GM Nostr 🌅

Here’s a question I’ve been pondering a while… are the Turkish people the most welcoming to travellers?

Here’s my reasoning…

I (Dave) have visited over 100 countries (currently on 102 if you’re curious). 22 of them have been in our truck. We’ve been here in Turkey for 2.5months so far and every single interaction has been positive.

Almost without fail the first question is “do you need me to help you with anything?” Not in a “how can I get you out of here quickly” way but a genuine desire to help or share.

People try to flag us down from the roadside and offer us Chai, random people in the street come and give Isla balloons or sweets and they all have a smile.

We stopped at a water point to top up our tanks and after about 10mins a guy from the nearby house wandered over with fresh, warm pastries to give to Jess and Isla. Five minutes later we were in his house somehow gate crashing a family party, everyone budged up to make space, table settings were laid and we were having breakfast. Then as we left we were handed a bag of tomatoes and lemons from their garden.

Even this guy in the picture. We met him for all of about 5minutes, but he didn’t leave without ensuring we took a gift that he’d just dug out of his car…after we’d told him we didn’t need any help with anything.

We’re not wealthy, (the Sats aren’t stacking as high as we’d like!), but we turn up in our big blue truck and to the outside it seems like we have lots of money. In many ways compared to many of the local people we meet, we do. And yet they’re the ones thrusting gifts upon us. Sharing a little of what they have. No judgement, no desire for anything in return - in fact, they’re almost offended if you don’t take their hospitality, or try to offer them something in return. It’s just genuine human-to-human kindness. 🫶

One world. One people. One love.

#travelthoughts #overlandexperience #turkiye