Constantinople calls

An ideal family holiday is something for everyone, and one for the road. No schedules no deadlines, window shopping, adventure eating, something old something new,

Constantinople east and west becomes destination best.

“Istanbul, a universal beauty where poet and archeologist, diplomat and merchant, princess and sailor, northerner and westerner screams with same admiration. The whole world thinks that this city is the most beautiful place on earth.” – Edmondo De Amicis –

Aksehirr in central Anatolia district to Mullah Nasruddin’s memorial sometime between July 5^th and 15^th when the whole family has its vacation would be great. Remember the Mullah Nasruddin stories from our childhood. He satirical Sufi storyteller.

Then there is Anatolia, the hub of many of Agatha Christie’s novel. The traditional Asia minor that forms the chunk of modern Turkey.

Istanbul—the confluence of east and west where the orient express begins its journey. Somehow there is something exotic about it.

The Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs at Dalyan, with sea turtle breeding and ancient ruins and mud bath would be interesting.

Maybe the capital city of Ankara too, where the civilizations of Hittites, Hellenistic roman, Ottoman and Byzantine exist in living memory as ruins and heritage building.

The food challenge of a vegetarian in a meat-eating terrain, Maybe we should try out those cig kofte where raw meat has been replaced by Bulgar wheat rice. Or maybe the Turkish omelette Menemen. Varities of borek

Shepherd’s salad, the cacik or yogurt cucumber appetizer, the zeytinyagli Dolma that could either stuffed grape leaves or peppers in olive oil. Nohut and many more. Turkey being rich in vegetables and grains being a vegetarian would not really be difficult.

There is something about tours that makes even the reluctant shopper pick up knickknacks. Turkey being the center of trade and barter system shopping would be a bliss.

Yatching, the Agri-Mount of the Noah’s Ark so much Turkey really calls.

“On the meeting point of two worlds, the ornament of Turkish homeland, the treasure of Turkish history, the city cherished by the Turkish nation, İstanbul, has its place in the hearts of all citizens.” – Atatürk –

Turkey I feel is that secret key linking the past to present, east to west. A key so visible yet so hidden. http://www.yatra.com