Interested in an exotic getaway but with no time to plan, we took an escorted tour of Turkey through Rick Steves' organization, which lives up to its slogan, "Great guides, small groups, no grumps."

Our Turkish guide, Mehlika Seval, had a profound effect on our understanding of Turkey's people, culture, history and religion. She arranged for us to spend time with Turkish people in many regions, including visits to a nomadic family, rural women, troubador musicians, a potter, and a family who lives in a modern cave.

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