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Flat Jacob visits Istanbul

A big goal I had in traveling to Istanbul was to learn about the city. I am not very smart when it comes to history, so words such as "Constantinople" and the "Ottoman Empire" were only terms I had heard somewhere along in my middle school and possibly high school classes. So, when I thought about learning about the culture and history here, I thought it would be fun (and helpful) for me to teach what I learn to others. That is partly why I decided to write a blog. Writing about what I have seen and learned helps me retain the information for a longer period than if I were to just learn about something and move on.

Anyway, my first request for learning about the area came from a 2nd grader in Arizona. His class was collecting postcards from around the world (well, they were focusing more on places around the country) to help them learn about places other than Arizona. I was able to contribute to his project by sending a postcard from my layover in Chicago, where I only knew what I had learned in flying over the city...it's next to Lake Michigan, which looks like a calm ocean from the air with it's endless water. When I arrived in Istanbul and had learned a little about the city, I was able to send him another postcard with some details about Old Istanbul and the amazing scene, as it is located along the Bosphorus Strait and spans two continents. The project seemed simple enough and I loved being able to contribute a little, yet a lot. Just being able to put in their little minds that there are amazingly historic and beautiful places outside of the US reminds me that the world is so big and there is so much to learn and see.

Well, my simple contribution of postcards from Istanbul was followed by a more consuming task. In California, the 2nd grade at my former elementary school, Roynon Elem., was also learning about places outside of the US. They took a different approach to their project and focused on a popular children's book, Flat Stanley. The entire 2nd grade created flats of themselves and were to send them to places around the country and have their receivers take pictures out and about in the area. My friend's son asked if I would help him out. Given the time restrictions (and the poor postal service here) I wasn't sure if I would be able to help, but decided to give it a chance.


After just a week in the mail, Flat Jacob arrived. I was surprised at how quickly he got here!




Here we are in front of the Blue Mosque.

Here we are in front of the Haghia Sophia. Not the greatest picture, but we were both a little too shy to ask the photographer to take another one for us.

To get to Old Istanbul we had to take a Dolmuş to Üsküdar, then take a ferry from Üsküdar to Eminonu. Flat Jacob enjoyed it...well, I think he did. He always had a smile on his face.

After my girls saw what Flat Jacob was all about, they decided they wanted to create their own to send back to America for an adventure of their own. We are working out the details, but the girls may visit California and New Jersey!!

Food

I'm not going to lie...I like yummy food! I like to think that I'm a pretty diverse eater, but really, I've lived in California and Arizona all my life. I like Mexican and American food and have rarely tried anything else. It wasn't until about a year ago that I convinced myself to try more seafood. So, I was hoping I could figure out some simple meals here to cook for myself in case I had a hard time with the food. I think I could live off of rice, some meat, and fruit. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be in a home that cooks various good Turkish meals. And especially fortuante...Turkish meals typically include a lot of pasta sauces. I didn't mention... I LOVE pasta!!!

Aside from many of the homecooked meals I have had, here are a few of my favorite things:

Döner meat! Döner meat is a popular food here. The meat is put on a stake and spun around and around, cooking the meat and sometimes charring the outside. Various types of meat are used, lamb, beef, chicken. My favorite is chicken (Tavuk). Mmmm, Just looking at this makes me want one!

Here I am eating a Tavuk Döner Burrito. It was my first one in Istanbul! It came with chicken, a few french fries, pickles and tomatoes. I was not too particularly keen on the tomatoes and pickles (sweet), but fell in love with the chicken meat!

The picture below is basically what I have every Thursday when I head down to Üsküdar. There are about 5 different Döner shops within 500 feet of eachother. This one, in particular, comes with just the meat, french fries and tomatoes...though I ask for "domates yok". At one place in Kadıköy they added lettuce to the sandwich, which I thought was pretty good. Very simple, I know, but I love it!

Another one of my favorite foods here is Lahmacun (Lah-ma-joon). It is a Turkish Pizza. It is a thin crust (almost tortilla thin) topped with minced meat (lamb here, I believe), cilantro, peppers, parsley, and possibly something else I am unaware of. You can top the pizza with lemon juice, lettace, or tomatoes. Once you have topped off your pizza, you roll it burrito style and eat away.

There are many snack vendors around busy areas. This picture is of a corn vendor. Alongside, this vendor also sells roasted chestnuts. I haven't tried either from the vendors, but likely will eventually. In Üsküdar there are many vendors that sell breads. Simit is a popular bread with most vendors and is even sold by vendors walking the streets. Simit is a round bagel-like bread covered in sesame seeds. They are pretty good if you get them fresh. There is another dessert bread that is sold my the vendors that I absolutely love. It's almost like a soft pastry bread with a cinnamon pastry bread folded into it. Mmmm!

In the Grand Bazaar there is a restaurant that cooks only "homemade" foods. This meal is a lamb soup with vegetables, a tomato, cucumber and parsley salad, and simple white rice (with a chicken or lamb flavoring). I loved the soup! The salad wasn't what I was expecting, as I am not particularly a fan of tomatoes, and the rice...well, I think I love all rice.

Below is a simple chicken wrap. Mayonnaise is common here with french fries. Ketchup is as well, but mayo almost seems more common. I am not obsessed with either, so I mix the two and create a fry dip. I have seen this done by many Turks, as well.

In an effort to avoid getting homesick, I thought it was important to find a good Mexican food restaurant as soon as I can. El Torito was found in Sultanhamet, not far from the Blue Mosque. Let's just say, if I get DESPERATE for Mexican food, maybe I will head here...otherwise, I think I can deal without Mexican food if this is what I will get. Blah!

Fast food has taken over the world! Burger King and McDonalds have MANY shops in Istanbul. There are a couple of things I find interesting about the fast food places here... 1. The two shops below have walk up ice cream windows. So, if you're walking by and decide you need a McFlurry, stop at the window and grab one! 2. Many fast food places (Mc D's, BK, Little Ceasars, Dominos, etc) have delivery. Their drivers drive around on little mopeds delivering the food stored in their back warming basket. I need a pic of this! I would like to say, I have eaten at BK, but with the family just once on the way to a show.

So, that is just a few foods I have tried here. I am not a historian. I am not an architecture enthusiast. I am not really a linguist (though I am working on that!). But, I do like cooking. My hope is to really learn how to cook some of the homemade food here. Then there will be lots of pictures!

Atatürk

When I flew into Istanbul, I arrived at the Atatürk International Airport (Atatürk Havalimani). Atatürk was just a name to me. I thought possibly the name of a city. I didn't think much of it. Quickly, I realized that Atatürk was more than just a name here. Atatürk was a legend here in Turkey.

Atatürk referes to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk...the first president of The Republic of Turkey in 1923.

References to this great political figure are everywhere. Children have numerous books about his life and legacy. He is the only figure found on the currency and his image dominates most pictures hanging in store windows, whether they be for sale or not. I was trying to compare his legacy here to someone similar in the United States, and I just can't think of anyone that would compare. Possibly during the late 1700's Washington may have been regarded this way, but I am not sure considering the number of people in the States at that time doesn't compare to the number of people here in the early 1900's and now.

I decided to look into the life of the first president of Turkey, and found him quite interesing. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born with just the name "Mustafa" in 1881. His mother seemed to want Mustafa to attend a religious school, which he did for the first few years. During this time, a math teacher gave him his second name, Kemal, which means "Perfection" or "Maturity". Later, he attended a private school that was more secular, with the approval of his father. But it wasn't long before Mustafa expressed an interest in the Military and secretly applied for a Military school. He was accepted and gratuated from the War Academy when he was 24. He showed a great ablilty in leadership and was quickly promoted from lieutenant to captain. His leadership was proven while fighting the Italio-Turkish Wars, Balkan Wars, and WWI. He was successful in defeating all opponents he faced. In 1918, after his stint in the military had ended, he traveled to Istanbul where many nations and the Ottoman Empire were struggling for power.

From what I can gather, his true legacy begins with the Turkish War of Indepence, which began in 1919. With the struggles between the Ottoman military and other nationalists, Mustafa and others took part in declaring that the independence of the country was in danger of being overrun by other nations (including, Britain, Italian, French and Greek). This upset the Ottoman Army, and his once loyal employer seeked his capture and potential execution.

To be continued...

Dinner on a Tuesday.

(Monday night dinner did not get a picture.)
Turkish Pizza (Lahmacun): Thin doughy crust, minced meat (lamb), diced tomatoes (small amount), cilantro(very noticeable), parsley, onions and peppers. I like to the way it is, but you can add lettace and lemon juice and wrap it up burrito style.

*This was an extra pizza. I devoured mine before I had time to take a picture.

Lunch on a Monday.

It may not look appealing, but this is my favorite meal...along with a little dessert. Spinach and green veggies with pasta sauce, white rice with kind of a chicken flavoring, Juice, and a slice of chocolate cake.

Breakfast on a Monday.

Tost and Çai (Melted Mozzarella Sandwich and Tea) Mmmm!!

Basilica Cistern

On an outing to Old Istanbul to pick up some stamps and visit the Grand Bazaar I made an impromptu visit to the Basilica Cistern. The line to get in caught my attention as I was walking to the ferry to head home. Since the cistern was on my "to see" list, I decided I could spare some time and take a look inside.


Built in the 6th Century during the Byzantine times, the Basilica Cistern was built as an underground chamber that held water for the buildings in the area, including the Great Palace of Constantinople and Topkapi Palace in the 15th century. It wasn't until the 1980's that the cistern became available for public viewing.

I found it interesting that there were so many fish in the water. I wondered how the fish got there. Assuming they come in with the water, it is fasinating to think that these fish(well, their ancestors) have been there for hundreds of years. Imagine living in this dark, quiet, low water.

(The wishing water. A school of fish with money on the bottom)

Most of the 330+ columns were similar to this design, Corinthian and Iconic styles.

The ceiling of the cistern with a Doric style column on the right.

While walking through the cistern, I came across this column that looked significantly different from the others. After a little research I discovered that it is called the Peacock Eyed Column. From observing other tourists and eavesdropping just a little I concluded that you are to stick your thumb in the only hole on the column and turning it fully around clockwise, while making a wish. So, like a lemming, I followed what the others were doing.

The two heads of Medusa that layed in the cistern were somewhat surprising to me. Well, not that I know much about Medusa anyway, but I never would have expected them to be there. As I read from a few postings in the cistern, it really isn't known how they got there or why. They are believed to be from the end of the Roman Period (around 1400's).

One of the heads, upside down. Though it is not entirely known why the head is place upside down, it was believed to have been done to keep the effect of Medusa's direct glance from turning people into stones. The second statue, on it's side.

The following picture does not do justice to the beauty the lights from the columns have on the columns, themselves, and the water.