Exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of Turkey through the eyes of not-just-another-tourist
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 →
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 →
Sharing this blog from 5 years ago. Two minutes of silence in honor of Ataturk.
My mom has visited me in Ankara three times. It's a really wonderful feat considering she is now in her 80's. Each time she visits, she also makes a stop in Germany to visit her family. And each time she visits, she says she's afraid it will be her last time - she doesn't think... Continue Reading →
This past summer, I was the lunch guest of a dear friend. She took me to an off-the-beaten-path restaurant called Üstünel Köftecisi. I believe it is technically in a part of Ulus/Altındağ. Well, while it was off the beaten path for me, the place was packed! It is located in a sketchy looking neighborhood, full of... Continue Reading →
My husband and I have done a lot of renovations and repairs through the years. It started in Philadelphia with my small condo, then with the house he rented in the city. Eventually, we bought our first home in Philadelphia, a 135-year-old row house on Centennial Row in the Art Museum Area. We went wild... Continue Reading →
Cappadocia is known for beautifully handmade and hand-painted ceramics. It is an ancient Turkish art. One of my favorite places is Kapadokya Seramik, a family owned business. It is a quite large location with much to choose from, one piece more beautiful than the next. At Kapadokya Seramik, they generally make the ceramics in winter, but... Continue Reading →
We recently had family visiting from Germany. Our plan was to head to Fethiye as soon as they left for Kurban Bayramı. But our plans for Fethiye fell through. So since we had the energy, we decided to take our visitors on a road trip to Kapadokya. Kapadokya can be done in a day trip... Continue Reading →
Well friends, I've decided to plan a trip to Fethiye. It will be my first time there, and I want to make it fun! So far, I have set up an adventure with a delightful woman from IsaM Riding Stables. It will be my first time riding horseback and I am looking forward to blogging... Continue Reading →
A Message from the Embassy of the United States of America Ankara, Turkey August 14, 2015 Security Message for U.S. Citizens INCREASED THREAT LEVEL DUE TO PKK ANNIVERSARY AND RECENT EVENTS The U.S. Embassy in Ankara informs U.S. citizens of an elevated threat level from terrorism in Turkey, as evidenced by the August 10 attack on... Continue Reading →
If you are still thinking about taking a vacation in Turkey this summer, don't forget to take a look at our Travel Destinations page. On the page, we have gathered the blog posts of many of the places we have visited organized by general location. The posts contain photos, stories, and information of where to... 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 