Rumi in Turkey, Poetry, Philosophy, Food and Drink Turkish Style

 Rumi is the best selling poet in the USA. He lived a long time ago, in the 1th century. 

Statue of Rumi in Izmir

Rumi statue in Izmir. Wikipedia. From Turkey.com

The Rumi statue in Buca, Izmir, is 23 metres high. His statue is surrounded by smaller statues of whirling drvishes.

He wrote:

What you seek is seeking you.

A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle.

He is buried in Konya, in Turkey, where you can visit the place where he is buried, as well as his son and father. 

Rumi thought that poetry, singing and dance enhanced ones appreciation of God. His son and followers founded the Whirling Dervishes.

Places to visit connected with Rumi

Turkey

Konya

Konya in Turkey. More details in Wikipedia under Rumi.

Tajikstan\

TURKEY

Stopping for Scoffing Snacks in Turkey

Turkish Coffee

Loukumi - which was successfully marketed in the UK under the brand name Turkish Delight.

Wining and Dining

The Turkish spirit, raki, is made from grapes and raisins. A Raki festival is held in Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

Alcoholic Content

Watch out for alcohol content. The numbers are marked on the bottles of branded drinks. If not on the front label, look at the back. 

Waiters worldwide often pour a drink for you with a flourish, then whisk away the bottle out of your way. You can sometimes check the alcohol content on the bottle, or on the menu, or on the internet. If you order one thing from the menu, and the item has run out and the sommelier or waiter offers you an alternative, check if the alcoholic content is the same as what you expected. 

Be aware that there is no alcohol, which is not the same as low alcohol. Then you have beers, which . vary. Wines also vary. The strongest are spirits (by legal definition).  Spirits are often diluted with water or turned into cocktails by adding mixers.  

Wikivoyage has warnings to travellers about avoiding getting drunk, and other things to be cautious about when travelling in Turkey and other foreign countries.

Useful Websites

Tripadvisor

Wikiquote - Rumi

Wikivoyrage 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Rak%C4%B1_Festival

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