Turkish cuisine unique in the fact that most of its food recipes have lasted for centuries. In other words, I was able to enjoy the same soup recipe that Constantine enjoyed. All of the ingredients are pure with very little of any MSG's.

Turkey is best known for its lager t ype beers which are decent. In this album I will showcase a couple.

The tradition of the Turkish bath extends far back, to a time before Turks had reached Anatolia. When the Turks arrived in Anatolia, they brought with them one bathing tradition, and were confronted with another, that of Romans and Byzantines, with certain local variants. The traditions merged, and with the addition of the Moslem concern for cleanliness and its concomitant respect for the uses of water, there arose an entirely new concept, that of the Turkish Bath. In time it became an institution, with its system of ineradicable customs.

On our first night we took the Ankara Express from Istanbul to the capital city called Ankara. It was my first overnight train ride and I loved !

The fact that Turkey is surrounded by four seas, each with its own ecological constitution; and the relatively late development of industry and agriculture has resulted in an phenomenal wealth of plant and animal life within Turkey's borders.

This extraordinary degree of biodiversity was augmented during the Ice Age, when northern animals strayed south seeking warmer climes, and many remained in their new homelands. Turkey is also situated on the main migratory routes for birds between Asia, Africa and Europe, thus increasing the number of species found here. Anatolia as a Gene Centre Turkey has almost as many species of wild flowers as the rest of Europe combined; of the over 9000 species so far identified more than one third are native to the country, many found nowhere else on earth

Lokum (Turkish Delight) and Baklava are the first names that come to mind when one says Turkish sweets. Turkish cuisine is very rich on sweets. Akide şekeri, badem-fıstık ezmesi (marzipan) , various Turkish puddings-muhallebi, sweets with syrup tulumba, lokma; helva in a variety of flavors and fruit desserts such as quince and pumpkin are among the main Turkish sweets.

This album will showcase the architectural aspects of each restuarant we visited with a little commentary.

Turkish Coffee:

Brought to Istanbul in 1555 by two Syrian traders, coffee became known as the "milk of chess players and thinkers". By the mid-17th century, Turkish coffee became part of elaborate ceremonies involving the Ottoman court. Coffee makers (kahveci usta), with the help of over forty assistants, ceremoniously prepared and served coffee for the sultan. Betrothal customs and gender roles also became defined through coffee rituals. In ancient times, women received intensive training in the harem on the proper technique of preparing Turkish coffee. Perspective husbands would judge a woman's merits based on the taste of her coffee.

Turkish Tea:

While both Chinese and Indians claim that they first discovered the use and drink of Tea thousands of years ago, Turks evolved their own way of making and drinking the black tea (Çay in Turkish or Camellia Sinensis in Latin), which became a way of life for our culture. Wherever you go in Turkey, tea or coffee will be offered as a sign of friendship and hospitality, anywhere and any time, before or after any meal.

First night we stayed on the Ankara Express which took us from Istanbul to Ankara overnight.
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/trans/Train/ankara_expresi.html

Resort Dedeman Cappadocia
http://www.dedeman.com/

The Rixos Hotel of Turkey
http://www.rixos.com/

The Thermal Colossae
http://www.colossaehotel.com/en/index.php

The Thermal Princess Hotel
http://www.izmirprincess.com.tr/

The Kolin Hotel

http://www.tour-turkey.com/canakkale-kolin-hotel.htm

Barcelo Premium Eresin Topkapi
http://www.travel-library.com/hotels/europe/turkey/istanbul/barcelo_premium_eresin_topkapi_hotel.html
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Some mistakenly believe that Turkish oriental dancing is known as Çiftetelli due to the fact that this style of music has been incorporated into oriental dancing by Greeks and Roma, illustrated by the fact that the Greek belly dance is called Tsifteteli. However, Turkish Çiftetelli is more correctly a form of wedding folk music, the part that makes up the lively part of the dance at the wedding and is not connected with oriental dancing.

Turkish belly dance today may have been influenced by Roma people as much as by the Egyptian and Syrian/Lebanese forms, having developed from the Ottoman rakkas to the oriental dance known worldwide today. As Turkish law does not impose restrictions on Turkish dancers' movements and costuming as in Egypt, where dancers are prevented from performing floor work and certain pelvic movements, Turkish dancers are often more outwardly expressive than their Egyptian sisters. Many professional dancers and musicians in Turkey continue to be of Romani heritage as well. (However, it should be noted that people of Turkish Romani heritage also have a distinct dance style which is uniquely different from the Turkish Oriental style.) Turkish dancers are known for their energetic, athletic (even gymnastic) style, and particularly, until the past few years, their adept use of finger cymbals, also known as zils. Connoisseurs of Turkish dance often say that a dancer who cannot play the zils is not an accomplished dancer. Another distinguishing element of the Turkish style is the use of the Karsilama rhythm in a 9/8 time signature, counted as 12-34-56-789. Turkish belly dance costumes can be very revealing, with the belt sometimes worn high up on the waist and split skirts which expose the entire leg, although dancers today are costuming themselves more like Egyptian dancers and wearing more modest "mermaid"-style skirts. The Turkish style is emphasized further by the dancer wearing high heels and often platform shoes. Famous Turkish belly dancers include Tulay Karaca,Nesrin Topkapi and Birgul Berai.[wikipedia]

Once a church, then becoame a Mosque and now a Museum. Probably one of the most insteresting spots in Istanbul.
Ayasofia is one of the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture.