Ancient Roman Gate in Patara (Lycia) Turkey
Built during the era of Claudius, when the Turkish subregion of Lycia was part of the Roman Empire, the ancient gate in Patara is one of the architectural highlights in a region known for its ruins.
Turkey
I lived in Ankara, Turkey, from 2007 to 2009. I did not blog a whole lot during my time there. But I do continue to write and post about Turkey, a complicated country that I still love dearly.
Elif Shafak reflects on Ankara, Turkey
“Mid-1970s Ankara was a grim place. At times the air was so polluted you had to wear a mask, there were long queues for basic necessities, and political strife had become so common, our favorite game as children was “communists versus fascists.” Still there was room for magic. Going to Youth Park on a weekend…
#FriFotos – Below the Bosphorus Bridge
Every so often, I like to contribute to the Twitter discussion #FriFotos. This week’s topic is “bridge,” and I can think of only a few bridges I like as well as the Bosphorus Bridge. A feat of engineering more than a thing of beauty, Istanbul‘s Bosphorus Bridge connects Europe with Asia. When driving over the…
Photo Flashback Friday: At the Market in Turkey
Five years ago this weekend, I was browsing these gorgeous fava beans and artichokes at a produce market in Ankara. Cool to look back through my Flickr archives and rediscover what I was doing on the same date years ago./p
6 things you must do in Istanbul
As you may know, Istanbul is the Europe Capital of Culture for 2010. Istanbul has been prepping for this year for quite some time, readying the city for an influx of new tourists to sights like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar. While I’m not heading back to Istanbul any time soon…
Istanbul: 2010 European Capital of Culture
Tomorrow – January 16 – Istanbul will be introduced to the world as the 2010 European Capital of Culture. Istanbul, the Capital of European Culture, you say? But Turkey is not even part of the European Union. You’re right…not yet. But, most of Istanbul is in Europe, even if the majority of Turkey lies in…
Planting Season at MissAdventures
Dear friends, I must apologize for the long delay in writing. But, I have been up to big things. First of all, I have been concentrating on my writing and my other blog Italofile.com. I am using Italofile as a way to explore the Italy travel landscape beyond the pages of my books The Unofficial…
Perfect Summer Salad
My staple during this hot Turkish summer has been kisir, what some call Turkish Tabbouleh. It’s not really a salad, but it makes the perfect cold side for stuffed peppers or karniyarik (another Turkish dish I’m making a lot lately). I learned this recipe from my maid, but you can also find a perfectly good…
Three Great Books
There are a ton of books, both fiction and non-fiction, about Turkey and the Middle East. While most of them are useful in learning about the region’s history and culture, few hold my interest for more than a couple pages. That’s not the case for the following three books, which I am reading or have…