There are three more compelling, reasons to visit Turkey.
Worldwide, they have the best toilets we have ever seen. Maybe they will catch on in the US. The Turkish toilet is a perfectly engineered design that combines a bidet and a toilet.
Reason two: Turkish baths. They use a pillowcase to produce these enormous amounts of wonderful, oily, good smelling bubbles. They scrub you down with them on a marble slab in a white marble-domed room that looks like a mosque from the outside. The reason babies love baths is that it feels so good to get washed. Adults in America have forgotten this simple pleasure but not in Turkey.
Reason three: Americans need a handle on this religion called Islam. It is not our fault that as a nation we are geographically isolated. But we need to know the basics about Islam. First, Islam says nothing about dressing women in burkas. This comes from Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, still ruled by a King who made up the law to oppress women. A second important fact is Turks are not Arabs. They originated in Asia, and their language is similar to Japanese, not Arabic.
In Turkey, they are having the conversation we need Muslims to have about defining their religion in the modern world. How did jihad get converted to violence against innocents? How do Muslims take responsibility for the message of Islam and not blame their problems on western influences?
We should get on the side of Turkey in this conversation. The best way to do that is to come to Turkey, eat with them, drink with them, and talk to them. They drink lots of tea in thin glasses too hot to hold, but they also drink Rakki, is a clear alcoholic liquor that tastes like licorice but isn't sweet, Efsa beer and good wine. Come have a drink, smoke a cigarette, and let your hair shine in a country straddling both Asia and Europe. Besides, Turkey is the leader in toilet design, bathing adults, and a thriving, secular, Islamic nation.
I am repeating the "Americans Come to Turkey" theme because I have three, even more compelling, reasons visit.
Worldwide, they have the best toilets we have ever seen. I want you to come visit and see for yourself. Maybe they will catch on in the US. The Turkish toilet is a perfectly engineered design that combines a bidet and a toilet.
Turkish toilet with built in bidet.
Reason two: Turkish baths. They use a pillowcase to produce this huge amounts of really wonderful, oily, good smelling bubbles. They scrub you down with them on a marble slab in a white marble, domed room that looks like a mosque from the outside. The reason babies love baths is because it feels so good to get washed. Adults in America have forgotten this simple pleasure but not in Turkey.
Turkish baths are the two domes located just to the right of the large mosque on the left of the picture.
Reason three: Americans have got to get a handle on this religion called Islam. It is not our fault, as a nation, we are geographically isolated and seriously lacking in some history of our own. But we need to know the basics about Islam. First, Islam says nothing about dressing women in burkas. This comes from Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, still ruled by a King who made up the law to oppress women. A second important fact is Turks are not Arabs. They originated in Asia and their language is similar to Japanese not Arabic.
Inside the Suleymaniye Mosque.
In Turkey, they are having the conversation we need Muslims to have about defining their religion in the modern world. How did jihad get converted to violence against innocents? How do Muslims take responsibility for the message of Islam and not blame their problems on western influences.
Moon rising in Istanbul, street scenes, and inside a Mosque.
We have got to get on the side of Turkey in this conversation. The best way to do that is to come to Turkey, eat with them, drink with them, and talk to them. They drink lots of tea in thin glasses too hot to hold, but they also drink Rakki, is a clear alcoholic liquor that tastes like liquorish but isn't sweet, Efsa beer and good wine. Come have a drink, smoke a cigarette, and let your hair shine in a country straddling both Asia and Europe. Turkey is the leader in toilet design, bathing adults, and a thriving, secular, Islamic country.
Geoff at the Modern Istanbul art museum.
The Bosporus Straight, connecting trade routes to Asia from the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
