A couple of weeks ago I went on an exploration to Afyon. This is a very brief account of the trip. Situated in the middle of Turkey it is a bit of a trek from Dalyan. Six hours of driving through countryside. As we neared Afyon the landscape changed from green forests to the flat plains of Anatolia. Miles and miles of not very much except stalls selling onions and potatoes. Afyon is Turkey's largest producer of Opium poppies. Afyon means opium in Turkish. Used in Morphine and other pharmaceuticals this one of the prime economies for the area. The climate is perfect. Bitterly cold in the winter and hot and very dry in the summer. It is said that all roads in Turkey go through Afyon and this is reflected in its rich and diverse culture. It is the city that seems to have everything. The city's history is very interesting: It was virtually destroyed in the Ottoman era by a huge fire. Later, it was rebuilt and became a city where Muslims, Greeks, Armenians and Jews lived together in peace for years. Agriculture and farming The area is known for its arable farms as well as the poppies. Grains, root vegetables and cherries are the prime crops. There are also many pastoral farms. Cows, sheep and water buffalo. Afyon is famous for its sucuk and kaymak. Sucuk is a spicy Turkish sausage that is made from beef. Containing lots of spices and are usually dried after construction. If you haven't tried sucuk, think of a similar texture to chorizo but the taste is quite different. Kayamk is a thick cream produced from cow or buffalo milk. A little like clotted cream, it is served with desserts, in Turkish delight and for breakfast. My favorite is simit, kaymak, honey and walnuts! Thermal Springs
A couple of weeks ago I went on an exploration to Afyon. This is a very brief account of the trip. Situated in the middle of Turkey it is a bit of a trek from Dalyan. Six hours of driving through countryside. As we neared Afyon the landscape changed from green forests to the flat plains