2. You might have heard about the endless glasses of tea, the kebabs and how to haggle in the bazaar. But if you really want to learn more about real Turkey, here are some stereotypes and the TRUE THINGS about life and culture in Turkey!!

3. Not all Turkish men have mustaches!!! And no fez!!! A wrong image!!!

4. While you might see members of the older generation sporting a mustache, young Turks are more likely to be clean-shaven.

5. There aren’t any camels!!

6. Turkey is also mistakenly depicted as a desert dotted with date palms and camels, however Turkey has a diverse terrain, and deserts do not exist!! In Turkish holiday resorts it’s quite usual to see a couple of camels lined up strategically outside the tourist attractions, waiting to be photographed..

7. The official language is Turkish! THE TURKISH ALPHABET However, Turkish is entirely unrelated to Arabic and today Turkish is written in the LATIN ALPHABET that was introduced in 1928 and replaced the Arabic alphabet.Turkish

8. Turkish is part of the Turkic language family; similar languages are spoken in Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Turkish has its own sounds. Although most Turks are Muslim, they are not Arabs or they don’t speak Arabic.

9. ARABIC LETTERS FIRST TURKISH ALPHABET IN THE 8 TH CENTURY

10. Turks are also depicted in similar fashion to Arabs in dress and writing and Turkey is portrayed as a theocratic country, due to the fact the majority of people in Turkey are practicing Islam.theocratic country

11. THESE GUYS ARE ARABS! NOT TURKS!

12. Turkey is a strict Muslim country.!?? WRONG!!Turkey is actually a democratic republic. Turks are very proud of their history, particularly that of ATATÜRK. Atatürk is the founder of the Republic of Turkey, he reformed and modernized the country. Turkey is a secular state, meaning its government do not (or should not..) favour Islam over any other religion, and religion should have no effect on public life, politics or law.

13. FOR US HE IS THE SUBLIME LEADER, A GREAT TEACHER AND UNIQUE PERSON.

14. Turkish soap operas are so popular!

15. Local studios produce TV Series and Soap Operas at an impressive rate. Mostly socializing in Turkey is done at home, and watching soap operas is a favorite pastime. Turkish soap operas are not only popular inside the country; they are also watched throughout the Balkans, the Arab world and Central Asia. These shows have even been credited for a respectible increase in Arab tourism in the country.increase in Arab tourism

16. Turkish people are extremely hospitable If a Turkish person invites you to his house after you’ve known him for half an hour, don’t panic. Turks are incredibly friendly and hospitable and as a guest, you are highly valued. Many will consider it an honor if you accept an invitation to visit them. Once inside, you will be satisfied with food and strong black tea or Turkish coffee.

18. Food There are many things to say about food in Turkey because Turkey has a wide range of food belonging to every region. As a stereotype only KEBAP,DONER,BAKLAVA are known as the most famous but this is not true. Words fall short to tell about Turkish cuisine.

19. TURKISH PEOPLE LIVE ON KEBAB OR DONER!!??

20. NOT ONLY MEAT DISHES BUT ALSO MEDITERRANEAN WAY OF COOKING WITH OLIVE OIL IS COMMON IN TURKEY. KEBAB IS ONLY A DROP IN THE OCEAN OF TURKISH CUISINE!!

21. FISH IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IN TURKISH CUISINE

22. INSEPARABLE DUO

23. MOUTHWATERING, AREN’T THEY?

24. History Turkish people are very passionate about Ottoman history as our ancestors really deserve it. The Ottoman Empire ruled over 600 years on a really large piece of land.Turkish people really care about their history. They are just proud of Turkish history.

26. Football Football is the most important sport in Turkey and people like watching every match and they are great spectators. The stereotype about football is Turkish spectators sometimes act in an exaggerated way: especially the fans of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.When there is a derby match between these two teams there will sometimes happen a problem.

28. Turkish men are allowed x amount of wives!?? Wrong!!! Polygamy is illegal and can be punished with a prison sentence.

29. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? THAT IS NOT JUST A CUP OF COFFEE. DO YOU KNOW WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT IN TURKISH CULTURE & WHAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?

33. It is the only coffee that can be used to predict the future. CAFEDOMANCY: The use of coffee grounds to cast fortunes. CAN YOU SEE THE HEART IN THIS CUP? WHAT ABOUT THE DRAGON IN THE SECOND CUP ?

34. DRINKING COFFEE IS A UNIQUE PLEASURE FOR TURKS!! "A single cup of coffee can create a friendship that lasts for 40 years ". A cup of Turkish coffee is endowed with a variety of important connotations for Turks: friendship, affection and sharing. Turkish coffee is such an intrinsic part of Turkish culture that it has given its name to the word for breakfast, "kahvaltı", which translates as "before coffee", and is derived from the words "kahve" (coffee) and "altı" (before).