Turkey Handbook (Footprint - Travel Guides) [Paperback]

Dominic Whiting (Author)

Book Description

Series: Footprint - Travel Guides | Publication Date: April 1, 2000

Turkey, a land of mosques, minarets, kebaps, of exotic eastern bazaars, the mystery of the sultan's harem and shady-looking characters puffing on hubble-bubbles. Stepping off the plane in Istanbul such preconceptions are immediately strained as you're shepherded through a glittering new terminal, dazzled by acres of pale marble. Outside, a cab or the newly unveiled metro await to whisk you into the city. And still no-one wearing a fez, although the way the driver dodges incessantly between the lanes, leaning on his horn, feels pretty 'eastern'. But there, as envisaged, are the mosques and moustachioed men; the street-traders with trays balanced precariously on their heads and the shoeshine boys. As you step onto the street the evening call to prayer reverberates across the city, an exotic cacophony loaded with eastern flavour. However, not far away you stumble across a trendy café, where the sound of the ezan is drowned out by pop music and carefully preened Istanbullu chat into mobile phones while sipping latte. In fact, modern Turkey falls beyond any conventional mould. Neither convincingly European nor wholly of the Middle East; tradition and modernity co-exist in a dynamic, eye-opening mosaic that justifies its clichéd title as the meeting place of east and west.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dominic first visited Turkey 18 years ago and has lived and worked there for the last three years travelling extensively throughout the country as well as across Europe and Asia. He speaks fluent Turkish and has a passion for all mountain-based activities including trekking, skiing and mountain biking. His experiences also include an overland drive across Turkey in an old Dutch postal van!

Product Details

• Paperback: 752 pages
• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks; 1st edition (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900949857
• ISBN-13: 978-1900949859
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,174,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Guide for Turkey, March 4, 2006

By 

Anonymous "Mom of 3" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Turkey Handbook (Footprint - Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I am an American who traveled last year to Tukey and Tunisia. I discovered the Footprint guides first for Tunisia, and must say they are the best guidebook I have used for travel. They provide not only the info on where to stay and eat, but hands down have the best historical information I have seen in a travel guide. When I travel someplace new, I want to learn about what I am seeing and Footprints does not dissapoint. With few exceptions, the book gave much better information than the guides we were with. From now on, any time I travel, I will check and see if Footprint makes a guidebook for the area. I woulnd't even bother with the offers to get other books if you get this one. The footprint guide is all you need.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars History Buffs, May 16, 2006

By 

C. S. Newton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turkey Handbook (Footprint - Travel Guides) (Paperback)

If you are a history buff, you'll like this book. If you're not a history buff...and I am not... you will simply feel buffeted. The amount of historical references were overwhelming and the print is miniscule. I wanted practical suggestions for getting around and recommendations for how, when, and where to enjoy Turkey's beauties.