Exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of Turkey through the eyes of not-just-another-tourist
1. What is a Service Bus? Several Military service buses were hit by a car bomb. A service bus (or multiple buses) is offered by an employer to transport employees back and forth to work. Service buses are common in Turkey, used by a variety of employers such as the government, universities, and large corporations,... Continue Reading →
Yesterday evening, at about 6:30 pm, I was standing in the middle of my living room. The weather had been gorgeous; my balcony door was wide open, the window ajar. Suddenly, there was a loud boom. My mother-in-law and I shook. "Kesinlikle bomba." Certainly, a bomb. I was struck with fear. I had just spoken... Continue Reading →
I wanted to do something a little different today and get away from the food posts. But that's not going to happen. I woke up to a nice surprise that I want to share with you instead. It's about food. German food. More specifically, about Bavarian food - one of my favorites. The Park Inn... Continue Reading →
Huh?? What do these Valentine's Day and awards for Best Picture have to do with each other? Not much, other than I wanted to share my recently baked items. They were all freshly baked for Valentine's Day. But some of them were movie-themed, instead of covered in pink frosting with all those mushy pink hearts!... Continue Reading →
Recently, I wrote a post about one of the big troubles my husband and I have repeatedly had with numerous Turkish cargo companies. Boy, did I catch a lot of grief for that! I received numerous emails, including from someone from a government Ministry and from a retired Ambassador. In one email, the author had... Continue Reading →
Recently, as I mentioned in this prior post, I've been in baking mode. I have been making American-style sweets, cakes, pies, brownies, etc. Today's photos are from some of my recent projects. "The Elsa Birthday Cake" This was a double-layer brownie cake. My brownie recipe is the bomb! Rich, dark and moist. The icing was... Continue Reading →
These days, I find myself with some time on my hands. This morning I am feeling a little nostalgic. I rarely look back on my Philadelphia homes with anything less than happiness. They were good days. I never fully regret selling my houses (although admittedly, I regret selling the little condo from time to time.)... Continue Reading →
Are you looking to pamper yourself during these cold and dreary winter months? Here's a great suggestion. I often get requests for information about visiting a "hamam." A hamam is a traditional Turkish Bath. They vary according to place; some are geared towards tourists and are more pricey; but most are traditional and a reasonable... Continue Reading →
We have had a few dustings of snow in Ankara do far this year, and we are expecting more. For those of you brave enough to drive in Turkey, you may already have noticed a few differences in driving techniques from your own homeland. Expect more in the snow! Your personal safety is what's important!... Continue Reading →
Due to some of the personal email responses I received from this blog post, I have updated the post. First, is my personal experience in Ankara, which may be useful to both Turks and expats here in Turkey. Second, is some helpful information for foreigners and Americans when dealing with shipping in the U.S. In... Continue Reading →
Now that the temperatures have cooled, I am thinking of doing a little baking. You probably recall how much I loved to cook but hated to bake! Well, I got over it! I am now quite adept at baking American style goodies with Turkish products. "I wanted to thank you for being so considerate to... Continue Reading →
Starting the New Year off with this great post I came across today on women's healthcare. The blog is written in both English and Turkish. Gizem Onay Collet is a native of Ankara. She practices and teaches yoga including prenatal yoga and trains yoga instructors. She also offers childbirth preparation classes and gives workshops on women's... Continue Reading →
Just a few shots from my recent trip to Philadelphia: Independence Hall - with construction completed in 1753, it is the location where our country's Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted and signed. The wings and the main building have been reconstructed or renovated over the years. But it remains a powerful piece... Continue Reading →
Musings of a Philadelphia lawyer - who married a Turk, quit her day job, and set out for adventure!
-by Terry Henson Kaymak
Adventures in Ankara 