The Expatriate Baker Travels To Turkey For Pastries

by Anne Evans

We never dreamed we would be traveling to Turkey – but then, we never dreamed that we would be living in The Cayman Islands …

14 days in Bursa and Istanbul

In words, our impressions …

Cats are everywhere – and are cared for and appreciated.

All the food (except the pastries) comes with rice and French fries.

Family children come in threes.

Pastries and baked goods abound.

Indoor music in public spaces is generally quite pleasant.

Smoking is pervasive.

Kindness begets kindness.

And now, for the photos …

First, the cats: cream, calico, and tiger. And, of course, the Istanbul Market Cat.

We admired the unique architecture as we walked around Istanbul in search of a snack …

We came across this roasted corn and chestnuts street vendor …

For breakfast or a snack, you can find these from street vendors in Istanbul. It’s not a bagel, it’s a “simit” with sesame seeds.

How about a Turkish iced coffee with some complimentary cookies …

Nope, it’s not sushi …

Some of the pastries were a mystery … but in the interest of research, we tried them anyway.

Pistachios and Pastry, a perfect pairing …

And we had to try the Turkish Tiramisu …

Did we do anything but eat? We visited Gulhane Park in Istanbul (to walk off all those patries).

And we visited the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

and Topkapi Palace in Istanbul with its courtyard, Gate of Salutation, and view of the Bosphorus Strait.

Our hotel in Istanbul had a “Chocolate Hour …”

We did eat more than pastries and chocolate, including Chicken Shish-ka-bob at Kun at the Movenpick Hotel Top Floor.

Beautiful place for a meal with a view.

About an hour and a half drive south of Istanbul is the city of Bursa, in northwestern Turkey.

We visited Koza Han in the heart of the historic market district …

And we walked through Merino Culture Park in Bursa.

The next day, we enjoyed Turkish Tea with breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Bursa.

And dinner and dessert at Almira Hotel’s Roof Top restaurant, as we enjoyed the sunset view.

It was a fascinating tour through turkish delights. But the real delight was Suzie Star, waiting for us when we returned home …

“Where have you been?” Not to worry, Suzie, we’re back in Grand Cayman to stay.