I spent a wonderful week in Turkey decades ago with a friend, not on a tour. We hired a guide t0 take us to various cities. Friend was Jewish, I’m Christian, and guide was Muslim. WE got along wonderfully well. Of course visited Hagia Sophia with our smart handsome modern Turkish guide. He explained the history of the place and told us why the Muslim men were praying in front of the wall. Informative, nonthreatening, not prejudiced in any way.
I’ve often wondered what happened to him and to other modern Turks after that monster Erdogan was elected and started the long slow march back to the past.
