Exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of Turkey through the eyes of not-just-another-tourist
It's that time of year again and expats are scrambling to make a Pumpkin Pie! It's not so easy to figure out on your own. And why bother when I have already done it in Turkey! I must admit, I never baked a pumpkin pie from scratch until I moved to Turkey and it was... Continue Reading →
Thinking of traveling to Turkey? Already there and wondering where to go and what to see? Please click on this link. It contains links to many of my blog posts on travel to some of my favorite spots. Ankara to Istanbul! The Mediterranean coast, Aegean, and Black Sea! Kapadokya!!! And let's not forget the paragliding adventure!... Continue Reading →
I have hesitated to write a Top 5 "to do" list of my favorite places in Ankara. The reason? I am not a "usual" type of girl. The things I like to see and do will also be enjoyed by most of you, but most are NOT the typical places you will find on a... Continue Reading →
When I first moved to Turkey in 2010, I quickly realized that I was constantly converting figures whether it be measurements, temperatures or money. Some equations were easy. Temperatures, of course, were more difficult, after all, those involved a whole formula! For me, the money conversions were the most interesting. Sure, it was simple math. ... Continue Reading →
We all have things we used to do and plan to do again someday. For me, blogging is one of them. I used to post 3 to 4 times a week. Then I left Turkey. I had hoped that with the help of friends, I could keep my readers informed of the comings and goings... Continue Reading →
I'm not a water sports person, so I have no idea when kiteboarding, also known as kite surfing, became popular. I would love to share with you, however, my firsthand experience having watched it live in Turkey. At the end of summer 2018, we took a trip to Burhaniye (Ayvalik) on the western coast. My... Continue Reading →
Are you tired of the winter blues? Need a little break from Ankara? Feeling a little athletic? Can you deal with just a little bit of hectic travel? Why not try winter sports in France?! As I've previously written, Turkey boasts a truly beautiful mountain for snowboarding and skiing in the heart of Anatolia at... Continue Reading →
After years of blogging, my husband decided that I should own a typewriter. I had always wanted one, but had never pulled the trigger. He presented me with my first manual typewriter, a 1961 Royal Futura 800. A year and a half later, I'm the proud owner of 13 manual typewriters ranging from extremely odd... Continue Reading →
Folks, I know it's cold out there! Why not consider some winter sports? About a 4-mile drive from Ankara,, in the heart of Anatolia, lies Kayseri. I call it the "financial heart" of Turkey. But it's more than that, it boasts a mountain larger than those in the German Alps! Erciyes, how I love ye,... Continue Reading →
I spent 6.5 years in Ankara. Before moving there, one of the most difficult things I could imagine was celebrating American holidays without my family. Even harder, would be celebrating Thanksgiving since it is not a holiday at all in Turkey! It has been two years since I returned to the States. Looking back, my... Continue Reading →
A reader asked a couple of great questions on one of my earlier blog posts, Tips for Driving in the Snow in Turkey. She was wondering about the costs of winter tires and how a non-Turkish speaker could find out about it? Below are my thoughts on the matter, but your experiences would be welcome... Continue Reading →
I wrote the following in January 2016. I never finished it and am not sure where I was going with it. Most likely it started with the terrorist attacks in Turkey. It definitely preceded the attempted coup. It may have had something to do with 45 (aka - his highness Trump.) But seeing how our... Continue Reading →
I wrote the following piece last September. For no particular reason, I decided to hold on to it. We lost my brother this week, and for no particular reason, I feel it's time to share my writing with you. September 5, 2017: Many of my readers have followed this blog faithfully for years. Not only... Continue Reading →
A big congratulations to our friend Ozlem at Ozlem's Turkish Table. She has published her first cookbook and I can't wait to read it! I just finished ordering my copy. Yes, she ships to the US! Ozlem's blog has been my go-to for Turkish cooking. Why just this past weekend I paid her blog a... Continue Reading →
Musings of a Philadelphia lawyer - who married a Turk, quit her day job, and set out for adventure!
-by Terry Henson Kaymak
