Coffee (Turk Kahvesi) has a long tradition in Turkey. The first coffee house in Europe opened in Istanbul in 1554. Due to its long history, Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi) is on the UNSECO list of intangible world heritage. I would even call it a kind of Turkish attitude towards life. I’ve set out to collect and explain everything worth knowing about Turkish coffee in this post. It includes instructions for preparing Turkish mocha, a summary of its history and interesting facts about the coffee tradition in Turkey. What is a Turkish coffee (Türk Kahvesi)? Turkish coffee (Turk Kahvesi) is not any specific type of coffee. This means a coffee that…

…I’ll tell you a fascinating story about the Orient Express. The Orient Express has always been the symbol of the connection between Europe and Asia. It was not just a train. The Orient Express has always made me dream about its aristocratic and elegant travellers from all over Europe. The train was sumptuously and exquisitely furnished, nothing less than the greatest luxury hotels. But above all, it sped at full speed across all of Europe, up to its last stop, Istanbul. I discovered Agatha Christie’s novels when I was still a child. Whether they were books or films, I was (and still am) passionate about this great English writer, who…

The Nazar Boncugu (Turkish Eye) is a small talisman in the shape of a teardrop-shaped blue eye. You have certainly seen the symbol before. It is universally believed to be a powerful lucky charm in Turkey. According to Turkish popular belief, the amulet protects its wearer from the evil eye. Its meaning can be compared to a horseshoe or a hare’s paw. The eye clearly looks nicer. That is why the Turkish eye is one of the most popular souvenirs from Turkey. The lucky charm from Turkey, Nazar Boncugu (Turkish Eye) amulet The word Nazar comes from the Arabic language. Its translation means something like look, see or attention. In…

Today I want to escort you to one of the most evocative places in Istanbul in my opinion, if not Turkey.  It is  the Kapalı Ҫarşı. A mysterious, enchanting place, filled with scents and colours, the Kapali Carsi is undoubtedly worth a visit. When I say visit, I would like to point out that it is almost impossible to get in and out within a couple of hours. It has the magical power of attraction to all who enter. Kapalı Ҫarşı represents the centuries-old tradition of trade, which in Istanbul, has always been lively and intense. Why Istanbul? Why in Istanbul and nowhere else? Istanbul straddles two continents and has…

When we were first introduced, I was little more than a child visiting the city of Istanbul with her family. Majestic, imposing and resplendent, from that moment onward, Hagia Sophia entered my heart forever. How is it possible to feel so close to a monument? The more I look at her, the more I see myself reflected in her, I begin to appreciate this mix of cultures that represents every one of us. Every year I visit Hagia Sofia and every year I understand it more and more. What is now a mosque appeared to me as a universal monument. As a monument located in Turkey (Fatih Istanbul), but which…

A visit to a hammam is part of a trip to Istanbul. Before visiting one of the traditional Turkish baths, however, you might have many questions. How much does it cost? What does a visit to the hammam look like, and what are the rules and customs that I need to adhere to? Here are the answers to your most basic questions, along with a few insider tips, recommendations and online tickets. What do I need to know about visiting a hammam in Istanbul? A visit to a hammam starts with your registration. This takes place a few hours before the planned visit, ideally in the morning. This is required…

The Turkish water pipe Nargile! (Tips on Smoking and Buying) In Turkey the shisha (water pipe) is called Nargile It is one of the last remaining symbols of the ancient Ottoman culture in Turkey. Thanks to the shisha lounges, it has also become a type of cult activity in Germany. In Turkey, you’ll find shops on every street corner in the tourist resorts inviting foreigners to smoke the nargile. Please don’t call them shisha. The salespeople know what you mean by that. Nevertheless, they enjoy hearing you ask for it by its real name. When making your selection, you should pay a little attention to the quality of the Shisha…

Here are a few useful tips to learn the Turkish language faster (and easier): They are all free of charge and can be implemented in your free time. In this way, you can easily integrate them into your daily rhythm. They will definitely help you out,whether you want to learn Turkish for university, prepare yourself for immigrating into Turkey or just for fun. Learn the Turkish language I enjoy searching for things that make life a little bit easier. This of course includes helpful tricks to learning languages ​​faster. I am currently learning a new language myself, Russian. Here, I am writing about Turkey. That’s why tips to learn the…

Istanbul and Films : This list goes from James Bond to Star Wars – Turkish Star Wars! Have fun – maybe you’ll find a film for the next rainy afternoon! Let’s go: Seven films with or from Istanbul: For your convenience, I have added the trailers below, so you can watch them right away. Cinnamon and coriander (POLITIKI KOUZINA) First film in the list set in Istanbul.The astrophysicist Fanis once lived in Istanbul like many other Greeks. But the war with Cyprus completely changed the way we lived together. In 1964, many Greeks were forced to leave their homeland. Fanis was among them. Many years later, he returned to the…