Just got back from Turkey where I made the mistake of visitng the capital city, ANkara. WHAT A DUMP ! Just about everywhere is polluted with fumes from the cars and trucks, not to mention the cigarette smoke (has nobody in Turkey heard of lung cancer?) <BR> <BR>Worst of all, there is nothing to see here, just a load of government buidings with menacing armed guards. <BR> <BR>DONT GO THERE !!

Too bad you did not see (1) the magnificent museum of Anatolian Civilization with its artifacts dating back to more than 5000 B.C. and (2) the fascinating tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. Too bad you did not choose to use a genuine name and e-mail address on your message because it makes one suspect that your message is a troll by someone who has it in for Turkey, one of the most interesting and hospitable countries anywhere.

i have to agree with him, yes the attaturk monumnet is impressive and the museum good... The city is however dirty, overcrowded, squalid and thoroughly unpleasant <BR> <BR>p.s. real name and email attached.

I'd go along with Al and add the backstreet markets in the old Samanpazari district and the Arslanhane Camii with its wooden interior. <BR> <BR>Sure, its not a tourist paradise - no match for Istanbul's atmosphere - as its a modern and somewhat artificial national capital.

I'm with Al. Those were two great sites. <BR>

I always tell my friends who travel to a foreign country for the first time is to have an open mind and that they are no longer in America. One should travel to experience other cultures. I am lucky to live in America, but am appreciative of other places. I have not been to Ankara, but am thinking of going there for next years trip. I’ve been to Istanbul where the place was crowded with locals and tourists, the streets were somewhat dirty, and the air was polluted until the late a.m. winds came in and cleared the skies for the rest of the day, but what a spectacular city! The mosques, the sounds, the sights! And the people were friendly to us.

I am planning a trip to Turkey for next year-- what did you do/see that you liked? <BR>

"Frank", you obviously didn't do any research about Ankara before leaving home. If you had, no doubt you would have known about the museum Al mentioned, which sounds absolutely marvellous. People have made much the same comments about Athens re pollution, but I still enjoyed it despite the smog and fumes.

First of, I'm British, not American. I've also back-packed extensively throughout Asia and Africa, visited plenty of places with extreme poverty, underdeveloped facilities and so on, but still found much I enjoyed. <BR> <BR>None of this alters the fact that Ankara is IMHO a truly terrible city, desperately in need of cleaning up, adequate pollution and traffic control and additional cultural attractions for visitors. <BR> <BR>If you want to go there, fine, that's your choice but don't say you weren't warned.

I lived in Ankara two different times for a total of 5 years. We found it to be a very pleasant place to live. There are lots of things to do and see if you just take the time to look. I also lived in England for 6 years and "IMHO" the same exact things can be said about London. Dirty, polluted, crowded, etc. As hinted above, it's all in one's attitude.

I'm with Al and George. Sure it's not Istanbul, but the musuem and the tomb are fascinating spots. Couldn't agree more with Al, too. Turkey is one of the most interesting and hospitable countries I have ever visited.