The Nargile (Waterpipe) is a very important cultural element in Turkey. I remember before I even went there, people told me that I absolutely have to try it. I've smoked hookah in the States before but it was never really that good except for one time in New York where I went to, you guessed it, a Turkish hookah bar. If you go out for Nargile (or invite your friends over to smoke one in your house), it can last up to 2 hours. It's a great way to kick back, relax and spend time with some great company. The Turks love Nargile, guys and girls. Although you can get pure tobacco for it, typically you choose a flavored tobacco to smoke: Elma (apple), Mango, Şeftalı (Peach), Üzüm (grape) as well as many others were available. The Nargile itself looks like this (sorry for the long link):
The Nargile has been a part of the Turkish culture since the Ottoman times. Different variations of it can be found all throughout the Middle East. Not just friends, but families too will sit down to enjoy a Nargile. My apartment mates and I ended up buying one within the first week we got there and almost every weekend we would have people over to smoke it. Even during house parties when there were 30-40 people there we had it out. When you have one at a restaurant, any restaurant, they take care of it to make sure it doesn't burn and that it tastes great, something you rarely find here in the States. It is probably one of my favorite parts about the Turkish culture.
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