Turkey Talk

Your article on Turkey (“Romancing the Stones,” Feb. 5) was fantastic. Part of my early childhood passed in Bergama, Turkey, playing hide-and-seek in those ancient historical ruins. We also used to play a game called “dig,” in which neighborhood kids packed their toy picks and shovels and played archeologist. Someone almost always found something which, we were taught early on, to turn over to the local museums.

ERGUN KIRLIKOVALI

Irvine

*

Your article failed to mention one of the best tours. Richard Caldwell of Sporades Tours in Santa Ana (800-695-7176) is a USC professor of classics who has been leading archeological tours for more than 20 years. He is the author of “Origin of the Gods,” a mythology text, and he speaks Greek and Turkish. He also has friends in every village and hamlet so you meet the people when you travel with Dick.

PHILIP R. LeVINE

Los Angeles

*

The truly remarkable stones in Turkey are neither Greek nor Roman. They are natural and indigenous: basalt and tuff (a soft limestone). Cappadocia (half-way between Ankara and Anatolia) is an architectural wonderland. Cone-shaped pillars, 10 stories tall, dot the landscape by the hundreds. Dwellings, Byzantine churches and monasteries are carved into the tuff. Sure, Turkey has more Greek and Roman ruins than Athens or Rome. But Gorem and Zelve (in Cappadocia) blew my mind! DAVID WALKER

Laguna Hills

*

I have traveled to Turkey three times and have consistently marveled at the beauty and warmth of the country and her people. Turkey It has everything a traveler could want: history, scenic beauty, outstanding beaches, delicious food and hospitable people.

LISA M. KADAM

Irvine