Page 30 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY
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View from the top of the Istanbul Grand Bazaar
urkey is a city that thrives on urban ex- bul about twelve years ago. I stayed in Sul-
plorers like us. After centuries of trade tanahmet in a hotel next to the Blue Mosque,
T and tourism, hustling, promoting, bar- in a room so small I had to move my suitcase
gaining are the norm, and sometimes a little to get out of bed. But it didn’t matter: the
irritating. But its residents also are kind to sheer atmosphere of the muezzin call to
strangers, offering genuine friendship and prayer at what was probably four o’clock ev-
hospitality. They also love cats - leaving food ery morning, the old wooden houses in the
and water for the thousands who roam the streets all around, the closeness of the Top-
streets. That tells you a great deal about their kapi Palace, the Byzantine splendor of Hagia
generosity and caring. Sophia almost next door–all this was enough
British celebrity chef and intrepid traveler to fill me with thoughts of being in the most
Rick Stein’s comment on his first experience fabulous city in the world.”
in Istanbul echoes ours. “I first went to Istan-
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