A Glimpse at the Magic of Turkish Tea
When you traverse the streets of Turkey you can see it all around. Everyone is sitting around consuming it. It’s red, it’s hot and...
The Interwoven Worlds of Yaşar Kemal and Slim Memed
Before Orhan Pamuk came to prominence in the West and launched Turkey once more into the international literary scene, Yaşar Kemal was Turkey’s best-known...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: The Camondo Stairs
Strolling through Istanbul requires two basic skills: a good sense of direction and a strong pair of legs. The steep hills and windy streets...
Haydarpaşa Cemetery: A Cemetery with Something to Say
As a long-time lover of cemeteries, I’m often telling people about my trip to this or that burial ground. Most have one question: “why?”...
Miniatürk – Educational and Fun!
Miniatürk, situated on the North-Eastern shore of the Golden Horn, in a nutshell, is a display of the main monuments of Istanbul and Turkey...
A Guide to Traditional Turkish Herbal Remedies
Being a proud plant mother and a witch-in-training, I couldn't find a better place to live than in Istanbul. The city thrives with spice...
5 Turkish Words I Can’t Live Without
Learning Turkish while living in Istanbul can be an experience both painstaking and profoundly exciting. There is an undefinable moment in this adventure -...
Christmas & New Year’s in Turkey: Mixing Celebrations
In Istanbul, when December arrives, you might observe a sudden change in the streets. Decorations hung up on the poles in the shape of...
How to Fit Istanbul in One Book: Reşat Ekrem Koçu’s Istanbul...
Do you recall the days when uncle Google was not only a click away? The days when most knowledge was hidden in those big,...
The Sunken Palace: Basilica Cistern
Now if you have watched Dan Brown’s Inferno, the movie with Tom Hanks, and have been a diligent tourist in Istanbul, you’d recognize the...
Small Projects Istanbul: Emphasizing Education
“They first need to learn Turkish to be better integrated into their Turkish communities -- namely, their schools,” stressed Anna Tuson, the communication manager...
Book Review: The Time Regulation Institute
There’s a moment in The Time Regulation Institute, the novel by acclaimed Turkish author Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, where the protagonist Hayri Irdal explains the...
Live Music in Istanbul: 9 of the City’s Best Venues
There's nothing like a great concert, especially when life is stressful. The catharsis of listening to a live band and perhaps even dancing has...
Take 5: Cihangir (A Morning on Başkurt Sokak)
Istanbul arguably doesn’t really have one central district, like a downtown or a city center. It is a city of many centers, each with...
Anatolian Travel Archives: Eflatun Pınar
We raced against the sun to reach the spring before all light had gone, Seçkin at the wheel and me biting my nails with...
9 Tips to Know Before Visiting a Turkish Home
One day, after having heard our neighbor's son practicing his guitar almost daily, I went to her door and asked in piecemeal Turkish if...
Tophane-i Amire Culture & Arts Center
Tophane is a very pleasant area to spend an afternoon smoking nargile and playing tavla. Or, if you are more into art than the...
Discussing the Dönme with Artist and Researcher C.M. Kösemen (Part 2)
Dayla Rogers continues her conversation with artist and researcher C.M. Kösemen about the Dönme and their history.
You are a person of Dönme background. A...
Barbarossa: A Monument in Passing, But a Legend on the White...
If you have ever strolled through the ferry port of Beşiktaş on the European side of Istanbul, chances are you have walked past a...
Arter & Antrepo 5: Architectural Monuments Hosting Contemporary Art in Istanbul
That Istanbul is a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary art world is undeniable. You just need to look at spaces like...
We Cut Yogurt With a Knife
Last week, my husband brought home a 5-liter bag of raw milk. He secretly stuck it in the refrigerator and then surprised me by...
Ramadan in Türkiye: A Primer
Ramadan, pronounced in Turkish as Ramazan, is once again upon us. There are the basic tenets of the month-long fast that anyone living in...
Istanbul’s Hidden Architecture: Şemsi Pasha Mosque
Mimar Sinan was, without a doubt, the greatest architect of the Ottoman empire. His importance and influence are often compared with his contemporary Michelangelo, and it's an established...
Tribute to Ayran: An Expat Love Story
Writing about the allure of ayran has been on my agenda for over a year now. Every time an expat informs me that they...