Turkish delight

Istanbul, the only city in the world that spreads over two continents, offers
something for everyone, writes Vibha Sharma 

Westernised, yet so traditional, are the first thoughts upon landing in Istanbul — the only city in the world that spreads over two continents.

Straddling Asia and Europe, Istanbul was once the Capital of many ancient empires. Divided by Bosphorous — the world’s narrowest strait — into European and Asian sides is what makes Istanbul geographically unique.

Istanbul is rated among most beautiful cities of the world. The city, a mix of old and new, offers something for every one. It has some of the best historical sites, offers shopping in centuries-old bazaars for immaculately copied designer labels, spices, different types of teas, instruments to ward off evil eye, entertainment in form of belly dancers, or simply lazing around in the best of hotels on banks of Bosphorous.

The entry point to Bosphorous, which is like a small bay, gives the best view of the old town. Some of best heritage buildings are located on its shores — the Ciragan Palace, which has been restored and converted into a hotel by Kempinski, former Feriye Police Station that is now used as a cultural centre and Ortakoy Mosque and the town square.

Because of Bosporus’s strategic importance, many wars have been fought for its control. Now several international treaties govern its waters.

Istanbul’s rich history is reflected in grandeur of its mosques.

The Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet Camii, is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. The mosque gets its name from the hand-painted blue Iznik tiles, which line its main dome and interiors.

Just across the mosque is Hagia Sophia, a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica and now a museum. Famous for its massive dome, the building was a mosque till 1934, when the country was transformed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

Food is very important to Turks as we discover it on the very first day in the country. Eating is taken very seriously here. A meal, complete with starters, soup, salads, main course, dessert, fruits, coffee or tea, may stretch up to couple of hours.

Surprisingly, people here are very passionate about the humble brinjal. It has a special place of pride in the Turkish cuisine.

Turks like to eat meals with wine called raki — the anise-flavoured national drink, sometimes also referred to as lion’s milk.

The traditional Turkish meal includes lavash, a huge naan-like bread and a platter of kebabs.

No meal is complete without sweetmeat. Traditional sweets include baklava, which is a pastry sheet brushed with butter and filled with dry fruit like pistachios and nuts, and Turkish delight, made from starch and sugar. Rosewater or lemon gives Turkish delight its characteristic pale pink colour.

The meal ends with Turkish coffee, a thick concoction served in specially designed cups. Our guide Huzoor in Turkish Riviera of Antalya explains that to drink one cup of coffee together guarantees 40 years of friendship.

Mediterranean and Anatolian regions of Turkey are particularly famous for fruits and vegetables. Its grapes, green and purple figs, plums, cherries, apples, pears, quince are the juiciest and brightest fruits available anywhere in the world.

Turkey’s focal points are its three largest cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

But it is Antalya, with pine-clad Taurus Mountains sweeping into sparkling clear sea, which is its tourism capital.

Also called the Turkish Riviera, Antalya, remains bathed in sunshine for 300 days in a year, making it an ideal place for sunbathing, swimming, windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing.

In March, you can ski in mornings and swim in warm waters of the Mediterranean in afternoons, explains Puneet Singh, general manager of the Dove Kemipinski in Antalya, who belongs to Punjab.

From azure seas of Antalya to the stark beauty of Cappadocia is almost like being on two different planets. Cappadocia’s landscape is quite dramatic. Millions of years ago volcanoes erupted here and covered it with a layer of tuff, and later the tuff layer erupted again over the centuries and produced some truly amazing formations.

Facing oppression of Roman emperors, early Christians found refuge against raids in subterranean cities here. Soft rock allowed excavation of elaborate dwellings with food stores, water wells, cisterns, wineries and places of worship, enabling habitation for prolonged periods.

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