A traditional Turkish hamam

The hamam (bathhouse) is the great Turkish social leveller; every city, town and village has one, full of sweating, gossiping people coming clean as they soak away a hard day's work.

Men and women bathe seperately, either in different sections or on designated days or times. This ritual has been practised in Turkey since the Roman era.

Odds are you'll leave Turkey hauling a handspun carpet

The Turks make beautiful carpets. They also make terrific salespeople. Put the two together and odds are you will leave the country carrying a rolled-up Turkish carpet.