A year ago: Istanbul

Last year, I was fortunate to visit Istanbul.  Few places resonate with history and culture as strongly as this city, and I felt so blessed that I was given the chance to visit.

Highlights:
(1) the Blue Mosque, an imperial mosque built around 1609-1616 and an example of classical Turkish architecture
(2) Hagia Sofia (Aya Sofya in Turkish), Istanbul’s most famous monument built over a millennium ago and a stunning place with its soaring dome, mosaics and stained-glass windows.
(3) Topkapi Palace, which was the heart of the Ottoman Empire and served as the sultan’s residence and government center
(4) Basilica Cistern, an awesome underground structure built by the Byzantines in 532 to store water
(5) Istanbul’s Bazaar District, where you can find the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. Both are real markets filled with both Turks and tourists. At the Grand Bazaar, established in the 15th century, you will purportedly find 5,000 vendors. It was definitely sensory overload!  At the Spice Market, built in 1660s, you will find shops selling dried fruits, nuts, teas, and of course, spices. It is paradise for a foodie.

The Year in Pictures

From top to bottom:
1) Cherry blossoms in North Carolina, April
2) Santorini, June
3) Donkey in Santorini, June
4) Rocky Mountain National Park, September
5) Great Smoky Mountain, November
6) Bodrum, Turkey, June
7) Ephesus, June
8) The Grand Bazaar, Turkey, June
9) Venice Beach, California, May
10) The Blue Mosque, Turkey, June
11) Tulum, March

New Slippers

I saw the above slippers from Acorn in a catalog, and I immediately knew that I had to have them. Why? Simply because they remind me of the slippers I saw all over Turkey, one of my favorite travel destinations ever.

I ordered them and as soon as I had them on, I knew that they were worth every penny. In addition to their Turkish-inspired, embroidery-embellished appearance, I love how warm and comfortable these slippers keep my feet. They are quite pricey for slippers, but their cushioned insoles, skid-resistant outsole, and boiled wool material make them beyond worthy.

Spice Bazaar and Saffron Orzo

This summer, I was fortunate to spend two glorious days in Istanbul. To say I loved Istanbul would be an understatement. I especially enjoyed Istanbul's Spice Bazaar, a marketplace built in the 1660s and named so because spices were the main goods sold there. Today, you will find much more than spices. You'll find everything from nuts to lokum (Turkish delight) to trinkets. While there, we purchased saffron, which I put to use in this recipe from Giada de Laurentiis' book, Everyday Pasta. This easy recipe turned out wonderful and each bite reminded me a little of Istanbul.

Other Istanbul sights that should not be missed: Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar amd Topkapi Palace.