Taste of History

When the weather forecasts had promised excellent weather for the past week, we tried to organize couple activities outside and some short trips to enjoy the last bits of sunny autumn before winter.

One day we passed to the European side of the city and had a wonderful lunch right beside the Galata tower. Call it a taste of history...

This famous sign of İstanbul, first built in 507 by the Byzantium Emperor Anastasius as a lighthouse. Later Geneose rebuilt this wood structure by using stone.. Ottomans used it as a dungeon and fire tower and now Turks are using it as a cafe and a restaurant..Enduring ages in many shapes...

Hope you are having sunny weathers, too...

Life goes on...

While a live bomb was trying to take the lives of many in Taksim Square yesterday morning, I was doing my daily shopping in the local food market. The news were a shock at first then a relief that no body was killed except the bomb himself.

When you live in this part of the world, you are somehow getting used to the horrific events like that. Maybe its a curse that we should have to live on, but whatever happens life goes on which I strongly feel is the antidote of this curse.

Fish season started in İstanbul. Although we spent a huge part of the year at the Mediterranean coast, I always miss the winter season in İstanbul . The fish caught from the Marmara Sea are always taste much much better than the ones from the Mediterranean. So I bought some Sarıkanat, a medium sized bluefish from my fisherman for dinner.

Then I stopped at the next stall to pick up some greens for a big salad along side the grilled fish. They have to be fresh and thats where I find them..

Then I bought 4 pieces of  yufka which is a very thin sheet of dough to make pastry, filled with spinach and cheese for breakfast. These yufkas are really a big life saver at the kitchen and dearly missed by my Turkish friends who live abroad because of their practicality.

Then I stopped at the next store to buy some cheese and sausage. Its always good to taste before you buy...

Then at night when we were having dinner we were grateful that life was going on despite all the setbacks...and this was a small tour in the shops and stalls of my neighbourhood..

Boats of İstanbul

For this season I choose a photo of a Bhosporus boat as the header of my blog...Why??? Because I love them and I also think that they are one of the greatest symbols of İstanbul.

If you are lucky and could grap a seat by the window or outside if the weather is good, it's the best place to dream and relax while the silhouettes of a beautiful city flows in front of you. Every day they carry millions of people from port to port as well as from Asia to Europe or vice versa. Its definitely the most convenient way from one continent to another.

When I was a young banker the early morning boat from Uskudar to Eminonu was my mode of transportation to work. A glass of hot tea and a bagel was my breakfast while the boat was slowly moving in the dark blue waters of Bhosporus.It was the most refreshing way to start a new day and it still is...Dont forget to jump one of them if you ever come to this part of the world.

Back to İstanbul

Finally we are back to İstanbul after 4.5 months. After spending so much time at open space and at the beach, first days at home rather brought a mild depression to Hubby and me while Hera is having a major one..After a big re-packing session, we ran to supermarkets and the farmers market to make a reasonable food stock..and I started to fill the baskets and bowls at home with season's products...

 and in the meantime our little Hera had an operation 2 days ago..She is sooo sweet with the big kone on her head but as you can guess she is quite unhappy...

So our life in İstanbul has started. So far I couldnt go out except food shopping but hopefully this weekend. I already miss so much of your posts but as I have a proper internet now, I will see you soon..

Good Bye Datca

It was a beautiful summer and autumn, but now its time to move...Time for winter and time for İstanbul..So Good Bye my dear Datca until next summer..We will miss you..

The Door

Nowadays I am madly packing as we are soon moving to our winter home and life in İstanbul. There are tons of stuff to be arranged before both here and there..While we are still enjoying a beautiful Mediterranean autumn over here, winter scenes and even snow started to appear in and around İstanbul in the TV news. It looks like it will be a big climate change for us..

Soon I will change the header of my blog and make it something more appropriate with the life in İstanbul. I know many of you like my summer and Datca themed header. Before changing it here is a full photo of the door..

 It is the entrance door of a lovely stone house in old Datca..

Wish you a great and colorful weekend....

Life in an Ottoman Mansion

Last week Hubby's twin brother and his family came to Datca. During their stay, their choice of hotel was a 200 year old Ottoman Mansion. Their stay gave me the opportunity to take some photos of this beautiful place.

The mansion is one of the oldest examples of civil architecture still surviving in Anatolia. It is named after Mehmet Ali Aga who was the governor of Rhodes in 1890s...

As I was not able to take photo of the suites of the mansion here are some for you from the web site of the hotel..

and of course the integral part of an Ottoman House :The Hamam

For more info and photos please visit their web site : http://www.kocaev.com/  and if you ever decide to come don't forget to stop and say 'hi' to me..