01
Baklava
Thin phyllo dough layered with chopped nuts of all varieties and soaked in a sticky syrup.
02
Çay (turkish tea)
Pronounced chai. Always served in a clear tulip-shaped glass. I saw Turks everywhere drinking this. It is more common than coffee.
03
Köfte
Meatballs seasoned with onions, herbs and spices usually served with strips of bread, grilled vegetables and yogurt.
04
Pide (pee-duh)
Turkish pizza. Thin crust topped with minced meat and cheese.
05
Simit
A turkish bagel. Chewy on the inside, covered with sesame seeds.
06
Dondurma
Turkish ice cream is unusually sticky. The stickiness comes from salep, an ingredient made from orchids. We tried a version made with smoked goats milk. It had a strong charcoal note that was hard to get over, but very memorable.
07
Künefe
A dessert served hot and made from cheese and a shredded wheat pastry then soaked with a sugar syrup and served with clotted cream.
08
Kahve (turkish coffee)
Boiled with the grounds loose in the cup. Wait for things to settle or risk getting a mouthful of muddy sludge.
09
Efes
Turkish brand of beer. I'm not a beer drinker, but I really liked this refreshing drink.
10
Lokum
Turkish delight candy. Squares of gel with many different flavors. Some are rolled in nuts or sugar.
10
TOP
Turkish Delights
ANKARA
Ataturk's Tomb
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founder of the Republic of Turkey and it's first president.
Museum of Anatolian Civilization
The oldest city in the world, Çatalhoyuk was in Turkey. This matriarchal civilization practiced goddess worship and created some amazing art. I was excited to see the most famous artifact; the Mother Goddess statue from 7500 b.c. Unfortunately, that wing of the museum was closed for renovation. This is part of traveling in Europe. I just tell myself it's a good excuse to come back some day.
Travel
Photography
Tips
Make a 'shot list' before your trip. Get ideas from photo sites like flickr. You will find those magic moments because you are looking for them.
Always carry a spare battery and memory card. The best photo opp always comes just after the battery dies.
Vary your shots. Get down low. Get up close. Often the up close photos of details are my favorite.
Choose a theme and shoot a series. [signs, windows, food, doors]
I carry a memory card reader for my iPad so I can download photos daily and review in full size. Post your favorites.
Shoot short 4-5 second videos. Edit them together with music using the iMovie app for iPad. It is easy to learn with the in-app help screens.