True Stories

From cosmopolitan Istanbul to villages where people have never heard of America or England, the writers here describe a vibrant land. Markets burst with the colors of carpets, the aroma of spices, and the sound of merchants eager to make a sale (and serve apple tea). Minarets and the call to prayer pierce the blue sky while Sufi dervishes whirl in the shadows. The seas glisten, lapping against coasts dotted with the ruins of antiquity. Tradition blends with contemporary change, as Turkey struggles to find its place in the new millennium. Travelers’ Tales Turkey unveils this dramatic land through stories that range from whimsical to profound. Drink raki and smoke a water pipe with Stephen Kinzer. Explore the cave churches and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia with Mary Lee Settle. Search for evidence of Noah’s Ark at Mount Ararat with Bruce Feiler. Wrestle with the legend of the Goddess Artemis with Tim Ward. Discover the exquisite pleasure of the perfect Turkish dish on the roadside with Pier Roberts and be applauded by a busload of locals for your good judgment.