101 cities around Europe that Turks want to see

The book not only talks about these cities but also traces the Ottomans throughout Europe. Chosen as "Turkey’s Most Traveling Guide" and "Travel Writer of the Year" in 2006 by the Turkey Tourist Guide Association, Tonguç said he started writing after he visited many places around the world. Having traveled to 105 countries, Tonguç shares his travel adventures with readers.

He explained that his decision to write a book catering for Turkish travelers was made after noticing the lack of travel guides available in Turkey. "There weren’t any books on foreign countries written by a Turkish travel guide. The books were mostly in the form of memoirs and the guides were mostly translations of different books, which were full of mistakes," said Tonguç.

His aim was to publish a book that covered the places most visited by Turks. "The book has the look of a travel guide as well as a writer’s angle," said Tonguç, who has been guiding mostly Turkish people for 22 years, and added: "I designed the book in accordance with Turkish people’s choices of traveling pleasure."

The book uncovers traces of Turks and Ottomans in the cities Tallinn, Vienna, Stockholm, Berlin, and Rhodes. Having noted that foreign guidebooks contain no information about the Ottoman history in European countries, Tonguç relates interesting stories about this time in history.

Ottomans in Europe
"One can learn many things about the Ottomans and Turks in Europe through the book. Both culturally and in everyday life, I mentioned what Europeans adopted from Turks. The information which I shared with readers is really interesting," said Tonguç, who also stated that he wanted people to realize that they also had roots in European cities."When visiting Albania’s capital city Tirana, you see Mother Teresa’s sculpture. After a long search I found out that she was born as an Ottoman citizen and her real name is a Turkish one; Gonca Boyacı," said Tonguç.

Noting the Turkish artifacts in the museums around Europe, his book covers each work of art related to Turkey, such as the Ottoman Sultan’s portraits in Florence's Uffizi Museum and the Ephesus artifacts in the British Museum. The book also provides details of Turkish embassies in the various cities. Covering both common Turkish traditions and foreign countries Tonguç also translates basic Turkish phrases into various languages.

Telling of the many common traditions and words Turkey has with Greece, he mentions he is also now preparing a book for Turkish tourists visiting America, as well a guide book to Turkey's largest city, Istanbul."The book, titled ’Istanbul 101,’ will be ready before 2010, the year of Istanbul being the European Capital of Culture," said the famous guide, and added: "I have been a guide for foreigners and now I am putting all my knowledge of Istanbul in a book for Turkish people and foreign people." Regretfully noting that locals of Istanbul do not even know the district they live in, he said he would include each district in detail.

In the "Stars" section of his book, he lists the best places to visit, shopping malls, transport options, restaurants and bars and quick tips and ideas.