Fantastic Turkish Food

As the intersection between Asia and Europe, Istanbul offers a plethora of world class dining options. There are really a ton of choices, most fantastic, but I am just going to discuss 2 restaurants for now….

Lebiderya is a challenge to find, but well worth the hunt! Tucked down a tiny ally way and on the roof of a 6 (or so) story building, Lebiderya offers a vibrant local hot spot with sweeping views of the old city. Keep in mind that you can still smoke in Turkey and if the weather is not conducive to having the windows open, then it can be a little annoying. While the food is great, it is not extraordinary. It is well priced and a worthy effort for a nice evening with locals and a view. http://www.lebiderya.com/lebiderya/eng/1_2_index.html

You can walk the social district after dinner and enjoy hookah and tea at a café while people watching. Really bad picture, but this is me in front of Lebiderya...a thrill to find!

Amedros Café is on the Sultanahmet side of the city and has FANTASTIC food. If you plan on dinner, then a reservation is strongly recommended, but you can easily pop in for lunch without a wait. It too is a lively atmosphere with primarily travelers eating. It offers very authentic and very delicious Ottoman cuisine. Do make the effort to find it if you are in Istanbul. http://www.amedroscafe.com/

NOW, if you can't make it to Turkey any time soon and need a little Turkish fix, then Cafe Istanbul in Plano really does a great job too!!

Istanbul

Of all the cities I have visited recently, Istanbul captivates me the most. It is a contrast of time and cultures where the 'Clash of Civilizations' is epitomized. As you cross the straight between Europe and Asia or cross the street from Jewish to Muslim to Christian places of worship, you can not help but to feel the history.

Hagia Sophia is not to be missed. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia to read all about it. (Isn't wikipedia great!) The thing that makes you pause is the plaster falling off the walls. When the Ottomon Turks converted it to a mosque, they plastered over all of the Christian mosaics. That plaster is now falling away and can not be repaired because it is a protected site. The mosaics are typical Byzantine. The message...

As we walked the social district at night, there were literally thousands of people in the streets. Small, make shift tea cafes along the alleyways, restaurants, street musicians, book stores, and even nightclubs. Taking it all in. What a treat!

With friends Natalie and Andrew, we had to experience one of the cafes and enjoyed an apple huka with apple tea. I really wanted to jump in on the chess game going on next to us, but maybe next time. Wonderful way to watch the night go by.