Istanbul

I have arrived into Istanbul and settled in a comfortable one bed apartment in Sultanahmet House. I am planning the travel itinerary and alongside I have put together a list of 15 must eats in Istanbul that I will try out: Kebabs – this is the land of Kebabs – Doner, Kofte, Shawarma, lamb chops- the list is long and my appetite is huge Simit – a snack between doughnut and pretzel Wet burger – yes, a burger filled with meat and then wet in garlic tomato sauce…heading tomorrow night to Taksim square for a bite into this one Firin Sutlac – Oven baked rice pudding sounds like Indian kheer. Let’s see what they got. Hummus – this tahini chick pea delight is alchemy. I have spent days dipping my carrots into it for lunch. I feel fortunate to come to a land where it is a traditional and not exotic food.  Lahmacun – referred to as Turkish pizza, it is flat bread with minced meat Pilav rice – Pulao is a big part of Indian cuisine. I want to eat Pilav in Istanbul to compare it to the Indian variety I was brought up on Aubergine mezze- Aubergine is much disliked in India but egg plant seems to be to Middle East what potatoes are to British isles. I am waiting to dip my breads into smoked egg plant salads, egg plant with yogurt, fried egg plant!  Baklava – Come on, who am I kidding! That is one of the key reasons for going to Istanbul – to have some fresh Baklava. It is a pastry dessert.  Tea: They say, tea is inescapable in Istanbul and I am going to plunge right into its arms! Prices look affordable so between much walking small tea stops will be perfect! Tavuk Gogsu – milk pudding with chicken breast. (To …

I read about it in history books – Constantinople – the capital city of three empires – A gem that glitters on the body of world history. The name itself has kick in its sound – Is-tan-bul, the land where East and West, Europe and Asia visibly meet. But honestly, Turkey never figured in the top five on my must visit list. But with less than 24 hours to my flight to Istanbul. I am getting super excited! Here is why: The weather – From wet rainy, cold chilly London at 10 degrees, Istanbul will be a delightful 18 degrees, 10 degrees warmer for the last gasp of newness in.  The culture – Both European and Asian cultures come mix here. I am looking forward to be in the milieu and witness what it feels to be in midst of this confluence of this culture. Cheap Prices – I found a room at £13 per night per person. I am hoping all the awesome museum visits, travel, food -kebabs, tea, baklava will come in great quantities for cheap.  History – Istanbul is not just nestled in between two continents, by the sea of Marmara, but its history dates back to the 660 BC Orhan Pamuk – There is something about Orhan Pamuk’s works that make you feel that you are entering into the veins of Istanbul.  It makes the city, its streets, its landmarks, its people – real, something that makes I feel will help me go beyond the superficiality of a two day tourist. So unsuspectingly, Orhan Pamuk’s “Museum of innocence” made me want to travel to the grand, historical city of Istanbul.

The timeless city, the treasure trove history, the bridge between East and West, the ‘Nea Roma’ (“the new Rome”) of the Romans, the capital city of the Ottoman and the Byzantine empires and the end of the silk road – it is Istanbul! I have more than one reasons to be excited and here is my quick five pointer to do list for my short two day visit – Visit the must visits – It would be blasphemy in the religion of travel, wouldn’t it be to return from the timeless city of Istanbul without paying visits to the remarkable buildings of Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topinaki Palace. Of course, I have scheduled 3 hours to walk around the Archaeological museum to dive into the history of the city!  Cruise in Bosphorus – also called Istanbul strait, it is a natural water body 32 km long which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara marking the separation of the two continents – Asia and Europe. There seem to be many options for cruise on the strait –  cheap 2 hour government run ferries or half day tours or night cruise with food and entertainment. Again, I will see what it is worth after getting on ground but as of now all I want is glide in peace watching Istanbul glide away.  Food, Food &; Food – After long intense day of walking and exploring that I have planned, what one relishes is a hot cup of tea. I will dig in with my spoons and hands and explore the culinary tradition of the city. I have a list of  15 food items I want to eat in Istanbul. I may as well walk along in one of the many food tours in Istanbul that I have found in my research so far.  …