For all the gripes about living in Turkey (which might well be the same gripes with different overtones were it any other country), there remains an aspect of hospitality that can (hopefully DOES) brighten our days from time to time.


What's the most shockingly hospitable event that's ever happened to you?

While griping to a taxi driver about my extortionate phone bill (on the way to Turk Telekom to pay bill), the taxi driver was so upset by the details of my case that when we got there he got out of the cab with me, marched into the TT, and proceeded to advocate on my behalf to right all the wrongs of my land line account, acting as my 'landlord' and giving the TT a good earful.

ADD TO POLL QUESTION:

someone trying to give you something they own after you comment on how nice it is or how much you like it...

I asked to borrow something and my friend instead gave it to me.
I'm not one for second hand goods.
She claimed it had never been used????

(She is not Turkish BTW)

Turkish??? Breaking the fast with my fishmonger. He must have been starving for his freshly fried fish but he made sure I got a piece first. Nice guy.

I always get tea from my vegetable man in the Balık Pazarı...and puzzled looks from the tourists.

Fishmongers must be firendly guys becuase I've been offered lunch by one before too. Other than that the guys in the otopark always offer tea/food/whatever they have going - I gave them each a beer on new years eve in return.

Possibly not hospitable but a case of extreme understanding. I was on a bus from Adana to samsun a few years ago (well before the smoking bans had come into place) and was happily muching on my sandwiches I'd packed for the trip and, as the nice person that I've become thanks to the Turks being so nice to me, I offered the turban-wearing fellow (I guess he must have been an imam) some of my biscuits. He made that polite gesture of a hand on the heart to say "no thanks" and the trip (this was a day bus) went on. I also noticed that there were no smoking signs on the windows of the bus and was amazed that they were actually being obeyed.

No prizes if you've already guessed where this going.

At around sun down the bus driver changed the radio station to some religious channel and soon after that the call to prayer came on. Everyone lit up and the imam-type man next to me got his dried apricots out and offered me one. It was then that the penny dropped and I realised that it was the first day of Ramadan . I went bright red and tried to apologise in the very limited Turkish that I knew at the time, but the fellow didn't care at all.

Only in Turkey. In some other countries I called have been killed for being so ignorant.

Oh dear!

I got all dressed up one summer night to attend an event at the French Embassy but alas, just a block away from it, my Manolo let me down. Some Turks came to my rescue when my stilletto heel snapped. My date escorted me to a nearby cafe to get his chariot which was a good few blocks away. While he did that, the Turkish men at the cafe offered me drinks, took my poor decapitated slingback and tried to fix it with a glue, a nail and everything they could find to put it back together. I felt that they really cared and made it their business to fix the problem. In the end, nothing constructive could be done but it was the beginning of my deep admiration for the Turks which still remains.

Where do I start? I don't know why but people are nice to me continuously!
I like to think it's because I smile, try to speak as much as possible, don't act like a snob and act like a lady (ha ha)

Um....

Weekend before last - got lost on the way to a wedding, got escorted by police to the (wrong) church, got stuck on a hill when it started to snow (FM boots)- all was lost - then some guy came along, helped me down to his car and drove me to the church (50 metres away!)

Monday - complete stranger helped me rescue my cat, despite being shouted at by her notoriously cat-hating boss (she was meant to be cleaning the house not letting dirty yabancis in)

Tuesday - my bakkal owner refused to sell me out of date tinned food (not that I wanted it - not a scab you know) and fed me pizza instead

Today - I've been everywhere trying to get documents signed (Eyüp, Sütlücü, GO Paşa)- my taxi driver drove me to all the various places, waited, negotiated, argued, sympathised and then dropped me back at the office 2 hours later.

Once you know a few people in the Kapalı Çarşı and come there regularly it's really fun being there and really being considered a friend. Not only the continuous (every 2 minutes) what do you drink and have you eaten comment also the 'don't choose that leather jacket, that's for the Russians (???) comment and just in general great company

By the way hoş geldiniz Charly (I'm a bit jealous because you're really using your natural charm to get around and seemingly very succesful; I'll have to work on mine )

I can help you with that - but it would involve a couple of lumps and some scary hair!

That's true Ddens. I have a few genuine freinds in Kapali Carsi whom I've known for a few years. They usually have me escorted to other establishments since I still lose my way around there. They are always welcoming and some even invite me to lunch, drinks or dinner with their families.

When I first moved to istanbul and was living in a hotel I went for a walk.
I started walking from bakırköy to finally fsm bridge.

while walking on the sahil yolu there were about 3 men having breakfast and as I walked by they told me I should join.

It was really nice, they made menemen and had tea etc. which they brought from home.

It's nice to have breakfast next to the bosphores while sitting on huge rocks.
Something I should do with my girlfriend in the summer. (If I have a girlfriend by then that is.)

edit:
holy shit, how could I forget.
When I moved from Florya to atasehir I had a little problem with my new house.
Because it was a completely new bluiding there wasnt any natural gas, so i couldnt get a shower nor was I able to heat the house.
My friends family took me in their house for 18(!) days and helped me with my house.

That was probably the biggest Bouquet I bought in my life.

My good friends let me stay in their place in Nisantasi for over two months! That's pretty darn hospitable. Oh BTW, I am usually gone for about 5 weeks traveling around anyway...so in total, I stay with them for about 3 and a half weeks. I like cooking for them and dragging them out to Crystal.

My other very good friend gave up her suite at their summer home to me when I was there for two weeks last summer. I had total privacy and a fantastic view of the bay.

Another close friend let me stay at their summer home for the week while he was back in Istanbul during the week. He made sure his aunts who live in the same area, washed my clothes and cooked food for me. I really didn't need that babying but I sure appreciated clean clothes! I had such a peaceful time in Cesme but I was a bit nervous being int he house by myself at first.

No wonder you keep coming back here!!!