We are planning to visit Turkey next year for three weeks. I am trying to avoid questions that have been asked and answered, but if I do I apologoze. We travel independently and are some of our preliininary questions.

Is it safe to visit sites in Eastern Turkey such Ani and Mt. Nemrut?

Which Turksih fiction writers can you recommend who are translated in English?

We live in NYC and enjoy the Turkish Kitchen on 3rd Avenue. Is the cooking Americanized or genuine? Are there are other places in NYC that offer genuine Turkish cooking?

How many days in Cappadocia if we do not want to rush and spend time painting and photgraphing the area? For serious amateurs and professional photographers, which lenses suited you best?

Thank you advance for your responses.

I can only help with your question about Cappadocia. I was there for 2 days and I could have easily stayed 2 more, it's like no other place on earth. I strongly suggest the hot air balloon ride. It's expensive and it's an early wake-up call but well worth the effort and expense. If you would like to see my pics they are here:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v4...view=slideshow

Hello!
Try HANCI on 10th btw 57/58th. In general I find pretty much all the Turkish places in the city to be pretty authentic. My fave is Beyoglu on the UES, cant remember the exact address. You know its been americanized if their cacik (yogurt dip) has dill in it. I dont know why they do this in the U.S.

re: Cappdocia- if you really want to enjoy it, like the other poster said 2 days is not enough, I think 4 days would be perfect.

Mt. Nemrut area is very safe, you will be fine.

Hope this helps-for the travel books check out the new travel bookstore Idlewilde (sp?) in Union Square area-havent been there yet but I bet they could definitely help.

ENJOY TURKEY You will LOVE IT!

Thanks I appreciate the advice.

We will visit Idlewild. Idlewild, for the old farts in the audience, is the old name of JFK airport in Queens.

I was in Goreme for one night. Looking back I have loved to spend more time. The night was arrived we did a evening performance at local hall that included meal and all tyes of dancers, inlcuding Whilrling Dervished. Next day we visited Open Air Museum and then headed south. On the way we visited an underground 'city' off of the main roads, and did a hike in the Ilhara valley (very nice) to see some of the cave Churches. I woould have liked a couple of extra days.

I read a couple of books on Turkish history to get an onverview of how the country came about, and popularity of Ataturk. If this is what your are looking for, can find those names.

Thanks. I welcome the better histories of Turkey but I am also looking for Turksih fiction writers who have been translated in English.

Aduchamp:

Was that Kusadasi (Koosh-a-desu) hotel The Kismet? It is one of our all-tme favorites.

I'd suggest at least three-four nights in Cap...we've stayed at the cave-inn (Esbelli Evi) and loved it...we drove over 2000 miles in three weeks..not as far east as Nemrut (but I would not hesitate to go here). After a week in Istanbul, we flew to Cap, rented our car in Urgup (visited the beautiful Ihlara Valley...walking along the river below...frescoes, caves, etc), spent time in the rarel-visited, handsome Lake district, then Antalya, the unmatchable Turquoise Coast, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, before ferrying off to Rhodes and the Greek islands. Most memorable in every respect

I didn't have a digital in those days (1995), but here are my scanned pix of many places mentioned in the paragraph above.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/ScenesOfTurkey#

Oh, yes, you will love Turkey, its culture, its people, its food choices, its overall exotic feel!

Stu Tower [email protected]

Aduchamp...p.s.

you can enlarge any scanned pix by clicking on the magnifying glass icon...especially where there are multiple pix on the same "page"...also you can click on "slide show"...enjoy.

stu

Thank you.

Orhan Pamuk (Nobel prize winner for fiction) has been translated into English. I've read "Istanbul," "My Name Is Red," and "Snow." The last was my least favorite but quite interesting.

Thank you Luisah. I requested two books by him at the library and they will be avaialble tomorrow.