Istanbul - The Coffee Trail and other random pics

[Ric]

As promised many moons ago to those who generously gave advice when I sought it…http://www.australianfrequentflyer....n-guide/istanbul-advice-45792.html.....better late than never eh?

However, as many posts and pics have been on Istanbul/Turkey lately, I will restrict myself to some specific pics.

We stayed at Sultanahmet Palace Hotel right at the back of the Blue Mosque and discovered a place nearby called "Istanbul Walks". We booked 2tours with them; "The Coffee Trail" and "Dining the Turkish way".

Guide picked us up at the hotel and we proceed to the Grand Bazaar. Don't askwhich part as I have totally forgotten but it was not inside.
(This will be a messy TR as I have forgotten names and places so please excuse!)

1st stop

Preparation of the coffee

They come not only for the coffee but for a smoko too!


2nd stop was to the oldest coffee shop in Istanbul as claimed by the guide.
We went into the Grand Bazaar through Gate 5


And came to the oldest (but renovated) coffee shop in Istanbul

 

[Ric]

The unrenovated(?) part from the inside


And the delicious cuppa


After this, we went to another coffee shop which I forgot to take photos of.
We then went through the side(?) of the Grand Bazaar to The Spice Market.
A random pic..


We passed by an Iranian Mosque on the right

Anyone recognise those dome rooftops?

 

[Ric]

Down the alley way


And we came across the guy....
just had to buy from him!!


We reached the coffee beans..

We were told that coffee were first brought into Turkey from Ethopia by 2 brothers who were very successful but then had a falling out.

This shop belongs to the descendants of one of the brother.


And this one, the descendants of the other.

Yes, those people are all queuing up in a "S" line to buy beans.

 

[Ric]

Last stop was to a coffee shop where we were given a lesson in how to make proper Turkish coffee.
It is located just outside the Spice Market


No direct heat like the first picture but through a medium i.e. heated sand


The process of pouring in hot water, adding coffee, sugar and heating the coffee ....all forgotten but was a very good experience!


My finished product!

 

[Ric]

As we were just by the side of The Spice Market, we seized the opportunity and visited this shop to contribute to the Turkish economy.
A must visit!






Next up....some random pics of The Spice Market and Dining the Turkish way

 

[Major]

Istanbul is a photographer's dream...great work

 

[Ric]

As we were by The Spice Market after The Coffee Trail (which took about 3 hrs), we went inside to browse around.
Some pics....

Going in




Wonder how good are those caviar on the shelf?

 

[Ric]

I can still smell this lot.




Soap at the Spice Market!


These are good!

 

[Ric]

More pics

 

[Mattg]

I'm loving your pictures! I was in Istanbul last week and your pictures are taking me right back. It's an incredible city, might just have to visit again soon!

 

[burmans]

+1 on that. I keep wanting to try new places but my daughter is very keen to go to Turkey and you may just have convinced me to go back there!

 

[Ric]

Istanbul is a photographer's dream...great work

Thanks Major! It is a photographer dream indeed! I took about 2000+ photos in the 9 days I was there.

 

[Ric]

I'm loving your pictures! I was in Istanbul last week and your pictures are taking me right back. It's an incredible city, might just have to visit again soon!

+1 on that. I keep wanting to try new places but my daughter is very keen to go to Turkey and you may just have convinced me to go back there!

Thanks Mattg and burmans. Definitely on my list to go back. I was only in Istanbul, Ephesus, Gallipoli and Troy. I have got Cappadocia, Izmir and Pamukkale targeted as the next destinations. And of course with a stop over at Istanbul! But that will probably be 2016-7.

Cheers!

 

[Ric]

And on to Dining the Turkish way. I have to say that we were very lucky in that both tours by Istanbul Walks were "de facto" private tours...just us and the guides. Both guides were a pleasure to be with. Sahad(?) for the Coffee Trail and Sanem for Dining the Turkish way.
This particular tour started at 5 pm and ended past midnight and no complains from Sanem at all. She insisted that we finish the whole tour to the end....I discovered why at the end! :shock:

Well, the tour went for so long because we had some diversions or should I say some additional attractions along the way. We went on May 3rd and the place was around Taksim Square.

Traffic was so bad and at a stand still just before Taksim that we decided to alight from the mpv and walk over.


At the Square..



and then this mob came up Istiklal Caddesi



and had a gathering at Taksim Square

 

[Ric]

Then this mob came along behind them!!


And this mob came from the side street!

No way to go for the gathered.

 

[Ric]

We had spent some time watching the protesters came up the street. It was actually quite a jovial atmosphere. We didn't feel threatened at all. Guide Sanem was more worried than us.
But when the riot police came and blocked off Taksim Square, we all agreed that it was prudent for us to scoot off down Istiklal


and have our first course, Simit with apple tea

 

[Ric]

We then went through some side and back streets of Istiklal to this restaurant.
View attachment 38124

we started of with some local bread and this tomato based dip
View attachment 38125

followed by an eggplant dish
View attachment 38126

 

[Ric]

and this as the mains, washed down with the local brew, raki
View attachment 38127

it was cooked this way..
View attachment 38128

 

[Ric]

After the delicious meal, it was time to try the next restaurant and off we went.


Along the way we passed this shop


And saw these!!!





Ah SWMBO, we are not going in there!
Ric Jr and I had to drag her away!!

 

[Ric]

I have seen these everywhere and I wanted to try them. But Guide Sanem would not let me. She insisted that it is not wise to try them as one bad one will spoil the rest of my trip.
A wise decision I reckon.


We had a stop at a place where we had some more apple tea and played a local game on the table.
It was set up like Scrabble and played like Gin Rummy. Sorry, I enjoyed that so much that I forgot to take some photos.
Someone help me out here please. I really like to know the name of this game!!

...into this alley way to the next restaurant


and had this dish!! Kokorec

And as you can see I did not quite finish it!