December 15, 2004

From East to West

Bodrum, Turkey

The European Parliament has just voted to begin the process to admit Turkey to the European Union. An event of great excitement here in Turkey. Whilst wishing the Turks well in their entry to Europe I wonder if any of the European Parliamentarians have ever been beyond Istanbul.

Coming from Georgia, in many ways a quite European-feeling country, I was struck by the Middle Eastern feel that I first encountered in Turkey. The mosques and the minarets. Hejab-clothed women shopping in the bazaars. Donkeys on the street. The noise and bussle.

Once you read the Mediterranean everything changes. Concrete hotels and asphalt highways cover the coast. Prices are in Euros and menus in German. Tour buses replace donkey carts. The customers are from Europe, not from Syria or Iran.

I came to like the eastern part of Turkey much more. The snow was deeper but the hotels were warmer. It was living a year-round existence, in contrast to the tourist-driven and highly seasonal life of the coastal cities. It was genuine, real, and not at all like Europe.

Posted by David at December 15, 2004 02:40 AM