TURKISH RECIPES

Ali Nazik Kebabi (eggplant puree)

Ezme Salatasi (spicy tomato salad)

Irmikli Hurma Tatlisi (semolina dessert cookies)

Kabak Kalye (zucchini with ground meat)

Kisir (bulgur salad)

Muhammara (an appetizer)

Sirkeli Patlican (eggplant with vinegar)

Sultan Sarma (tenderloin)

Zetinyagli Yaprak Dolmasi (stuffed vine leaves) 

At Turkish baths the staff that attends you expects to share a tip of 30%-35% of the bill. Don't worry about missing them -- they'll be lined up expectantly on your departure.

 Always wear seat belts, and children should ride in the back seat with seat belts on and/or in a child safety seat. Dusk is a particularly dangerous time on intercity highways because most drivers delay turning on their headlights until well after dark. Oncoming traffic can be very difficult to see.

Use your horn to get pedestrians' attention, use horn and lights to get the attention of other drivers, and especially pay attention when other drivers use their horns. Check all mirrors and use directional signals for lane changes, and check right side mirror in particular, confirming with a direct visual check. Make sure your lights, signals, horn and brakes are in proper order.

Use four-way flashers to warn drivers behind of slowed/blocked traffic to avoid being hit from behind. 

Watch out for trucks and buses that take the right-of-way without signaling, whether they are entitled to it or not, passing on the right and cutting in front of other vehicles from the right side happens - as does unexpected stops or turns without signaling, for no apparent reason. Drivers may also stop in unexpected locations to pick up or let off passengers. 

Pedestrians can be seemingly completely oblivious to oncoming traffic who continue to walk or run in front of vehicles to cross streets and main highways.

Vehicles may be parked at night without lights on the highway rather than on the side of the road..

Tire-shredding potholes can be a problem in rural areas

Watch for unmarked intersections (i.e., no stop signs), primary road has right of way, but proceed with caution.

You should always have your vehicle registration, insurance policy, and driver's license (or copies) in your car. If there is an accident, you will need all three.

Mandatory

-- First-aid kit and  Reflective warning triangle

Optional

     Fire extinguisher                 Locking gas cap               An inexpensive camera with flash to document accidents

     Tow rope or cable              Jump leads                        Spare directional and headlamp bulbs            

If a winter visit, consider Snow chains. During storms, vehicles without chains are not allowed on some roads and bridges 

Important Road Signs

Dur. - Stop                                                               Tek yon - one way
Girilmez - No entry (in general)                           Tasit Giremez - No vehicle entry
Giris - Entrance                                                       Cikis - Exit 
Park  - yapilmaz/edilmez                                       No parking -  Parketmek yasaktir  
No parking  - Sehir merkezi                                 City center - Arac cikabilir.
Vehicles exiting  - Askeri bolge                            Military Zone  - Hastane
Hospital  - Yaya gecidi                                           Pedestrian Crossing  - Tirmanma seridi
 Road work  - Yol tamiri                                         Road repair - Yol yapimi
Road construction  - Servis Yolu                         Temporary road (detour)  - Agir Tasitlar Sagdan gidiniz..
 Rest area  - Servis Aiani                                      Service area  - Uzun arac
Long vehicle  - Tirmanma sagdan                  

Key Motoring Terms

Benzin - Gas/petrol                                                 Kursunsuz  - Lead free 
Diesel  - Tehlikeli Madde                                       Dangerous materials (propane, etc.) Lastikci
Tire repair  - Sanayi bolgesi                                  Repair shop zone  - Otogar
Bus station  - Kar                                                    Snow -  Buz
Ice  - Kaza raporu                          

Telephones are either bought on the black market at up to £400 or your name is put on a waiting list where you can wait for anything from a week to three years, depending on availability in your area. There is a small standing charge payable annually approximately £12.00. Lines are generally good and Internet access easy and well serviced. 

There is a national daily newspaper printed in English, the Turkish Daily News. A short-wave radio is useful to pick up the BBC World service. Television reception is good and if you buy Digiturk Satelllite system you receive 52 channels including MGM, Movie Max 1&2, BBC Prime, Discovery Channel, Eurosport, CNN world news, etc. There are large European communities living in Turkey full time, plus many transitory people living on boats in the harbours for months at a time. During the winter months there are many social occasions arranged such as book swaps, walks, BBQ's, card evenings and inland trips.