Turkey

Whilst it’s not all çay tea, whirling dervishes and carpets, Turkey does have all of these in spades. Turkey is a country bound up in a legacy of historical battle for land, for honour and for glory and this has made today’s Turks a passionate bunch. Much like the Italians they have a love of food and family and this is exemplified by their communal meze dishes that see everyone dive in to plates of calamari, yogurt, stuffed vegetable and köfte meatballs. Visit its capital city, Istanbul, and like much of Turkey you will find remnants of the Ottoman empire like the imposing Blue Mosque, its minarets towering above the skyline, and the Grand Bazaar, a covered market in the heart of the city selling everything from carpets and leather to gold and silverware. You will also find a city giving the likes of London and New York a challenge in the hip stakes with its many cool hotels, chic restaurants and cutting edge clubs and bars, making it a honey pot for all jet-setting fashion aficionados. Whether you come here to suck up the inspiring history and architecture, share meze with the Turks or just to party, Turkey will not leave you wanting.