September 7, 2013
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| Pinar and Nazo, my Turkish family! |
After a long, international flight, I was so excited to land in Turkey. When I landed, there was no time to waste… Pinar and her family (Nazo and Ertan) drove us straight to the mall to pick up “the necessities.” It was an adventure navigating a grocery store not being able to read Turkish… I couldn’t help but be drawn to the familiar colors and logos (Axe deoderant and Pantene shampoo!). I did try some Turkish soap, though. Will be bringing some of that home!
Ever since I landed, I have experienced nothing but open arms from Nazo and Ertan. They had a spare room ready, blow dryer and straightener, and Pinar had purchased an Istanbul travel guide that we immediately dove into, pinpointing everying we would be visiting during the week. Our list is long, and we got started right away!
We headed to Taksim Square, the “symbolic heart of modern Istanbul.” We had drinks at Midpoint, a restaurant, and had a front row view to the Bosphorous. I had my first Efes Pilsen, a Turkish beer. Then we walked to Meyhane, another restaurant, and ate. I experienced dolma (stuffed olive leaves), gavurdagi (salad with diced tomatos, onions, garlic, dill, thyme, and oil), and bonfile (lamb).
After dinner, we walked the streets of Taksim Square. I witnessed a protest by Turkish citizens for METU (Middle Eastern Technical University) events. I saw Turkish citizens chanting, marching in the street, and suddenly the Turkish polis (police) charged with shields armed. My first reaction was to pull the American tourist card and take pictures and video of the event, but thankfully Nazo and Ertan rushed me to safety! We stumbled upon a cultural exchange, which included traditional dancing, outfits, and food from old USSR countries, South Korea, and other Turkic countries.
After watching the festivities for awhile, Nazo and Ertan went home and Pinar’s brother Ugur joined us for the evening. They took me to a small bar called North Shield at Asmali Mescid, where I had my first Bomonti beer. We waited to hear the results of the location where the 2020 Olympics would be held. Sadly, Istanbul was not selected… I was hoping for another trip in a few years! Then, we roamed the streets and found a bar that sold very unique shots. We ordered 13 between the three of us! After the shots, we got the munchies and stopped at a bakery called Ozsut and ordered some dessert. Dessert is a favorite for me and Pinar! We couldn’t go home without!
And that wrapped up the first day of my stay in Istanbul. I went to bed with a severe case of jetlag, excited for the plans in store for the next day!