46 articles by a licensed guide
Turkish culture is famous for its hospitality, and in this category I write about the living Turkey — the tea gardens, the village markets, the food, the music, the craftsmanship — from the perspective of someone born and raised here. History fills most of this website, but a country is more than its ruins, and my guests always tell me that the cultural moments of their day stay with them as long as the marble does.
The two 19th-century churches of Şirince, Saint John the Baptist (1805) and Saint Demetrius: when they were built, the restoration, what you see today, and the village's houses and fruit wine, 8 km from Selçuk.
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A Turkish breakfast, kahvaltı, is a shared table of cheese, olives, eggs, bread, honey and tea. What is on the table, serpme kahvaltı, menemen, simit, kaymak, the Van breakfast and what to order, from a licensed guide in Kuşadası.
Today marks an important milestone in my guiding career. I was chosen by CNN International's respected Travel Edition as an expert guide on Turkey! CNN International asked me several questions about my expertise on Turkey's west coast and made an interview with me.
Tarhana soup is a traditional Turkish soup made from a dried mix of fermented yogurt, flour and vegetables, kept for winter.
As a stopover or breeding point for several bird species migrating between Africa-Europe and Africa-Asia, Turkey is the gateway for both wintering and summering birds. In this article…
Turkey has always been famous for its Turkish coffee and black tea. Tea is the favorite drink of Turkish people. It is impossible to imagine breakfasts, social gatherings,…
Twenty-three common Turkish phrases with English meanings for a trip to Turkey, plus a short guide to the Turkish letters.
Today, male dancers working as belly dancers are called Zenne. Zenne is the name given to men in traditional nomadic Turkish traditions who traditionally dance in a feminine…
My Article in International Carpet Magazine
I guided two private guests on a trip along Turkey's west and south coast, from Ephesus and Izmir to Pamukkale and Antalya.
I was recently contacted by Judith Sudilovsky from Jerusalem Post newspaper which is the most read English newspaper in Israel and asked to contribute to an article about…
Twelve famous Turkish TV shows, from Persona and The Magnificent Century to The Gift and The Protector, with a short summary of each.
Gastronomic tourism, one of the popular trends of recent years, is perfect for those who love to travel and eat. I will try to point out where to…
You already know what an important part of Turkish culture honey is when you come across the legendary Turkish breakfast which is dominated by honey. Also honey is…
Afro-Turks are usually the children and grandchildren of those who settled in Anatolia from Africa mostly came through the slave trade or other means during various periods of…
Backgammon-type games began in the ancient Middle East, and in Turkey the game became widespread in Ottoman times.
A brief look at the life of Nasreddin Hodja, who was a Turkish satirist and he is thought to have lived in the 13th century, during the Anatolian…
Turkey is a destination which can be visited all year round but it might be more popular especially during summertime. Ice cream is a very popular dessert in…
Tobacco and variants were already used by people even before many essential tools were discovered. While tobacco leaves were burned for worship purposes at first, people later started…
I love Turkish cuisine and desserts occupy a great place in our eating habits. Some Turkish desserts like the legendary ”Baklava” or ”Kadayıf” can make you regret eating…
I read a nice quote about cheese in a book that said, “When milk goes to sleep, it becomes cheese.” As a Turkish cheese lover, I have read…
Anatolian dogs are the native dog breeds of Turkey: the Sivas Kangal, Akbaş, Aksaray Malaklı, the Turkish Greyhound, the Turkish Pointer and the Trabzon Zerdavası.
Ice cream, one of the favorite desserts of the summer months, and is equally loved in all countries of the world. However, authentic Turkish ice cream which is…
Turkish carpets before the arrival of Turkish nomads to Anatolia The Beginning of carpet and rug weaving is not exactly known when or where first started, there are…
February 21st, International Tour Guides Day, is the day of the tourist guides. It was celebrated for the first time in the world in 1990 and has been…
Turkish delight, one of the traditional flavors of Turkish cuisine, is a Turkish dessert that is consumed everywhere in addition to Turkish coffees, on during Ramadan days, and…
Due to the geographical structure and climatic characteristics of our Turkey, a large amount of various products are grown in our amazing country. Some products such as watermelon…
UCCN program of UNESCO included Gaziantep into the list of “Creative Cities Network” within the field of gastronomy in 2015. Gaziantep in Turkey hosts ”Gaziantep International Gastronomy Festival”…
More than one billion Muslims around the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan, the month in which the Quran was announced, guides people with its teachings…
Don’t Be A Stranger: The Most Used Turkish Idioms in Daily Life Turkish is a very rich language in terms of idioms and proverbs. Turkish people also use…
If You Have Difficulty Getting Used To Turkish Food, These Are For You! Turkish Dish Suggestions for Newcomers in Turkey Turkish cuisine is one of the most well…
A henna night, or kına gecesi, is the party held for a Turkish bride before her wedding, with a red veil, sad songs and henna on the palm.
Turkey is a wide geography where different cultures live together. Coming from Central Asian culture to Anatolian lands synthesized with Islamic culture, Turkish culture forms an important cultural…
If you arrive to Turkey for your holiday around the Eid al-Adha holiday, you will see people being more cheerful and friendly, wandering in the streets with stylish…
The Turkish flag is a white crescent and star on a red field. Read what it means, the legends about its origin and how the Flag Law fixed its shape.
Turkey’s Politic System from 1920 to 2018 Turkey has a political system based on the principle of separation of powers. The principle of tripartite separation of force, consisting…
Turkey being located on one of the most fertile parts of the world hosts thousands of plant species. It is easy to find fresh and tasty vegetarian dishes…
You will not have a day in Turkey without tasting some tasty dishes! Having a multinational cultural background helped Turkish people to create one of the best cuisines…
The textiles and clothing industry makes up 10% of the Turkish GDP. Clothing especially is employing almost 750.000 people in Turkey. Turkey also has a great fashion style…
Judas Trees in Turkey are amazing in Springtime, which is definitely the best time to visit Turkey. Trees and flowers of different kinds of blossom and turn the…
Being Vegan in Turkey is way easier than anyone can imagine. There is a great selection of dishes when it comes to finding vegan food in Turkey. I…
There are in total of 81 cities in Turkey. All of these cities have a unique cuisine. Whichever city you go to, you will definitely encounter a different…
Kemeraltı Bazaar is the old market quarter in the center of Izmir, with crafts, mosques, synagogues and caravanserais along its lanes.
Here are 19 famous movies shot in Turkey — from classics like From Russia With Love (1963) to Skyfall (2012) and Charlie’s Angels (2019) — with the real…
History Olive Oil The oldest historically discovered data on olive trees dates back to about 40 thousand BC. In the archaeological studies carried out on the island of…
Here you will find articles on Turkish cuisine and the dishes worth seeking out along the Aegean coast, on the art of Turkish tea and coffee, on traditional crafts like carpet weaving and ceramics that families here have practised for generations, and on everyday life in Kuşadası and the villages around Ephesus, such as lovely Şirince in the hills. I also share some personal stories from my years of guiding — memorable guests, unusual days, even the migratory birds that pass over our coast each spring — and a few of the press features and interviews, including CNN International and The Jerusalem Post, where I have had the chance to talk about the region I love.
My hope is that these posts help you arrive in Turkey already understanding a little of how we live: why tea appears the moment you sit down, why bargaining is a conversation rather than a battle, why hospitality here is not a service but a value. Travellers who understand the culture simply experience more — they are welcomed differently, because they notice differently.
When I guide, I weave all of this into the day alongside the history, so you meet the real Turkey and not just its monuments. If that is the kind of day you want, I would be glad to be your guide — write to me and we will plan it.
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