otherchelebi

Turkey has entered a one man rule period of uncertain duration. There is still a parliament, but it has limited functions and no power over the administration which can prepare, publish and apply laws as decrees by itself.
In fact, their first decree was to expand the powers of all security, judicial and local administration to include, detention, arrest, imprisonment, expropriation of property without court order//

This was actually the way things were the last few years but the president has now become secure enough to put it into writing as a decree with the power of law.

In the new system (?) the president is responsible for all administrative decision and has authority for the economy, international relations, security, defense, agriculture, zoning, customs, construction, tenders, tourism, culture and arts, roads, transportation. communication, and others. Naturally he may delegate responsibility as in the case of the very recent train accident killing over thirty and injuring over three hundred, while continuing to keep the authority over the railways.

The new governmental system is almost identical with the new examples cropping up in all continents, following the aeons old nomadic tribal heritage of human kind, where the leader has all authority but no responsibility.

This may be my last post on matters political.

I shall start the new thread a bit early this year, upon our return fro a short 40th year anniversary budget trip to Helsinki, Finland later this week.

bilboburgler

Good luck and thanks for all the advice.

yestravel

Have appreciated all your posts. Enjoy your trip! May the future become brighter for you and the rest of the world.

annhig

Take care, OC and enjoy your trip. We have so appreciated your insights and words of wisdom about your country.

I'm sure we can benefit from them in respect of other matters.

otherchelebi

Thank you dear friends, Annhig, Yestravel, Bilboburgler, kja, thursdayd.

I appreciate your kind words.

Will continue with travel advice in addition to :

- poetry and literature in general
- archeology, history and scenery
- culture, food,
- anomalies, aberrations, divergences

thursdaysd

You're very welcome. I am so sad about the situation in Turkey. But enjoy Helsinki, with any luck it should be cooler. Have you thought about adding Riga?

kja

Your insights have been greatly appreciated, otherchelebi. Please be safe.

And happy anniversary! I thought Helsinki a lovely city and hope that you and Eser think so, too.

otherchelebi

thursdayd. We have planned a day in Talinn. Otherwise, we shall drive around, Turku, Espoo. Porvoo, Fiskar,and some national parks.

I do not walk much and prefer to do the little walking I do among beautiful scenery and different architecture rather than in museums.

Saturday night will be the anniversary dinner. Do you have any suggestions?

kja

In Helsinki, you might consider visiting Suomenlinna Fortress and perhaps a bit of the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum.

thursdaysd

Yes, congratulations to both of you on the anniversary.

I'm afraid I wasn't too enthusiastic about Helsinki or Tallinn, but I had bad weather in Helsinki and the Art Nouveau buildings weren't my kind of Art Nouveau.

See; https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ain-and-shine/
https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...i-art-nouveau/
https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...round-tallinn/

annhig

OC - sorry I missed that it is a 40th anniversary trip so congratulations to you both. It would have been Bill and I's 40th anniversary a couple of weeks ago so I know how special it is and I wish you many many more.

I have no recommendations for Tallin though the DD of one of my best friends lives there with her Bulgarian DH and their daughter. By all accounts they love it there. i hope that you have a wonderful time there and in Finland.

Treesa

Congratulations, otherchelebi. Your insight and musings are much appreciated.

2016adventurer

Thank you for your insights! Please stay safe. Might you consider seeking political asylum while in Helsinki?

Happy anniversary!

otherchelebi

Enjoying being with absolutely no news from Turkey. Finland on our third day heated up to 29-30 degrees, much higher than any hotel A/C can cope with.
Turku, Loja visited in addition to area around hotel in Espo and Porvoo. Tallinn tomorrow.

Eser loved the warm water within 150 meters of our hotel, across the park. I was exhausted with the driving and the heat but had enough stamina to take photographs.and protect her from skinny dippers.

annhig

Glad you're having such a good time despite the heat!

Lovely pics of Eser but does she know you've plastered pictures of her in her swimsuit all over the internet?

otherchelebi

We are back from Finland and I have started a trip report.

Things are getting bad here with new legislation. But so are things all over the world.
I will not be surprised if Turkey decides to call itself a racial-religious country just like Israel decided to call themselves.
Should we expect new Holocausts of Hispanics, Arabs, Moslems, Kurds, Soryanis, Alevis, Sunnis, Shiites, Immigrants, real and imaginary aliens, brother-in-laws?

New Turkey thread will soon take its place in the annals of Fodor's country posts.

annhig

I'd say not to joke about it, OC, but what else can you do?

Croesus

Some archaeology - they've been doing an impressive job at Tripolis ancient city near Pamukkale:


2,000-year-old mosaic-decorated villa unearthed in City of Tripolis

I once parked my rental bike on top of it.

otherchelebi

Thanks Croesus, you moved faster than I.
The digs may stay closed to visitors, but are among my Fall plans for this year.
I may also do a second trip to Gobeklitepe after seven years.

Croesus

Yes, they didn't allow me to take photos of the excavations at Tripolis on my second visit. They must have found a lot of columns.
In 2013:


I still haven't visited Gobekli Tepe yet.