Foodie Tour in Istanbul

Some of us took an optional, day-long Foodie Tour prior to the Rick Steves' Best of Turkey tour.

We were lucky to have Lale Aran as our tour leader. Lale and her husband own SRM Travel, which operates the Rick Steves' tours in Turkey. They also own Cappadocia Estates, with unique tufa-rock cave rooms, that we stay in on the tour.

Taking the Istanbul subway to our first stop.

The subways are very clean and safe in Istanbul.

We learned about the different Turkey newspapers and their audiences.

It is Sunday, and the walkways and bridges lining the waterfront were filled with people fishing.

Lale demonstrated how to capture a bit from the pan of melted cheese and meat in a cello-wrapped roll.  Capturing a strand of stretchy, melted cheese.

The sumptuous brunch was topped off with Turkish coffee. The grounds are on top and must steep and fall to the bottom of the cup before drinking. Strong stuff requires a water chaser.

We walked around several different areas of Istanbul, learning about the uniqueness of each. Some were more conservative with women wearing their hajib, and others had women in stylish tight jeans. I didn't get a photo of the dolmuş (neighborhood bus van) that we rode in to the market area.

The dolmuş dropped us off in front of a billboard of the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team. Ranked #1 in the world, they will play in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

We sampled a unique Turkish ice cream with a different texture. It was dense and almost chewy with a mastic base. The 170-year old MADO ice cream shops are everywhere.

Akmar Passage was lined with second-hand bookstores and record shops.

The educational system in Turkey is rigorous. Parents and their children/students often come here to select books and study guides.

Cats and dogs were everywhere. Most are friendly and welcome some petting. Many belong to, and are cared for, by the community. They sleep just about anywhere they choose.

These community pups were just fine snoozing and grooming in the middle of the sidewalk.

This Scottish Fold breed kitty was very alert and laying calmly in the entry to a carpet shop. Another time, we walked past a carpet shop where the owner was playing fetch with a cat. Cat runs after the ball, brings it back and drops it for another throw. That fetching cat was a first!

Olives galore and bundles of grape leaves in the market stalls.

We're on a Foodie tour and it's time for a beverage (Turkish beer is great!) and a typical Turkish seafood snack.

One plate is obviously steamed mussels and lemon. The half sandwiches were stuffed with an uncommon meat-like sheep intestines-and the skewers might have been snails. I hope someone else on the tour remembers.

The busy and fun shopping area.

A traditional coffee stand with strong, thick coffee.

Of course, there was a cat, sleeping on a post in the middle of traffic. We had seen this same cat in several photos on different social media, including the Facebook page, Cats of Istanbul. Trust us, we pay a lot of attention to cats as we travel, including giving them treats that we bring. The cats (and dogs) in Turkey are special and unusual. It was common to see shops with water and food dishes outside. The animals tend to "adopt" a shop or restaurant. They own it and they belong.

Lots of very fresh seafood for sale.

Of course, beautiful veggies and fruit. Yum!

For linner, Lael chose a large variety of dishes that was Armenian (I think?). It was differently delicious. I even loved the okra combo!  (No lack of food on that tour!)

Puffy, warm lavash bread.

The preeminent cookbook of Turkish cuisine.

As we walked to our third form of transportation of the day, we passed by this fellow selling more of those steamed mussels with lemon.

One also sees these little carts everywhere. The Turkish LOVE roasted corn on the cob and chestnuts, especially in the evening.

This is one of the water bus ferries (like the one we're on) that shuttled passengers across from one side of an inlet to the other.

The Golden Horn is an inlet of the Bosphorus. The early fall evening was being enjoyed by many.

The skyline of Istanbul has a lot of interest from the mosques. It is a unique and beautiful place.