Istanbul Local Custom Tips by H-TownJourneyman

Istanbul, the only city in the world that spans 2 continents, has 2 huge suspension bridges that traverse the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia. The bridges, having been built to ease the extreme traffic congestion of the city, have also had a cosmetic effect, adding a modern appearance to a city with so many historical icons. The first bridge, known as the Bosphorus Bridge, stretches from Ortaköy on the European side to Beylerbeyi on the Asian side, and was completed in 1973. The second, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, extends from Hisarüstü on the European side to Kavacik on the Asian side, and was completed in 1988. Both bridges charge a toll to cross from Europe to Asia, but the reverse direction is free of charge. Over 300,000 vehicles travel across the bridges daily.

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Kokoreç, oh my, Kokoreç! :) Sold on many street corners throughout Istanbul, it is basically a flattened sandwich on toasted bread, with sheep intestines and a little pepper and spices. My friends, who are native Turks, decided to play a little trick on me one night, and tell me we would get some street food, that was made of beef. When we got some kokore? at a local street vendor near Taksim, I began eating it, and thought it was quite delicious. I never even suspected I was being dooped! :) After we finished, my friends informed me of what I had really eaten! After my initial gag reflex went away, I was like, "Hey, whatever it was, it was pretty good!". It is definately a great tasting fast food choice while in Turkey. But the question is, do you know what you are eating?!! :)

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Along the Golden Horn on the Eminönü side, right next to the Galata Bridge, you will see several make-shift stands with vendors grilling fish. You will most likely also see a long line of people at these places. What they are waiting for is a delicious Balik Ekmek, or Fish & Bread sandwich. The sandwiches are very basic - a grilled fish fillet and onions placed in between 2 pieces of dry bread. And they are cheap, only a couple of New Lira. It's quite interesting sometimes how popular, and tasty for that matter, such a simple concept can be! Until recently, the local fisherman in the area used to dock their boats at the piers, then cook & sell the fish right off of their boats. This practice has been banned, but thankfully the yummy sandwiches are still here! Stop by and pick up one with a coke, have a seat in the grass, and enjoy one of Istanbul's simple pleasures! :)

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There are many cities around the world that have long & rich histories. When we think of these historic cities, the first places that come to mind are of course Rome and Athens. Many cities in China, India, even Africa have histories that date back many millennia. But I challenge anyone to find a city in the world that has a history that not only dates back as far, but also has as diverse a history that Istanbul has had! It is quite amazing to think that the modern city Istanbul, one of the world's largest with well over 10 million people, just 800 years ago was a city that had a completely different culture, different language, and a different people, yet was, as it is now, one of the world's largest cities!

It was back in the 7th century B.C. when this area along the Bosphorus was first colonized by the Greeks, and named Byzantium after the legendary king Byzas. Centuries later in AD 330, the Emperor Constantine made the city the new capital of the Roman empire. The city thrived under the Romans, and later the Byzantines, becoming a metropolis of 1 million people at it's height. Then, after its conquest by Mehmet II and the Turks in 1453, it still remained a capital city, becoming the center of the Ottoman empire for over 500 years.

For myself, an avid history buff, this incredibly varied past intrigues me to no end. I had studied much about the history of Istanbul before my first trip here, but there is absolutely no comparison in reading information about the Byzantines in a book for instance, and standing in in the middle of Sultanahmet square with Ayasofya right in front of you! If it is history you crave, and an astonishing history at that, Istanbul is where you need to visit!

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One common sight you will see all over Turkey is jewelry & decorations incorporating this blue eye symbol. Nazar Boncuk, as it is called, is actually thought to defend against, and absorb evil energy. Commonly it is used in necklaces and bracelets, as well as amulets hung on walls in homes and places of business. It is also tradition to immediately place one in some form on a newborn baby, as to protect it from sickness or harm.

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I'll just start out by saying that I am not a coffee drinker. Never really liked the stuff. So I wasn't really excited about trying Turkish coffee, but wanting to try anything and everything I could while I was here, i gave it a shot! I have to say that I was plesantly surprised. I really enjoyed it, and I had some everyday for the rest of my time in Istanbul, and continue to enjoy it to this day. The differences between Turkish coffee and other types of coffee are of course it's being quite strong, and the fact that it is very finely ground. But the big difference is in the way it is prepared. A couple of spoonfuls of the coffee are added to hot water in a "cezve", the small stovetop pot that is used to make it. The mixture is not stirred, and while heating up, it starts to rise to the top of the cezve. When it gets to the top, a small portion is poured into a Turkish coffee cup, which is small in size, similar to an espresso cup. Then the cezve is placed back on the stove until the coffee rises again, and then some more is poured into the cup. This is repeated 1 or 2 more times until the cup is full, and then it's ready to be served. Occasionally a little sugar is added to the coffee while in the cezve, but I tend to like it without. Definately something to try though while in Turkey!

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Raki, pronounced "raku", the unofficial liquor of Turkey, is a distilled alcoholic beverage usually consumed straight as a cocktail. It is almost always served chilled, and in a small glass about the size of a shotglass. But it is sipped on, differing from a shot of liquor. It is commonly drank with Turkish "meze", or small appetizer dishes, but is also enjoyed in taverns by itself while chatting with friends. I tried it on several occasions, and being a beer lover, I can say it was not my favorite method of consuming alcohol. But I must say it is not half bad, especially when served really cold!

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If you are a beer drinker, you will love Efes beer! You will find it everywhere in Turkey, thankfully so! :) Efes is a light pilsener beer, with a very smooth taste to it. Since the late 1960's, this has been THE beer of Turkey. It was nice to walk around the streets of Istanbul, and after finishing a hard-working session of sightseeing, being able to stop at a cafe and relax while sipping on a pint of Efes. Make sure you get your fix of them while here, because from my personal experiences, they just don't taste the same as imported beer here in the U.S.!

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Everyone knows that Turkey has some of the finest rugs in the world. The art of rug weaving was brought to Anatolia from central Asia when the Seljuks began to arrive in the 11th century. The Ottomans continued this tradition after the collapse of the Seljuk dynasty. To this day, handmade Turkish rugs are a prized possession in many homes throughout the world, and can fetch a pretty penny!
It was really interesting to see the process of a rug being handwoven. One day as we were walking through Sultanahmet, we passed a store that sold rugs. There was a woman right near the window weaving a rug. It was so facinating we watched for over 10 minutes, but then felt kind of weird for staring at the her. But really cool to see! :)

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One thing I really got into while in Istanbul was drinking tea almost every chance I got. Drinking tea is almost mandatory here. Nevermind the fact the fact that it is really tasty, if you like very strong, hot tea that is, but here having a glass of tea is more of a social experience. People in restaurants, places of business, cafes, even on the street, enjoy striking up a conversation while sipping tea. The tea is traditionally served in a small tulip-shaped glass, with a small spoon to stir in sugar cubes. You can get it either "koyu", strong, or "açik", weak, then dump in as many sugar cubes as you like. While trotting around Istanbul, make a few stops along the way and enjoy a refreshing glass of tea!

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