The wine from Kirk Kilise is very good. However, most Turks don’t drink wine—they are mostly teetotalers. So, the wine is taken to the coast, bought by French companies, sent to Bordeaux, and then sold to the world as “best Bordeaux.” While Bordeaux is famous, Kirk Kilise is not. Yet, many older people enjoy the taste of Kirk Kilise while thinking it is Bordeaux.
A Formal Visit to the Governor
I paid a visit to the Governor of Kirk Kilise, Galib Pasha. The meeting was very formal, with strict rules of etiquette. We exchanged cigarettes and coffee, each praising the other’s hospitality. I told him how happy I was to visit Kirk Kilise, and he responded by saying how pleased he was that I was pleased.
Galib Pasha was a thin, pale, and nervous man with the most restless eyes I’ve ever seen. His eyes darted around, as if he was always afraid someone might suddenly pull out a revolver and shoot him. I was introduced to some of the other officials during my visit.
Turkish Ceremonial Customs
It was interesting to watch the formal behavior of the officials. Everyone wore the fez, and they all bowed low to the ground in respect to the Governor. When he wasn’t looking, they would turn to me and do the same. This ceremony continued as new officials arrived, with everyone exchanging bows, nods, and respectful gestures The Dreary Landscape.
Turkish Etiquette and Manners
In Turkey, it is considered rude to unbutton your coat in the presence of someone in a higher position, or even a person of equal rank. It is also rude to cross your legs. I learned this later from my guide, the dragoman, because I had unbuttoned my coat and crossed my legs. The Governor, knowing how Europeans act, “saved my face” by crossing his legs too, so I wouldn’t seem out of place Travel Ottoman Bulgaria.
In Turkish culture, sitting back in your chair shows too much familiarity. I noticed that all the officials, except for the Governor and me, sat on the very edge of their chairs with their knees together, their toes pointing inward, and their hands hanging down. Their eyes were humble, and when they received a compliment, they touched their belts, their chests, and then their heads to show respect.
