
Driving laws in Turkey:
The law in Turkey states that driving should take place on the right of the road and that right of way always belongs to traffic coming from the right. In reality however you will see this law flouted often when driving in Turkey so you just have to observe and get a feel for what’s acceptable. The speed limit for driving in Turkey is 90 km/h on the highways and 50km/h in towns although once again these limits are often ignored and people driving in Turkey tend to go as fast as they can. If you intend to rent a car be sure to take your full driving licence from your home country. The car rental agency in Turkey will want to see it and so will the police if you are stopped. Provided you have your full driving licence there shouldn’t be any need to obtain an international driving permit although if you want one you can always apply at your countries automobile club.
Medical Care:
. Arguably the most important consideration for the visitor is the availability of health services. Yalikavak has several doctors and dentists, as well as a Public Health Clinic. Medicines can be obtained from any of the three pharmacies (chemists) one of which is always on 24-hour duty; Should there arise a need for the services of a fully-equipped hospital with a complete diagnostic, laboratory, surgical and/or intensive care units, patients can be rapidly evacuated by ambulance to such facilities in nearby Bodrum. For emergencies the town hospitals are open 24 hours a day and most of the duty doctors are bilingual.
The Nargile:
The nargile, or hookah, is a Turkish water tobacco pipe that was very popular during the years of the Ottoman Empire and has recently seen a revival, especially among young people. Nargile cafes abound where one can enjoy a game of backgammon (tavla), puff on a nargile which comes in various flavours, including banana and apple, and watch the world go by.
The Evil Eye:
Wherever you go in Turkey you will see the nazar boncuk, or evil eye charm, to ward off the ‘evil eye’. For sale as pendants or pins and often found hanging above doors, in car windscreens or used in designs for material or painted on to pottery, china and tiles, the 'evil eye', is usually made out of cobalt blue glass with a stylised eye design and can be of any size. A common symbol throughout the Middle East and dating back many thousands of years it is traditionally thought to ward off negative energy from others which can lead to bad luck.
Turkish Baths:
There have been hammams or public bath houses in Turkey since medieval times, used both as a place to relax, get clean and as a social spot. The tradition reached its height during Ottoman times, when it became the social focus for women, for many of whom it provided a rare opportunity to leave their own home and see their friends – as well as eye up prospective future daughters-in-law. The men bathed in a separate section and even today, many of the Turkish baths still contain separate areas for men and women - or where a town has only one hammam, different times of day or days of the week. The only exception to this is the baths open to tourists in beach resorts, where it is not uncommon to have mixed bathing and even to be massaged by someone of the opposite sex, which would not happen in a traditional bath.
Post and Telephones:
Turkish post and telephone offices are easily recognisable by their "PTT" and "Turk Telekom" signs. Major post offices are open from 8:00am to 12 am Monday to Saturday and 9:00am to 7:00 pm on Sunday. Small post offices have the same opening hours as Government offices.
Currency:
It is possible to exchange money at some PTT branches at the current international exchange rate. International post orders and travelers cheques can also be exchanged. An express postal service (Acele Posta Servisi -APS) operates from Turkey to 72 other countries for letters, documents and small packages. Stamp collectors will be delighted with the wide range of special stamps available from the philatelic section. International subscriptions are also available.
The exchange rates for foreign currencies are published daily. You could check the value of your currency from the Currency Converter. You may exchange your money either in Post or Bank offices (open daily (Except Saturday and Sunday) between 09:00 to 17:00), Exchange offices (In touristy places are generally open until midnight), or at your hotel. You would get the best rate at the exchange office and the lowest at your hotel.
Checks: Euro Checks can be cashed immediately; so can traveler's checks upon producing identification.
Credit Cards: The most widely accepted credit cards are Euro card, Diner's Club, Visa and MasterCard. You may exchange traveler's checks at Post Offices in touristy places and at certain banks.