Mehrdad Touraji answers the question:
I visited Turkey about 3–4 months ago. Landed in Ataturk airport. Passport control, a long long line where most of people from different nationalities were waiting to get through. Some got rejected upon the arrival, apparently they had to pay a fee and some other issues which made me absolute nervous about what’s about to happen! European citizens been rejected for some reasons and for me, an Iraninan passport holder…our father in heaven, even though I haven’t been a good son, just this one time please.
“Passport, please!”. Now let me get this straight that up to that time I’ve had loads of experiences on passing passport control. Most of the time, border officers take more time on checking my passport. Sometimes they go through all the pages, ask loads of questions and etc. These officers didn’t even look at my face for more than a second or two or they didn’t ask any questions whatsoever regarding to my travel plan or anything else. They stamped the passport and said: “Welcome to Turkey!”. They even answered my question regarding to which border I have to reach out to go to Gerogia and whether I need to leave the country a day before the 90 days visa or it’s alright if I leave on the last day.
Big smile on face, ready to collect my Backpack…disaster! My Deuter backpack was ripped off thanks to AirAstana! I asked an officer to help me reach to AirAstana or relative authorities to file a report regarding to my ripped off backpack!
My bad, I left the airport because I followed a wrong direction and when I got back, the information called for someone. A Turkish woman’s reaching to me. “Hello this is …, I’m sorry for what happened. Please, follow me.” Well, at least they’re polite, one of many things to dig to see when you enter a country. Long story, short they said even though I left the airport, they helped me file a report, and God they were polite.
Trying to catch the train from airport and I realise I don’t have small changes at all. I see some officer, dude they looked scary I tell you that. I ask some people and they seem like they don’t understand me, so I reach out to the officers and one of them ask me to follow her. She reach out to a small kiosk where they refused to give me small change first time I asked them, but then they changed a 50 lira note to smaller notes. I thank them all and get myself a card. Later on, I realised its not that cheap to travel around the town so, waste of time changing the money.
Next day, I arrive at my host’s house. Named Ali, a good looking lawyer in his mid 40. He invited me for dinner with his family, spent a great deal of time with them. Learnt so much about what’s really going on in Turkey from a well educated man. You then can realise what medias can do to a country, anyhow…not the main topic in here. They were absolutely lovely. Unfortunately, he had to go for a trip after my second day of stay, but he left me his keys!!! Unbelievable!! He left his house keys to a stranger from Couchsurfing. One of many things that you do not see at all.
The other days, walking in Bazzar, it’s enough if they catch your eyes direction on tea. You can’t get away from there without drinking at least 2 cups of tea. One guy even invited me and my wife for Baghlava. Hospitality, 10 out of 10. These stories can go on and on. I once catched a wrong ferry, and a girl on board guided me on how to deal with somehow Istanbul confusing ferries routes. And, she used her card for me to get pass through the gate when I wanted to go back to where I got on board the first time. Apparently, students get some sort of discount for public transportations. Interacting with polices, I reached one of Prince Islands and two police men gave me a ride to a campsite called madam Martha when they saw I was carrying a heavy bag. They didn’t even ask me to show them my passport or anything. Brilliant!
84 days of stay in Turkey. Istanbul, Bodrum, Antalya, Ankara, Samsun. Spent most of our -I and my wife- time with locals from different backgrounds, Turks, Syrian, and Kurds. They welcomed us to their houses, picked us up when we were pointing our fingers toward the road, and showed us the true face of Turkey and its people.
Sure, we had bad experiences too, but we mostly had good experiences. So, answering your question, I alone and many other people from Iran, at least those who seek for a deeper understanding of the people, and it’s culture, send our love to the people of Turkey. Thank you for the amazing time.