RTA GALWAY - VISIT TO TURKEY

Istanbul

I have always haboured a dream of visiting Istanbul and in April with nineteen teachers from the R.T.A. Galway branch we headed off with the Travel Department on this great adventure. Murat Cicekli, our guide, contributed enormously to the success of the trip. He was efficient, attended to every ones needs, funny with a great passion for his own people and culture.

Built Heritage of Istanbul

We arrived in Istanbul with a case full of summer clothes –useless for temperatures of 8 –10 degrees, damp, cloudy and misty. To keep ourselves warm we resorted to dancing the Siege of Ennis and the “hokie pokie” under the aches of the Topkapi Palace.

The old city of Istanbul has a rich built heritage. We stood in awe as we admired the magnificent domes and minarets of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia Museum and the splendour of the Palace of Topkapi. Common to both buildings are blue tiles with flower designs of carnations, tulips, roses and the cypress tree - the tree of life. The upper regions are decorated with frescos. The men, who are called to pray five times a day by the muezzins compete with honking horns and loud music, kneel on Turkish carpets in the center of the mosque while the women and children are confined to the balconies. You remove

your shoes before entering the mosque. Near the mosques there are spice markets – the profits and taxes form the adjacent markets help to finance the maintenance of the ancient buildings.

The Bosphorus Strait

The vast bulk of the population is Muslim. Islam in Turkey is generally open – a welcoming brand of religion. It is a secular emancipated society created by the great Turkish hero Ataturk. Turkey was once the crossroads for armies and empires throughout its history, and it still walks a delicate tight rope between east and west. We travelled up the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea with The Marmara Sea and separates Asia and Europe. All along the route there are splendid palaces, forts, gardens and numerous mosques with exquisite minarets towering into the sky. This stretch of water with extremely dangerous currents is very busy as huge tankards carrying precious oil and toxic substances move rapidly along lesser sea craft.

Spice Bazaar

Istanbul, a city of 9million inhabitants, set on hilly terrain of two continents, is a city to savour at leisure. We drank black tea, apple tea, ate water pastries filled with chicken, cheese and spinach and ate several varieties of Turkish delight. We had great fun bargaining in the Spice Bazaar stacked high with spices, nuts, dried fruits, jewellery, ceramics and textiles. The smell of spices is so strong that the smell permeates your nostrils long after you have left the spice market.

The first evening we strolled through the main square and stylish shopping area that led us to a fish market. The waiters, all men dressed in black with immaculate white shirts, stand out side the restaurants enticing customers to enter their restaurants. We had a delicious meal in one such establishment. We ate fried shrimp in butter, Turkish salads, French fries, and sea bass. We had wine and water, delicious breads and fresh fruit salad - all for a mere 15euro. They also make a delicious hot chocolate that would remind you of the cocoa we drank as children.

Differences in Cultures

It is always interesting to experience the differences between your own culture and the culture of the country you visit. What surprised us? They have a population of 72,000,000 with no social welfare. Their motto is ‘No sweat no bread”. Contraception is against Islamic law but it is allowed in Turkey. 3.5 is the average family but in the east, in the poorer regions, families are larger. The parents have free labour and someone to work the land and look after them in their old age by having more children.

Inflation is under control. 12% are unemployed. 70% of the population is under 35. The economy is growing - $12,000 is the average income per capita. VAT is 18% average. Income tax ranges from 25% - 45%. 1 litre of petrol will set you back more than 2euro!! Turkey has the highest price for petrol in the world as well as the cost of electricity.

Medical Service

The medical service and prescriptions are free for workers and retirees. The waiting list for hospitals procedures is long so many use private medical care paying the difference between private and public if they require immediate care. Often people have to care for their sick relatives in hospital as there is a shortage of nurses. Every 20,000 people in an area has a State Hospital. Very poor people are given a green card whcih entitles them to food. They are not given money.

Education

91% are education. Education is free - 8years of compulsory education. Books are free but families have to pay for uniforms. University registration fee is 375euro.

Sport
Football, basketball are the top sports with Turkey having the most MBA players in the USA. They are always in the first five in major competitions. Volleyball, wrestling, oil wrestling, weight lifting, boxing and martial arts are other sports they enjoy.

The Drogheda Soccer Club’s logo bears the crescent and star of the Turkish flag. Why? Abdullmecid 11 Sultan of the Ottoman Empire wanted to send 20,000 gold coins and several vessels carrying food to the Famine victims of Ireland 1845–1847. Queen Victoria objected as she had donated £2000 and no one was allowed to donate more than her. Instead Abdullmecid sent 1000gold coins and extra food vessels to Dublin. The ships were refused landing permission so they sailed to Drogheda where they were welcomed with open arms – hence the connection with Turkey to day.

The Turkish people we met were warm hearted, welcoming and good fun with a great sense of humour. They have a tremendous pride in their country for they say:

“ Happy the man who calls himself a Turk”