Can I ask the forum a question please? In advance I don't want to ruffle any feathers...it's just a general wondering.

Where does Turkey belong? To what continent does it belong? Where does it sit in the world?

Different sources claim different things! Sometimes middle eastern, sometimes eurpoean, sometimes just Turkey on it's own.

It seems such a grey area. Does Turkey stand alone with its own identity? Or is it a country divided into two?

hehe...here's my romantic version of where turkey is:

A strategically located independant Pearl
surrounded by three seas
geographically fixed to the continent of asia
ancient and modern diversities of race and religion
and struggling to maintain graceful and peaceful independance
from a true label of belonging to one major political power or another
romantically the most beautiful place in the world

and right to be urself always better then to be look like another one,and our great country's all values and wealths enough to be itself,no need to be look like another one...İs it easy to find seven climates and seven cultures on one land???

It's true I can't think of any country which stands alone like Turkey does. I can understand why you are so proud of your country and probably why some may not be so keen to see Turkey enter the EU...perhaps you are afraid you will loose that special something. I can understand that.

It's quite an achievement to stand so tall in the world and be so proud that you are a unique country!

Even today I was in the book shop and the travel guides to Turkey were in the European Travel section, yet the history and political books were simply classed as "world affairs".

Oh and TeresaJana you painted a beautiful picture of Turkey. Romantic but also all encompassing. Probably the view that many share.