“Hosbuldukl” In Turkish, there is a special response to the word welcome (Hoggeldiniz) when you visit someone’s home, meaning that you feel welcomed and have arrived with joy.
I definitely arrived in Turkey with joy and have felt welcomed by everyone during my time in Istanbul. I loved every moment of my visit. I enjoyed everything from learning to make Turkish coffee and lamps to discussing the history and origins of Turkish rugs to touring the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sofia, and the Blue Mosque. Every day was a joy and reminded me why I liked this city and country so much 23 years ago. I hope to return one day and travel around the country. I hear they have a lovely 470-mile (760km) hiking trail called the Lycian Way that has piqued my interest. It would be fun to put on my hiking boots again and walk across another country.
But for now, to close the books on another fun adventure, here are a few honorable mentions that I have only briefly written about in my previous posts. Food and animals.
Early on in my visit, I took a Food Walking Tour on the Asia side with Vera, my new pal from Prague. Turkey is known for their delicious food but I think our guide was fairly new so our tour was not as educational as I had hoped…but don’t let that deter you from taking a food tour during your visit because you really can’t go wrong with a tour that involves eating.
So, in addition to learning about the traditional rice and beans, Kebabs, and Döner sandwiches we sampled some typical street food as we walked.
The first stop was to try a simit, a sesame-crusted bread ring, kind of like a bagel. This is a typical grab-and-go breakfast for the locals. Spread a little cream cheese and it’s a tasty snack.
We visited a fruit and vegetable market with fresh and grilled olives (yum). I love an open-air market. Everything was so fresh as if they pulled it straight out of the ground or off a tree that day and put it on a table for purchase.
Believe it or not, this was my first time trying a chestnut. They are sold everywhere on the streets of most European cities but I’ve never stopped to taste them. Pretty good but not my favorite nut…but it did make me want to sing some holiday tunes.
Juice bars. They are everywhere and the fruit is incredible.
Ayran – a yogurt-based drink and probably the most popular drink in Turkey. I’ve had it before in other countries. I only drank it with one meal and forgot to take a photo so this picture is from the internet but it was the same brand I drank.
Sahlep – another favorite drink of the locals. I loved this drink. It’s served warm and is made from orchid root. It was milky and sweet. Perfect on a cold day (it was very chilly the day we did the tour).
In addition to the food tour, I ate at Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi Selim Usta , a restaurant not only recommended by our tour guide but several other locals who told me about this spot as well. Although they are located in the heart of the tourist area, the prices are reasonable and the place is filled with locals. I ate the traditional lentil soup and salad more than once but they are known for their “meatballs” (that look more like sausage links) with peppers and red sauce (the official term according to the waiter).
They also served my favorite dessert, Fırın Sütlaç (baked rice pudding) with hazelnuts. I found it to be the best in town…and I tried several for research purposes, of course.
Another famous spot is Hafiz Mustafa 1864 known for delicious baklava! There are several locations around the city but I enjoyed this specific place for the second-floor view of the city and the crazy traffic. Amazing people watching if you have the time to sit and observe.
Lastly, a surprising highlight in the food category…baked potatoes. But these aren’t just any baked potatoes. These potatoes are brilliantly assembled. They are slow-cooked in a wood-burning stove, then they are sliced open and hand-WHIPPED into mashed potatoes inside the skin. Brilliant, right?!? I cannot believe I did not think of this. The lovely gentlemen in the photo below used a fork for a good 2-3 minutes stirring the potato into a frenzy of creamy potato while adding warm butter and cheese and mixing it all together. Once it was creamy smooth and cheesy, next came the toppings. Choices mostly consisted of vegetables and fermented or pickled foods and a meat option with a squeeze of mayo (optional) on top.
I love potatoes; baked, mashed, French fried, you name it but this was next level. So simple but it elevated the potato experience. Definitely try one if you visit Istanbul.
Most everyone knows that cats rule the city. They are cute and well taken care of by the locals…but by now you probably know that my favorite domesticated animal is the dog.
So the true highlight and love of my trip was a dog named Deniz (Dennis). The resident dog at my hotel, Agora Guesthouse.
We became such good buddies that I was allowed to take him on his nightly walks around the neighborhood where EVERYONE knew his name.
When I would return from a full day of exploring the city, Deniz would greet me at the door and follow me into my room to hang out for a bit (he probably does this with many of the guests). We had a pretty special bond and if he had fit in my backpack, I would have scooped him up and taken him traveling with me. I miss him already.
Sadly, it’s that time again. Time for me to say my goodbyes and move on to the next destination. So to the people (and Deniz) of Istanbul who made my visit so special, “Hosbuldukl…and thank you.” 🙏
Good Things List
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Fresh Good Food
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Friendly People
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Deniz
Much love & gratitude. Namaste 🙏
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Below is a list of traditional foods/beverages I found online should you want to taste test during your own visit to Turkey.
Main Dishes
• Kebabs – Includes Adana kebabı (spicy minced meat skewer), Urfa kebabı (milder), Şiş kebap (grilled meat on skewers), and Iskender kebap (sliced döner with yogurt and tomato sauce).
• Döner – Vertically roasted meat, served in a sandwich, wrap (dürüm), or over rice.
• Lahmacun – Thin, crispy flatbread topped with minced meat, vegetables, and spices.
• Pide – Turkish-style pizza, often boat-shaped, with toppings like cheese, minced meat, or sucuk (spicy sausage).
• Kuru Fasulye – White bean stew, often served with rice and pickles.
• Mantı – Small dumplings filled with meat, served with garlic yogurt and butter sauce.
• Hamsi Tava – Fried anchovies, a Black Sea specialty.
Soups
• Mercimek Çorbası – Lentil soup, a staple in Turkish homes.
• İşkembe Çorbası – Tripe soup, often eaten late at night or after drinking.
Street Food & Snacks
• Simit – Sesame-crusted bread ring, similar to a bagel.
• Midye Dolma – Stuffed mussels with spiced rice, eaten with a squeeze of lemon.
• Kokoreç – Grilled seasoned lamb intestines, a popular street food.
• Çiğ Köfte – Spicy bulgur-based dish, traditionally made with raw meat but now mostly vegetarian.
Desserts
• Baklava – Layered pastry with nuts and syrup, a classic Turkish dessert.
• Künefe – A crispy cheese-filled dessert soaked in syrup.
• Lokum (Turkish Delight) – Chewy, flavored sweets, often with nuts.
• Aşure – A pudding made with grains, dried fruits, and nuts.
Drinks
• Ayran – A refreshing yogurt-based drink.
• Rakı – Anise-flavored alcoholic drink, known as “lion’s milk.”
• Salep – A warm, thick milk drink made from orchid root, popular in winter.
• Turkish Tea (Çay) – Served in small tulip-shaped glasses, a daily ritual in Turkey.
• Turkish Coffee – Strong, thick coffee with a unique preparation method.