We made it to Turkey! The excitement of a new location sustained us through the disappointment of our limitations in Istanbul. Though we were only in town for a week (we’ll be back in six weeks!), the security team restricted our ability to tour and explore.
Here’s a quick geography lesson on Istanbul:
The city is split by the Bosphorous Straight. The western side is part of Europe; whereas the eastern side is considered to be part of Asia. The big tourist attractions (the Blue Mosque, the historic downtown, the museums, the churches, etc…) are all on the European side. We stayed on the Asian side, where we could safely take in the city from across the Bosphorous 🙂
Rather than gripe about the measures we have to take to be safe, let me tell you about the things we love about Turkey:
The food. It’s heavy on kebabs and kofta, so we’re getting lots of good meat (lamb, beef and chicken) and veggies. They also have an awesome tradition of meze (appetizers), which include spreads, vegetable dishes and salads. More to come in future blogs on the food!- Desserts! Turkey loves its sweets, and so do I! Known for its pastry-based desserts (like baklava), Turkey offers a wide variety from cookies to pastries to biscuits. And it’s best to enjoy these sweet treats with…
- Turkish tea. Anyone who says Turkey is all about coffee is wrong. Their black tea is served in special cups at all times of the day, and it’s delicious. Meadows has become obsessed and drinks it nonstop.
By henribergius – http://www.flickr.com/photos/bergie/3468680402/in/photostream/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15398611
Our week in Istanbul included a trip to the salon. We never considered haircuts when we signed up for two years of travel! The salon was a good size, but not one person spoke English. It was incredibly risky, and it involved a lot of hilarious hand signals; but Meadows got his hair cut, and it turned out great!
We also went on a couple of fun team dinners and adjusted our taste buds to Turkish wine, which is actually not bad! We will take anything over Egyptian wine…
And last, but not least, we stayed in a brand new Sheraton Grand, and everything about it (apart from being on the Asian side!) was incredible! The grand opening was days before our arrival, so we were two of just a handful of guests and we got an awesome suite.
We will spend six weeks in Ankara (Turkey’s capital), and then we will head back to Istanbul!
Your descriptions are great—I can see the places and foods come alive with your words. Keep up the terrific blog so those of us at home can “live” through your eyes.
Hugs to you both!
Becky
Ann, I spent 5 days in Istanbul 7 years ago…it is amazing. Stayed on the European side. Don’t do anything unsafe obviously, but I truly hope all can get out and explore when you head back. Will Bouton
Your map takes me back to my and Aunt Ruth’s trip. You’ve “got a touch” of Turkey, and more to come !! I am so delighted to receive your update-THANKS, THANKS Grandmother
Such a shame you couldn’t see the Blue Mosque. As a lover of architecture, its something I have always wanted to see.