If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul Alphonse de Lamartine.All my friends were doing it. First it was my two girlfriends. Then the boy I had met on my teaching English as a foreign language course in Prague.Of course their migration had to be followed by a war in Iraq, but I was not deterred.“Please, Robyn. Just think about it. They say Iraq has missiles that could reach Europe and you’re going to be on their border.”I ignored my father’s pleas, I found two Swedish girls to continue my lease in Prague and I boarded a plane to ... Istanbul, Turkey.It probably was not the best time to move to Turkey. (It was 2003 and Iraq War Two had just broken out), but more than one person has called me stubborn, so.....Luckily Turkey, (Iraq provides the southern border) is a very big place; more than 1,000 miles long and 500 miles wide to be exact. Its capital is Ankara (no, not Istanbul) and it has seven other neighbours Syria, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran.But don’t let those names make you turn that page. Instead, book your ticket (like me) to Turkey. (I thought you might have been struggling with vacation ideas this summer)! Why? Well here are your ten reasons to visit Turkey in June in your Rock Fever Column this week:Reason one: unlike Syria, which has broken into one of the many uprisings in this part of the world, Turkey is a fairly stable and secular democracy. OK, every country has its issues and Turkey’s government can be heavy handed with the Kurds in the south and denying the Armenian genocide, but Turkey is level-headed and the uprisings that have occurred in its neighbours will not happen here.Neighbours: can’t live with them can’t live without them. Which brings us to Turkey’s more famous neighbour, Greece. Reason two for visiting Turkey is about NOT visiting Greece. Greece is great, but Greece is also more expensive! And though these two countries don’t like each other (and I’m not going to help) it is easy enough to find a ferry between Turkey and various Greek islands if you really want to include both in your itinerary. But back to the price ... Turkey has stunning coastline and fascinating fairy houses for a fraction of the cost of Greece. Why pay more? (OK probably never going to be their tourism logo, but heck it’s true!)So why June? Because reason three is the heat that can engulf this country has not started to rise and yet the weather will be warm enough to dip your toes in the Med or the Aegean Sea, depending on which one you choose.There is no one friendlier than a Turk, is my reason four. I know, I know, Bermudian hospitality, but I’m telling you, the Turkish people are above and beyond.Example? OK. While in Istanbul last year I was stopped on the street by a random Turk. Oh, boy, I thought, he’s going to ask for money. He didn’t. He just broke into conversation asking about where I was from, etc ... and comparing it to Turkey. He then offered suggestions for food.And food is my reason five for visiting Turkey. Along the coast and in Istanbul you will get fish for days, freshly grilled with a dash of vegetables, yoghurt and spices of which you have never tasted. If you head inland you will be amused by the tajines (meat or vegetable stews) that are served in clay pots that servers break open at your table. Of course everywhere you go breakfast will fill you cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, eggs, honey and bread! If you’re really lucky watermelon too! Not a bad way to start your day.Of course if you’re starting your day in Turkey, I would start in its cultural capital (in my opinion) and reason six is to head to Istanbul. A city that stretches over two continents, there is more to do here than could fill a week so pace yourself. Filled from bottom to top with history, the Blue Mosque will dazzle while the Topkapi Palace will fill you with visions of sultans and harems. Visit the Grand Bazaar for your haggling and pottery, then mosey to the Spice Bazaar for your heady experience with figs, dried apricots and all the bedding you will need. Head to Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddesi for the longest pedestrian street. It runs on energy from the restaurants and shops that line it.Heck, Istanbul alone needs its own column (maybe next week? no kidding. Check www.robynswanderings.com for my previous trip).From Istanbul stretch your legs and take a train or bus (or plane if your budget allows it) to the area in the middle of Turkey called Cappadocia.Before you get to Cappadocia, however, you’ll have run into reason seven: Turkey’s transportation is beyond easy to use! Buses run around the clock to all destinations, trains are lovely and clean and the Turkish airlines cost nothing to take for internal destinations.Reason eight? An area that could have been the backdrop for Star Wars (and almost became the set for Episode One), Cappadocia will give you breathtaking sunsets and a desert experience while living in a hollowed-out mushroom-shaped rock. How cool is that?!Well as cool as heading to the coastline in what has to be number nine. Turquoise waters give the sailboats you can rent yourself or join a group on a backpacker’s boat. Sail by the cliffside burials of former rulers and meander through a butterfly gorge before heading to the town of Ephesus and even Troy (not the story, well, they’re still trying to prove it).Filled with history, beaches and more olives than you will ever need to see in your life, Turkey is the right place to book this June. Of course it won’t be cheap, which brings us to reason ten to visit Turkey: a flight to Istanbul, Turkey is about $1,600 if you fly between June 21 and June 29, but like I had said previously, once you’re there the prices of housing (a beautiful hotel in the tourist area cost about $75 a night for two) and food will be so affordable, that ticket will fly past you in an instant! Of course if you need more incentive, Amy Winehouse will be performing at the end of June in Istanbul. Need more entertainment? www.istanbul.com will help you.And next week it will be about helping others! Volunteering vs travelling.....why do it? Well visit here next week and my travel blog www.robynswanderings.com in between.Adios.