Recently, a new Turkish restaurant has opened not far from my home outside Boston. Called Istanbul’lu, its breakfast menu features an item poetically described as “A Plate of Turkish Mornings.” Mmmmm. How could you not order something that sounds so wonderful, so evocative? Early-morning running in Istanbul along the Sea of Marmara. Walking down the steep steps toward the Galata Bridge to buy some breakfast simit. Sitting at the wide-open cafe in Tunel Square on my first morning in the City of the World’s Desire. Or, to take a more literal route, this man, carrying his tray of baked goods through the Sahaflar Carsisi, a tiny, leaf-shaded square lined with used-book shops in a quiet neighborhood of Istanbul between the Grand Bazaar and the Beyazid Mosque. (It’s one of the oldest markets in the city, built on the same site as the ancient book and paper market of the Byzantines; since the 18th century it’s been a place where intellectuals have met and books have been sold. Still is.) Looks like he’s got plenty of açme, a flaky, egg-enriched pastry, as well as some other sweet items. He just strolled casually through the courtyard, stopping each time a customer wanted to buy something, and before long, to the delight of those around him, his plate of Turkish mornings was empty.
This photo have some power, because he's looking at you.
ReplyDeleteI remember that when I was in Turkey I enjoyed a lot the food, specially the bread and their sweets. Istanbul is a beautiful city, it shocked to me how the past and the present can live in the same city. Crossing the river it's like discovering another face of Istanbul, more modern, more european. And visiting Grand Bazzar, Blue Mosquee and Palace Topkapi is return to Constantinoble.
There is a very good book about the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War called On behalf of the dead princess. I love it.
Regards from Barcelona.