The magic of Turkey bubbles over in its history, culture, gastronomy, humanity, exotic nature, and commerce. Turkey bills itself, and rightfully so, as the "Cradle of Civilization," boasting more Greek ruins than Greece and more Roman archaeological sites than all of Italy. Turkey is also a major custodian of sacred sites revered by Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike, and of invaluable remnants of early Greek civilization, Byzantine majesty, and Ottoman culture and artistry. But, while most tourist brochures zone in on archaeological ruins and artistic masterpieces, few devote the appropriate space to the magnificence of Turkey's Mediterranean, its self-indulgent pleasures (imagine basking in a mineral mud bath), or the wide array of choices available for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts. Turkey is a singularly unique country, still unspoiled and innocent, and pleasantly surprised by the fact that visitors come from far and wide to witness its way of life. It's all rather disarming to travelers who've visited other parts of the world, where crowds of rubbernecking, Bermuda shorts-wearing, camera-sporting arrivals elicit exclamations of "damned tourists." Turks welcome their guests with a genuineness of spirit and boundless generosity that defies superlatives. This from a population in which 80% of the people can't afford meat and where the native language provides no word for "bitter." Truly, until you experience Turkish hospitality, you've barely broken the surface of what generosity can be.

Turkey is so densely packed with riches of every kind that the most difficult decision will be what not to see. I found it difficult to write about Turkey without making it sound like a press release, because the country is so superlative and the culture so contrary to what you'd expect. You'll soon see for yourselves why nobody leaves Turkey with a lukewarm impression.