We arrived in
Istanbul after dark to begin our Thanksgiving adventure in
Turkey. We stayed at the
Hotel Dersaadet and were positively thrilled when they offered us a cup of apple tea on arrival.
It was about dinner time, so we set out on foot to get our bearings. We walked through the
Arasta Bazaar and were intrigued by these whimsical felt hats.
We could see the
Blue Mosque in the distance.
We walked up and around the
Blue Mosque past a row of bright clapboard houses to the
Hippodrome.
This ancient Egyptian obelisk was a key landmark on the square that was once used for chariot races.
Yum... we spotted roasted chestnuts being served up by a vendor stationed on the Hippodrome.
We walked further into Sultanahmet, Istanbul's old town. We were impressed by the sheer quantity and variety of sweet treats of offer. Syrup, nuts, and flaky pastry were the key ingredients.
We stopped at the
Sultanahmet Fish House for dinner.
Quaint decorations adorned the wall behind our table.
We started with a mezze featuring bread and spicy tomato dip.
A large party at a nearby table ordered a rather dramatic entree. We watched as the chef set what looked like a pile of salt on fire.
The flames vanished and the chef cracked open the salt coating to reveal a whole fish inside.
We opted for white fish cooked with tomatoes, peppers, and cheese served on a cast iron skillet.
At the end of our meal, our waiter brought us a moist towelette to wash our hands. We thought this was a quaint novelty but soon realized that it's a hallmark of the Turkish dining experience. We amassed more than 10 packets by the end of our trip.
We walked back to the hotel and admired the beautiful mosques including Sultan Ahmed (The Blue) Mosque...
We finished the night by sampling some of Istanbul's finest bite sized treats -- Delicious!
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