Today’s stroll was also through the back, though it was a much more epic one. Instead of turning right towards the sea, we turned left and really just followed the paths that seemed most promising. This direction is not yet in the eyes of developers, so it was all farms and marshland, with some heathy […]
Paths through the back
After a Turkish breakfast we took the barge across the river and went out through the back of the other hotel. Here we came straight into fields and farms, though still with signs of construction which makes me think that Agva will not be as pleasant a couple of years from now and it is […]
Cosmic significance
I was on my own for dinner today, as there were only enough leftovers for the GF. I ordered in a yaprak ciger, and I must say, it cheered me up quite thoroughly. Such a pleasant change. Other than that it’s been another long working day. The GF is a bit under the weather, and […]
International style
Today, we went to Nisantasi with the intent of going on to one of the markets. Unsurprisingly, it was closed, what with it being a lockdown, but on the way we explored some interesting new streets, including one lined with cake shops. Finding the market closed led to a minor crisis as the GF was […]
Easter quest
This morning, Easter Sunday, the GF woke with a quest in mind. So off we went to Kurtulus, in search of a legendary baker of Greek Easter bread, described as brioche-like, flavoured with mastic and mahlep, and baked by a Turkish family whose patriarch had been apprenticed to an old Rum baker. We went on […]
Delightful extravagance
This morning I looked out of the window and everything was snow covered. There was a strong flurry yesterday, which had been quite a shock – very large flakes and swirling like a snow globe – but nothing stuck. Clearly overnight it was cold enough that it did stick, at least for a few hours. […]
Shopping experiences
This morning, the GF and I went to Levent to meet the young Pakistani worker who promised us a warehouse of excellent quality lights and other housewares. He met us at the metro stop and we stopped for a glass of tea, at which I pressed him a little about his background. I did not […]
Long walk home
This afternoon we went to visit the carpenter who is making our doors. It was a very long journey there as our contractor and architect decided to drive and there was a great deal of traffic on the first sunny weekend afternoon after the lifting of lockdown. The carpenter seemed good – he showed us […]
Focus, focus
Work is growing critical and today, finally, I managed to spend a good bit of time and write several chapters. Still less than halfway, but I think I might be able to finish the first draft by the end of tomorrow. Aside from work, today the GF and I took a short break for coffee […]
Unburnt beans
Today I tried cooking the final third of the white beans I had bought late last week. The first two times I forgot the pot on the stove and they burnt, and needed a good bit of scrubbing with baking soda to get the black off. But this time it worked and they were very […]