[busterarm]

Only half of Istanbul is in Europe (yes, the side with the Airport) and the other half and the rest of the country is Anatolia/Asia Minor.

Turkey has many of the political markers of being in Europe but is really a unique situation and its leaders like to take the best of being European and not-European where it suits them.

Do most people consider it a European country? Doubtful. I've never known any Turks who considered themselves European...even the super cosmopolitain globe-trotting kids of Turkish diplomats that I grew up around.

[_v7gu]

What political markers? IST is in Europe, and SAW is not. We are talking about airports in continents.

[arccy]

is turkey culturally aligned with europe? not really.

actual continents are too big, that's why in news you get more detailed breakdowns into areas like middle-east

[_v7gu]

Turkey is culturally aligned with lots of places thanks to its history and geography. Aegean Turkey and Greece shares cuisine, tradition and even folk songs. Tends to happen after living together for hundreds of years.

[anticensor]

Both sides of Istanbul have airports, yes, airports.

[busterarm]

Yes but only one of those two airports is the subject of discussion. The other airport doesn't matter in the context of the conversation.

Sooooo what's your point?