This was a last minute decision to take a trip in October. Where should we go? It's monsoon season in Cambodia, and Africa requires more time and cash than we have in the budget. Turkey has been on our "list" for years after the recommendations of other travelers. And October is perfect weather.

This was our third Rick Steves tour, two weeks starting and ending in Istanbul, and visiting the capital Ankara, small villages, the rock formations of Cappadocia, the Bosphorus and the Mediterranean, and spectacular ruins of the Roman empire. We had a Turkish bath and did a hot air balloon ride, watched carpets and pottery being made, and ate our way around the country.

Our Turkish guide, Alp, opened the doors not just to the history and architecture, but to the customs and culture of his country. He was willing to discuss Islam, the Kurdish population, relations with Armenia, and the possiblity of joining the European Union. We visited non-tourist local markets and chatted (with his interpretation) with people who spoke no English. It was a memorable visit, one which we'd recommend to any traveler.

Miscellaneous interesting facts about Turkey...

The country spans two continents, with 97% in Asia, and 3% in Europe. The Bosphorus Strait is the dividing line, and Istanbul is on both sides of it.

The Turkish Republic, established largely by the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, has existed since 1923. Although 97% of the population is Muslim, the government is secular, with separation of mosque and state.

Our guide, Alp, explaining the purpose of a Caravanserai

Turkey has the fifth largest armed force in the world, and the second largest force in the NATO army (the first is the US.)

Turkey is the third largest producer of olive oil in the world. It's the largest producer of hazelnuts, cherries, figs, apricots, quince and pomegranates.

The Turkish alphabet has 29 letters, including an i (with a dot) and i (without the dot.) Finding the correct i on the keyboard takes some getting used to. (Finding a font for this site that will represent the dot-less version has also been a challenge.)

Beautiful tiles on the walls of Topkapi Palace

There is a monument in Istanbul that indicates the center of the ancient world...at least in the view of the Roman Empire. This is not in the Italian Rome, Italy as we would expect, but in Constantinople (now Istanbul) which was made the capital and center or the Roman Empire in 330 AD. When they said "all roads lead to Rome", they were talking about this location.

Machine gun toting guards stand on duty at the entrance to Topkapi Palace. But unlike the Swiss Guard, these friendly fellows will chat with tourists, and are even willing to have their photos taken.

The most expensive gasoline in the world is in Turkey. We saw a Shell sign for unleaded: costing 3.29 TL per liter, or about $8.25 per gallon. They also sell Otogaz (LPG) at about half the cost of unleaded.

Solar panels are everywhere in the country. Large apartment complexes are covered with multiple panels, while the most modest rural home will have a setup that often includes a hot water tank. Costs of the panels for a home are around $2500, but with the high cost of electricity, the payback is just a few years.

A basic village home, with solar panels and hot water tank.

Carpet weavers in central Turkey, making their masterpieces. Each carpet is a unique piece of art.

In what other city can a resident wake up in Asia, take a ferry to work in Europe, and never leave the city? Istanbul spans both sides of the Bosporus strait, which is the dividing line between the continents.