I love big noses

What I find a bit strange about Turks... I wouldn´t say hate, is the fact that they are so open about diseases. I do NOT want to hear about the wart that was removed from your ass! And I also don´t want to see pictures of your sick aunt in the hospital...show me a happy picture!

I also mind some of the "hunting" behaviour of the men. If I want to walk alone in the zoo, I don´t want to get hit on by a random stranger, and I REALLY don´t want to get hit on by the bird-keeper. "This is a bladiebla bird... interesting no? You have phone number? You have facebook" ... "NO, I am anti technology"

People who smoke in open air in public places.

I love Turkish hospitality, generosity, and many other aspects of the culture, but I don´t like to eat a lot and don´t know how to refuse food without causing hurt feelings. I also do not want the extra calories, fats and sugars. I don´t like a lot of sweet things, it´s torture to have to eat baklava and many of the other Turkish deserts...they are just too sweet. I´m also concerned about sugar overload, and in fact all those sweets make me ill. Please tell me how to get out of having to eat them without hurting feelings or insulting someone. 

Sometimes I think there is no way to refuse food and not hurt feelings.  I even tried telling people that I have a medical condition where I can´t consume caffeine and people still get hurt feelings that I don´t drink their Turkish coffee and tea.  I guess I decided that I can live with other people´s hurt feelings better than I can live with heart palpitations!  

Sigh, the last time I was there I tried that. I was about crying towards the end. I overloaded on nightshades (patlican in particular) and was sick for months on my return home.

It did something to my system so I could not eat anything, my insides were inside out and I lost ver pounds....and that is a LOT for me. I did look svelt....sort of, but past 30 skinny doesn´t look good, it looks emaciated. I needed medical intervention to reverse things. 

lemon,

Your list is too short. Anything else you would like to add?

Alameda - next time pass all the sweets to me There´s no limit to my ability to devour Turkish sweets bar Turkish Delight. Have to agree with Lis here. All kids of baklava, kadayif and, most of all, kunefe make me drool. It´s awful you got such a harsh reaction to food, hope you´re ok now.

What I dislike about Turkey is the carpet dealers that don´t take no for an answer until you are borderline rude and men who think it´s ok to openly ask you for sex just because you look Slavic. First it´s amusing but on your tenth day there after two-hour stroll ont he hills of Istanbul, being all sweaty and worn out, having to put up with yet another seller or admirerer is too much.

Ah dear Daydreamer....".......and this too will pass" and yes, my gastronomic issues are improved, now that I can control the nightshades in my diet. 

The first step in not eating food is saying you are either sick/totally stuffed when you enter a house. Normally I use the "ohhh, I just had such a big meal, my neighbor/aunt/whatever came and gave me homemade food" line. Saying you are sick will only lead to you being force fed special Turkish medicine which will only make you feel sicker. (How is dry coffee mixed with lemon juice going to help me?!)

Than when all the food comes out you say "oh, I wish I hadn´t eaten before I came here, it all looks so gooooood!" Ofcourse, don´t forget to actually NOT eat before you go anywhere. Than you taste a bite of everything on the table. You take some extra bites of the things you actually like. Don´t forget to mention how much you like your favorite dish. This will lead to people ALWAYS making this dish when you come over So next time you won´t have to eat the dishes that are not you favorite.

When the meal is finished, or during the meal, don´t forget to mention all your preferences ones again. For example "I´m not such a sweet tooth, I really love rice!" You won´t insult anybody if you don´t finish your plate. People always cook to much anyway. Some people get insulted if you are able to finish everything! It means they didn´t cook enough. Keep this in mind. Just make sure you taste something, and make a lot of gestures that you are sooo full but it tasted soooo good.

Turks who use English nicks when registering at some site on the net as if it were something cool and a Turkish nick instead would be something uncool. I don´t get it.

Kudos to those who prefer Turkish nicks!

They´re secular & alcohol drinkers.

That´s what I hate about them !! no offense ..