Turkish, 79, married, Turkey, self-made

Founded the Anadolu Group. Large shareholder of Yazicilar Holdings, which trades on the Istanbul exchange (YAZIC.IS). He lost about 50% of his worth of 2008.

It is Black Friday and I know there are many shopping their hearts out to get the latest steals and to finish their Christmas shopping. As for me, I am watching from the sidelines. Not only to save money but also because there isn’t anything I want that’s going on sale.

Since I’m home this Thanksgiving weekend to visit my family, I was reminded about the small comforts of home. It’s the intangible pleasures of life that really brighten up my day. Just seeing all my younger cousins getting older and soon heading off to college is another reminder that time does not stand still and will continue to push us forward.

But if I were to indulge in some retail therapy, it’d be in search of the perfect bath towel. I don’t know why, but a great bath towel uplifts my spirits and makes the rest of the day seem better. So far, the best I’ve come across are the Turkish Bath Linens from Restoration Hardware. It’s about $28 for a bath towel, but it’s so worth the money. The towels are the only reason I go to that store.

Another great find is the Royal Velvet Bath Linen Collection at Bed Bath and Beyond. For about $15, you can get an awesome bath towel made from Turkish cotton. Plus if you use the 20% off coupon, it’s even cheaper! Usually I wait for the sales and coupons so I can get these towels for cheap. Since I’m not picky about the colors, I mix and match as long as I don’t pay the retail price.

When people think of expensive, high quality cotton, they usually think of Egyptian cotton. For the most part, that is correct. However, Turkish cotton is just as great and it has a bit of a sheen. It’s all a matter of preference, but for me, Egyptian cotton has nothing on Turkish cotton!

Happy Holiday Shopping!

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Lying on the sand getting some sun off the coast of Rhodes, Greece in the summer of 2005.  Life was good.  Then in a flash, a thought popped into my mind.

I’ve come this far, why not go another step further.  Right then and there I decided to do it.

Found an (expensive) flight and took off for Constantinople; present-day Istanbul and took off the next day.

One propeller flight to Athens and then another propeller flight to Istanbul.  I landed at 10pm with no idea where I was going to go.  This was the only city I had gone to where not only did I not arrange accommodations beforehand but also didn’t bother looking up metro maps or even where the airport was on a city map.  I had virtually no sense of direction. 

It turns out sometimes being young and ignorant isn’t cool.  I didn’t feel cool.  Not in Turkey anyway.

I was scrambling and scared! 

Istanbul has a population of over 13 million people.   How many of them do you think would be kind enough to help a tourist at 10 pm, much less help him find his way downtown and a place to stay.  Ya I didn’t think so.

After paying the 60 Euro fee (be warned, you have to pay to enter Turkey) I made change and got on the subway.  I had no idea where I was going and to make matters worse, I have no Turkish language skills.  I did what anybody would do.  I followed the locals. 

I got off the subway and transferred to a trolley.  Looking back I have no idea why and how I did that.  After a short ride I started seeing massive mosques and thought nothing would happen to me around holy sites.  So I got off and started on foot.

Without knowing it I had stumbled upon the Sultanahmet District, the ancient part of Istanbul, or better yet, Constantinople. 

Here I found the fabled and head-shakingly beautiful Greek-inspired Agia Sophia which contains priceless Greek Byzantine relics (now hidden in back rooms for reasons I’ll leave up to you to decide).  Across the way the stunning Blue Mosque.  Topkapi Palace down the street.  Hippodrome.  This was it.  I found it.  Stunning and grandiose.  I can’t imagine how much more beautiful these sites looked when the visiting Romans and Venetians first laid eyes on them hundreds of years earlier. 

I didn’t have too much time to reflect as the time was now 11:30 and I still didn’t know where I was going to sleep.  I was up finding a Turkish bath too.  Were they open this late?  Did Turkey have a law against sleeping in park benches?  I didn’t know and didn’t want to find out.  I’ve heard Turkish prisons are a bitch.

After some wandering around history I found a hotel, which at this point felt like I just found an oasis in the desert. 

Taksim is traditionally the place where tourists like to stay while here.  Plenty of bars and action.  For some reason I didn’t want to venture all the way cross town to Taksim.  If I’m going to Turkey I want to be surrounded by locals.  So with that in mind, I got a room, dropped off my bags and headed out.  The hotel manager asked to keep my passport for safety reasons. 

I always feel nervous about leaving my most valuable travel document with a stranger.  But when it doubt, it’s better to do it.  You never know what you’re going to confront when sightseeing.  I found out what could happen, the hard way.

For some inexplicable reason I unconsciously decided not to take my passport, credit card or debit card with me on this night.  

By the end of the night I was glad I didn’t.

Picture this:  Underground bar.  Dark.  Having a drink in a booth closer to the back.  30 minute walk from my hotel.  Alone. 

A big man approaches and asks to sit with me in the booth.  We’ll call him Bill.  I think nothing of it.  He sits.

After a few minutes of small talk, two women quickly approach.  One sits on Bill’s side while the other sits next to me.  The waiter quickly follows with a glass of wine for each lady and also brings along various finger snacks and dips.

The couple across the booth start to speak Turkish.  The woman next to me speaks broken English and immediately starts asking me if I want to have sex with her.  I say no.

She persists.  I continue to say no.

Hindsight as we all know is 20-20.  Little do I know at that point that I was becoming a victim of a classic scam.  One that is pulled on tourists all over the world, on a consistent basis. 

I don’t know how and why it didn’t dawn on me earlier but I finally realized that this was actually happening to me.  I have plenty of street smarts but I guess when you’re confronted with a situation you only read about or see on television, your brain can’t grasp the fact that this is actually happening.  Careful not to offend her and her pimp, who for all I know is sitting across the booth from me, I make up a story about how my wife and kids are waiting for me back at the hotel.

She doesnt’ buy it and is now getting increasingly frustrated at the rejection.  She begins to speak Turkish to the rest of the group. 

I analyze my situation and realize that I’m in a very tough spot.  If I make a run for it I will push her out-of-the-way, possibly injuring her and definitely upsetting her boss in the process, whoever and wherever he is. On top of that I have to run across the entire bar and up the stairs.  Too big of a risk.  Not an option.

Besides if I make a run for it I leave without paying the bill.  Remember the Turkish prisons? 

I also remind myself that nobody knows I’m here.  This is a big mess and I don’t know what to do.  I have no out.  And on top of that I have another two major things going against me:  I’m Greek (which for all I know makes me the enemy in Turkish eyes).  I’m Canadian (which for all I know makes me rich in Turkish eyes). 

I stay and face what comes next.

The women suddenly leave. 

Bill asks me if I want another drink. I say no.

Bill asks for the check.

The waiter approaches, leaving it face down on the table.

Bill glances at it.  Looks up at the waiter and questions his math.

The total is $637 Canadian Dollars!

I had only one drink!

The waiter, not wanting to deal with any conflict, points to Bill and then points to me.

He orders both of us to come into a back room. 

I’m still oblivious.  Bill is my friend right?  He’s on my side right? 

My  mind is racing.  Millions of thoughts are coming and going.  $637??!!  What will I have to do?  Wash dishes?  Clean floors?  Sell myself?  What will I have to do to pay off this debt?

The small room,probably the size of a small bathroom, is occupied by three giants (Bill, the Owner and what looked to be a Bouncer) and one small, wimpy looking dude (me). 

“MONEY”, demands the Owner.

“I don’t have any money brother”.

Not believing me, he starts padding me down.  His hands checking my shirt, my pants and pockets.  He finds something….and it’s not what you think.

“What’s this?  Money?” 

I pull out my drivers’ licence, explaining that this is for driving only.  I also pull out my camera and $20 million lira ($20 CDN dollars).  Not a big score in their eyes.

“Take this money, brother.  This is all I have”, pleading.

30 seconds of silence.  Go ahead and count to 30. 

Now do it in a court-room-like setting where you don’t know what to expect, in a country you’re not sure about, dealing with laws you’re afraid to confront, in a bar that’s 30 minutes from your hotel room, alone with nobody knowing you’re there.

Let me save you the agony. 30 seconds of silence in that room was torture enough.

“Go. Get out of here”, says the Owner.

Without thinking I sprint.  Across the bar, up the stairs, out the door and down the main boulevard towards the hotel.  Istanbul’s normally polluted air was intoxicating that night. 

I run back to my room, taking both the main, lit streets and back streets just in case they changed their minds and came after me, they wouldn’t be able to find me easily.

What was Bill doing in the small room?

Nothing.

Bill had already done his job.  Bill convinced me I was his friend.  He hooked me in and hoped I had some big, Western cash on-hand.  That way everyone could get a huge cut.  

I consider myself very lucky.  The money doesn’t matter.  I was lucky to make it out alive and virtually unscathed.

As I said something told me not to load my pockets before I went out that night.  I decided to leave my passport at the hotel.  I didn’t bring my credit card or debit card either.  I took only one piece of ID, a camera and $20.  I can’t imagine what could have happened to me that night.  A confiscated passport?  Credit and debit cards maxed?  No money left?  As I said I’m lucky to have made it out alive and unscathed.

Make no mistake about it.  Constantinople is a stunning city!  If you get a chance to go you must.  It is a city that has mystified millions of people who have gazed upon it.  I have no regrets about visiting Turkey’s largest city.  I will probably visit again.  This of course could have happened anywhere in the world.  And it does.  Beware of the scam.  If you’re not this could happen to you too.

In case you’re wondering, no I didn’t visit a Turkish bath.  Next time I guess.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-9415079-tea.phprefnum=delihayat

glass of traditional turkish tea  http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-9415079-tea.phprefnum=delihayat

beverage,drink,breakfasts,glass,herbal,hot,istanbul,liquid,oriental,plate,saucer,spoon,tea,teatime,traditional,turkish,turkish culture,black tea,teaspoon,anatolian

Situated between Europe and Asia, Turkey seems to have the best of both continents with it. Turkey is a developing Eurasia country that also borders with the Middle East. Holiday in turkey is a perfect thought, especially, if you are interested in its ancient and historical background as well as its archeological treasure. The first ruler of this land of Turks was Kemal Ataturk.

Things to do in Turkey

When visiting the Turkish land for a holiday in turkey, there are numerous things you can do to make your holiday a memorable one. These are:

- You can enjoy the adventure loaded activities like water sports in the Mediterranean and Aegian resorts, such as windsurfing, diving, water rafting sailing and water skiing. You can do mountain climbing, rock climbing on the famous mountain ranges like the Kackar Mountains (in Black Sea region) and Mount Ararat (in eastern Turkey). – You can go shopping in Istanbul grand bazaar as well as along the streets of up market Nisantasi and Istiklal Caddesi. The Istanbul grand bazaar is known as world’s largest and biggest covered market.

- You can also go skiing and trekking in Turkey as part of your Turkish holiday. The Lycian Way stretches to 500 km and is between Fethiye and the Antalya, offering a great trekking region along with amazing greenery to add to the trekking experience. You can also go skiing in various resorts such as south of Bursa, Palandoken, Erciyes and many more.

- Play golf, with various golf courses available accross the resorts and the main golfing area being in the Belek Mediterranean resort.

- One thing you must do is relish a Turkish bath during your Turkish holiday; these are famous as ‘Hamam’. The best of hamams are situated in the Istanbul, such as Cagaloglu Hamam ( sultanahmet) and Galatasaray Hamam (Beyoglu).

- If you are visiting in the months of June and July for your holiday in turkey, do not miss the Ballet festival and Aspendos International Opera.

Things to see in Turkey

Some of the top most Turkish attractions not to be missed when holidaying in turkey are Goreme Open-Air Museum, Ancient City of Ephesus, Kaymakli, Turkish Hamams, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), Swan Bar, Topkapi Palace, Kapadokya Balloons, Yerebatan Sarayi (Underground Cistern), Sultanahmet District, historic town of Safranbolu, Ishak Pasa Palace, Lake Van, Mediterranean city of Antalya, Bodrum, Bosphorus suburbs, Sumala Monastery (54 kms fromTrabzon)and more.

Best time to visit or holiday in Turkey

Visit Turkey in winter if you wish to enjoy your Turkish holiday with winter sports. But if you wish to holiday in turkey while enjoying the sun, sand and beaches, make sure its summer when you holiday in the land of Turks.

Learning Turkish in German is like nothing so much as being Searle’s Chinese Room.

Except I suspect the Chinese Room was much better at its job.

While you are waiting for your turkey to finish thawing, let me show you how you can brew a delicious cup of turkish coffee from home.  Turkish coffee is a very flavorful, and often strong, coffee. All you will need is a few simple ingredients, some traditional turkish cookware, and a heat source.

Lets get started!    

Ingredients and Cookware:

Ground Coffee (Extra Fine) of your favorite It’s A Grind blend.  It is crucial that whatever blend you choose, Turkish coffee uses the finest grind possible. The coffee becomes more like a powder, and in this way allows for more surface area of the coffee bean to be extracted of its flavor which makes for a stronger brew.    

Sugar

Water

Ibrik (you can find one of these on the web or your local ethnic market).  They are also known as cezve, briki, mbiki or toorka.  An Ibrik is a small pot that is used to brew coffee, usually holding either one or two servings. 

Heat Source.  Traditionally, the pot was placed in the hot sands of the Mediterranean for cooking, but for our purposes and convienences you can use a gas stove.

Step 1: Add Sugar

Add the sugar first to your ibrik.  For an 8 0z. ibrik, use 2 level teaspoons.  Or if you like your coffee on the sweet side add anywhere from 1 level tablespoon (=3 teaspoons) to 2 rounded tablespoons.  Or you can use one packet of splenda, or your choice of sweetner, if you so desire.

Step 2: Add Water

Fill your ibrik with water up to the point where the ibrik’s “neck” starts.  The water should come up to, but not into, the neck.  Think of an ibrik as a “One-Size-Fits-All,” you can’t really make a smaller amount of coffee, you would need a smaller ibrik. Fill the water to the neck, no more, no less.  The level is important for the physics behind how it works.

Step 3: Add Coffee 

This is a picture of a heaping teaspoon.  Study it carefully! In a small ibrik (4 oz.) use 2 heaping teaspoons.  An 8 oz. ibrik, use 3.  A 12 oz., use 6.  If the proportions don’t seem to add up, that’s ok, this is an art, not a science.

Note how the coffee grinds float on top of the water.  This is important, DO NOT STIR. The grounds actually act like a seal between the water and the air.  This is important.  You will stir the coffee in step 5, but not now, the floating coffee is necessary.

Step 4: Heat

Unless you have access to a hot sand box, use a gas stove, or you could even use that open fire you roast chestnuts on, but just about any heat source should work.  Heat your coffee slowly on a low to medium heat setting.  DO NOT WALK AWAY! (See FINAL WARNING at bottom of page)

After a few minutes things will start to happen. If the water starts to boil, you did not use enough coffee (please refer back to the picture above, and if your still not sure check out our “Word of the Day” to find out what heaping means).  The coffee should never boil…toss and start again.

The coffe should start to foam.  The difference is the foaming is slow, boiling is fast.  You should see the foam grow from around the coffee and start to fill the neck.  DO NOT STOP WATCHING! Notice the foam building.

The foam will start to fill the neck and work it’s way up.  When the faom is almost to the top of the ibrik, remove the ibrik from the heat source.

 Step 5: Stir Coffee

Carefully stir the coffee and the foam will subside. Put the ibrik back on the heat source.  It will start to foam again, this time more quickly. Again, remove from the heat source, stir down the foam, and replace.  Repeat a third time. When the foam rises a fourth time, remove, but do not stir.

Step 6: Fill Your Cup

Some people love the foam, others loath it. At this point, scoop out the foam with a spoon and either 1) place it all in your cup, 2) place an even amount of foam in each cup, or 3) gently pace it in the drain of your sink.

Let the ibrik sit about 30 seconds so some of the grinds will settle.  Then pour a cup of this delicious turkish brew for yourself, and your guests.  Don’t pour out the last drop since the bottom of the ibrik will be sludge. 

Step 7: Sugar & Cream?

Enjoy your fresh cup of Turkish coffee black or add cream and sugar if you so desire.  But note that the coffee grounds will settle to the bottom of your demitasse/cup, so be carfeul when you drink. 

Relax and enjoy your fresh cup of Turkish coffee and have a happy Turkey holiday, from all of us at It’s A Grind Coffee House- Dallas. 

Final Warning: 

Looking away, for even a second, will result in something like this:  

Canon EOS Rebel Xti, ISO-1600, f/7.1, 1/40 sec.

Made Saveur’s Urfa (Spiced Lamb) Kebab, from the May 2009 issue. Followed the super-easy recipe with no troubles. I did broil instead of grilling (hey, it was drizzly!). The magazine’s beauty shot is what you see at left, with that tomato. Here’s what mine looked like:


How different are they? Mine’s definitely “turdier.” Maybe I shoulda done it on the grill, just to flatten it out a bit. Whatever–they tasted great, with couscous and a salad.

Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, who was named last week as the first president of the European Union, previously praised businesspeople of Turkish descent in Europe.

A five-year-old speech against Turkey’s EU accession process by Van Rompuy, who will take office as president in January, has led to concerns over his likely impact on Turkey’s EU membership bid.

“Turkey is not a part of Europe and will never be a part of Europe,” Van Rompuy said during a meeting of the Council of Europe on the subject of Turkey’s possible entry into the EU, held in the Belgian Parliament in December 2004, suggesting that Europe’s Christian “fundamental values” would be undermined by admitting Turkey into the union.

Nonetheless, records of another speech delivered by Van Rompuy last year when he attended a meeting of the Belgium-Turkish Businessmen Association (BETİAD) shows a warm attitude towards businesspeople who are of Turkish descent in his country, as he praised their entrepreneurial skills.

Expressing gratitude for efforts exerted by businesspeople that are of Turkish descent during the global financial crisis, Van Rompuy, according to the text of his speech obtained by Today’s Zaman, said at the time, “We need courageous businesspeople like you in order to overcome the economic crisis.”

The Belgian politician, who was the guest of honor at the meeting of BETİAD, wishes success to the association, while concluding his speech saying, “Good evening” in Turkish, according to the text.

Soon after his appointment, speaking to reporters in Brussels last week, Van Rompuy was asked questions on his stance concerning Turkey’s EU bid. He responded that from now on, as the EU president, his personal opinions did not matter as he would harmonize his views with the EU’s decisions.

Photographed by Stephan Geyer

Taken today in the Turkish embassy as a friend of mine was getting married. Tomorrow’s shot will most probably be from the evening celebrations

Taken for my Project 365. Your comments give me the will to continue, so come on: say something!

Please don’t leave badges, group images or invitations on my photos.

– License

Description:
Turkish mosque in a small village on the island of Gokceada
Photo taken on: May 27th, 2009

© Photographer: Picsvet | Agency: Dreamstime.com
ApertureFNumber: f/4.5
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS 50D
DateTime: 2009:11:11 12:02:26
ExposureTime: 1/400
FNumber: 45/10
ExposureProgram: 3
ISOSpeedRatings: 100
DateTimeOriginal: 2009:05:27 14:28:49
MaxApertureValue: 4/1
MeteringMode: 5
Flash: 16
FocalLength: 70/1

In recent times a lot of reasons our country from the famous actor Bruce Wills Hollwood’un our country should be begenmiş. Frequently visited our country also think it provides a good introduction contribution. I watch a lot of film bruce wills begeniyle especially “Last Man” movie in the scenarios I play with the quality of the player also proved. Of our country from a very smart presentation Bruce Wills old wing was no longer looks like one of our volunteer ambassadors.

So that the man in the country that even the participation in the political subject matter and can be stuffed Turkey offered to the public. This is Bruce has sympathy in the country indicates that nature.

Avea By in Istanbul Fashion

Istanbul in Turkey on October 26, 2009 by Avea Fashion nedenide been developed. Wills family who will stay 2 days in Istanbul hotel Ritz Carlton hotel chose Incentives. Which will remain in the presidential suite at the hotel more often Wills hopefully begin to come to our country.

Countries face as a presentation of course Bruce Wills is an excellent decision. Wonderful weather in the real world of film, that he respected that the people of the world in style with the billions of won begenisini any.

Can introduce us to Hollywood. Bodrum and the surrounding desert is still the manager, who thought it to Hollywood with Turkey and to be the cradle of civilization to tell the most beautiful in the suit would Wills’e Bruce.

For Turkish : http://www.tatilde.org/bruce-wills-turkiyeyi-sevdi.php

On Ayşegül’s arrival at Eren’s family’s home, the couple join together to enter the house’s bridal chamber privately for the first time as a couple, while a female relative anoints the mantle of the door frame with butter. After a symbolic two or three minutes in the bridal chamber, the new couple emerge to everybody’s happy applause. Ayşegül is unveiled for the first time since the wedding began, and without a headscarf in public for the only time in her adult life.

Canon EOS Rebel XTi, ISO-200, f/10, 1/40 sec.

Journalist of the Turkish Akhsham newspaper Nagehan Alchi, who visited Nagorno-Karabakh without the consent of Azerbaijan, was included in the list of “undesirable persons” in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan Polukhov told Trend News.

“Regardless of their professional activities, those who visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan without the consent of the Azerbaijani side are named in the list of “undesirable persons” because of the actions that contradict the legislation of Azerbaijan. This is also referred to journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations and others,” said Polukhov.

Journalist of the Turkish Akhsham newspaper Nagehan Alchi visited Nagorno-Karabakh, who declared that Nagorno-Karabakh is a purely Armenian territory, the Armenian media reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesman said that at the same time, according to information received from the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Istanbul, the editorial office of the Akhsham newspaper appreciated the visit of the journalist to Nagorno-Karabakh as a private visit and said that the visit was not paid on behalf of the newspaper.

Given the official response of the Akhsham newspaper, the issue of cooperation with this newspaper will be re-considered, said Polukhov.

Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan)

(c) 2009 Trend News Agency. Copyright for the present information is reserved, in case of reprint of any part of it reference should be done to the Agency.

Azerbaijan, Baku, November 17 / Trend News [http://news.trend.az], M.Aliyev /

In honor of my friend’s birthday this past Sunday, we decided to party like (or with) an animal and headed to the aquarium. CAAL (Columbia Alumni Arts League) offers significant discounts to this destination, which really makes the trip affordable and well worth the trek.

If you don’t like small kids, don’t go to aquariums. I had forgotten that a Sunday destination for parents with small children is most likely 1. the zoo  2. the zoo 3. the aquarium. No matter, we had turtles to stare at, a walrus to capture (on film), and sea lions to smell. At first, the museum struck me as a little overcrowded. One tank had four huge turtles, many large-ish fish, and number of sharks, and one ray. It was the equivalent of watching my grandparents, the FedEx delivery guy, and some first graders share a one-bedroom in Manhattan. Other parts were newer and did a really interesting job explaining things like waves and why animals don’t live in the crash zone. (And the beach flea that lives under the sand and bites you on the sensitive areas!) The walrus was such a treat – imagine an engorged and unraveled slug hanging out in water delicately splashing around its flippers.

Leaving the world of strollers and tiny tots, we meandered up the boardwalk to take in local color such as the paintings of ‘Sideshow by the Seashore’ and the ‘Mermaid Parade.’ Feeling peckish we stumbled upon Tacis Beytis, which promised ‘authentic Turkish cuisine.’  The line out the door seemed to agree, proving Coney Island isn’t just for mermaids.

****

Abigail Santner
CUarts