What do Spanish people think about Turks and Turquía?

Merhaba!!!

I spend a lot of time i nthe Turkish section. I think you can't get many answers from Spaniards since most of them only use the "Spanish" version of Yahoo Answers. If you really want to know what we think, post a question on the Spanish version in Spanish.. That's your question in Spanish:

"¿Qué pensaís los Españoles sobre los Turcos y Turquía?

Creo que los españoles son la gente más cálida y culturalmente similar a los turcos. Mi hermano es incha del Deportivo, después del Fenerbahce. Me pregunto qué opinión tenéis los españoles sobre mí país y mi gente. Espero respuestas sinceras, sean positivas o negativas, gracias.

Adiós amigos"

If you don't understand the answers, I can translate them into english for you if you want.

And, with regards to my opinon, if you know me (as I've said, I spend more time on the Turkey's section than in the Spain's one) I L O V E Turkey. Because of the reasons you've said: we share a lot of things, we have a lot in common: Lot of civilizations during the History of the countries, Mediterranean charm and behavior (friendly people, family values, easiness to get worked out lol -), healthy food, modern countries that not forget the traditions and past, beaches, mountains, landscapes, beautiful cities, different seas, places in two countries (Turkey in Europe and Asia, Spain in Europe and Africa), both have important straits between seas, we are on the beginning and the ending of the Mediterranean, we both have a terrorist problem (ETA in Spain, PKK in Turkey), strongs armies, beautiful women!!!...

What can I say? I'm obsessed with the Turks and Turkey. I visit Istanbul last year (my favorite city of the world) and it changed my life. Now I'm obessed with the whole country. I really want to know turkish people and have turkish friends, I think they're friendly, easy to become friends with, very funny (that's important) with good mood.

You, the turks, have to be proud of being Turk. You're a great nation in every sense of the word.

I always say, if I wouldn't be Spaniard I would be Turk. Turkey is like my 2nd nation!!!. I feel very closer to the Turks. I'm proud of the fact that my country supports Turkey with the join to the EU. And, according to the newspapers, 30% of Spaniards are against of the joining, 20% are indifferent and 50% are in favour.

A lot of people think that Turkey is very similar to the Spain of 20 years ago, and modernising very quickly.

All people I know, have a positive opinion about Turkey, despite, you know, there are some fear to Islam in Europe, and some people generalize, but we think that Turkey is very modern and very different to most muslim countries.

I study on the University and a lot of people I know have met turkish students in other European countries. They say that those students are very similar to us.

The opinon about if Turkey must be part of the EU is different depending on every person and due to many things, but the idea of the country and people is good overall.

Altough you probably feel a little discriminated against by the EU Countries, Spain suffered that when we joined the EU in 1986: All European countries thought we were underdeveloped, uncouth, illiterat, lazies... They always have said that Africa begins at the Pyrenees (the frontier between France and Spain), so, they thought we were more similar to Africans than to Europeans, derogatoryly. Now we're part of the EU, the 8th or 9th power of the world, and one of the most liberal countries (gay marriages are allowed, only 5 countries in the world including Spain allows them). So, don't feel bad about that, you know that you will part of the EU in a near future, and it doesn't mean you renounce to your ideals and traditions. Turkey will be great joined or not to the EU.

For last, Turkey is one of the most visited countries for Spaniards, and Istanbul, one of the most visited cities. In 2007, 200.000 Spaniards (including me) visited Istanbul. For example, that year 300.000 visited Berlin, that is closer to Spain than Istanbul. The difference is not high, as you see.

And of course, we share our madness about FOOTBALL!!! lol

Thanks for being as you are. Turkey forever!!!

PD: some people have answered to your post in Spanish YA, I will translate to you (when there are more answers) if you don't understand it. I'll translate them by answering in the same question. ;)

i havent heard anything

but spanish people have experience with so many different cultures that they dont really have any predjudices or things to say about different people