Most people have heard of the country, Turkiye, but you probably thought it was spelled differently…right?!?! While Istanbul is probably the most familiar destination from it, there are so many other cities that have so much culture to offer. I spent two years in Turkiye a few years back, and it was definitely an eye-opening experience.

Luckily, I was able to take advantage of a few trips offered by the base’s Outdoor Recreation office. I thought it was very cool that each city we visited was so different from the last. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the food. I had Turkish pizza and years later I can still remember how amazing it tasted. Some memorable dishes we also enjoyed were baklava, doner kebab and chicken tava. Any restaurant you visited would provide you with a table full of food and the cost was so cheap. Can you imagine a full spread that only cost you about ten dollars?

I really loved that you were always offered Turkish Tea. My favorite flavor was apple. The tea is served in the cutest little glasses. Needless to say, I bought some as souvenirs to bring back to the states.

Surprisingly, there were coastal cities that made you feel like you escaped your everyday life. The atmosphere was so relaxing, and the people were always friendly.

One of the most memorable regions we visited was Cappadocia. I have never seen a place like this in all my life. The coolest thing about Cappadocia is that they have rock formations that people actually live in. Plus, we even got to ride camels…which was a very fun adventure as well!

I didn’t get a chance to travel to Istanbul, which is the largest city with a population of over 15 million people. It is still on my bucket list and someday, I wish to have the opportunity to visit. There are a few military stations in the country of Turkiye and I highly recommend you visit if you ever get the chance.

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