Trying New Things: Turkish Delight, Raki, Turkish Coffee

Yesterday on our way home from the cruise, we walked through the spice market. Spices are only one category of the many items that are sold in this covered shopping extravaganza. I purchased a sugar bowl for my Dad (who loves sentimental sugar bowls), and a scarf for a friend. They really give you the royal treatment. In the ceramics store where I bought the sugar bowl, the man asked me all kinds of questions. He gave me free gifts of chipped ceramic pieces, apple tea and a full tour of the basement of his shop.

I tried a sample of Turkish Delight (lokum), a chewy, nutty sweet.

We ate dinner in the New District near Taksim Square. We made friends with the manager and he brought us one of each of the restaurant's Turkish specialties. I couldn't tell you the names of any of them, but all were delicious! We also tried raki, Turkish liquor the flavor of licorice, and Turkish coffee — so strong! Of course, being the Seattleite coffee-addict that I am, I loved it.

We strolled down crowded Istiklal Street. It was very interesting to observe the other strollers and see that even in this “modern” part of the city, 90 percent of the people out and about were men.

We found one club called Carizy, up high on the fourth floor of a building. We made friends with a group of Turks. Out of the blue, the music turned off and the lights came on. A man came around checking people's IDs. Our new Turkish friends said this happens often for security reasons. I still don't understand exactly why. Perhaps they are looking for criminals or checking the ages of those drinking alcohol.

After we had had enough blaring Turkish techno at the club, we went to a bar with live Turkish rock. The band playing was actually pretty good. We enjoyed a few numbers and caught a taxi home because the tram had stopped running by then.

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