Local information

In Turkey, the lifestyle and the customs vary from area to area. In the big cosmopolitan cities like Istanbul, people are modern and westernized. In the eastern part of the country, people are more conservative and under Islamic influence.
The Turks are known to be very friendly to foreign visitors.
Warning : Turkey is currently facing several social and political tensions that sometimes result in violence; this is due to the uprising of its people against the economic depression and inflation, the protest movement of its political opponents in prison, and finally to the claims of the Kurd and Armenian peoples. Therefore, visitors should be extremely cautious and avoid risky areas, street gatherings, and demonstrations inside the universities, where students dispatching anti-government leaflets may be imprisoned.

Weather and Seasons
The climate in Turkey changes according to the region. In the North (Black Sea) the weather is temperate. In the Center (Anatolian Plateau) there is a continental climate, which increases in the Eastern regions (mountains). On the occidental and meridian coasts, the weather is typically Mediterranean.

Distances 
Turkey is spread over 814,578 km_, so transportation is quite important. The domestic flights of Turkish Airlines go to all major cities. Buses are cheap, come frequently, and go almost everywhere in Turkey. Trains are usually slow and uncomfortable, but some are of good value. The "dolmuses", shared taxis, might be a good option for short trips.

Practical Information
Currency : Turkish Lira (TRL)
Equivalence (29 April 2001) : 1US$ = 1,250,000 TRL 1Euro = 1,130,000 TRL
Phone code : 90 + regional code + number