Indulge in Turkish Delight

It was a freezing December when I set foot in Turkey. Istanbul is the country’s largest city, the financial, cultural, and historical centre. It is the only city in the world located between two continents: Asia and Europe.

Istanbul is a fascinating city that houses various compelling attractions. Luckily, most of the sites are in close proximity to the hotel where I stayed. Many well-known sites such as the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which is popularly known as the Blue Mosque, are amongst the most visited.

One of the activities not to be missed when in Istanbul is a boat ride and I could say it’s one of those that I enjoyed the most. A Bosporus sea adventure is a fascinating activity that offers a perfect view of the city with Europe on one side and Asia on the other.

A day trip to Mount Uludag in Bursa and a cruise along the Marmara Sea to the Princes’ Islands in Buyukada are equally engaging. They gave a wider perspective about the country and its history.

It was such a fantastic trip overall, which culminated in a delightful evening at the 1001 Nights Bar, where local artists showcased their talents by performing Turkish cultural dances and impressive stunts.

As for the food, it was such a treat to taste the local cuisine especially the fresh seafood, different varieties of fruits, and the irresistible Turkish delight. Turkish delight is locally called lokum and is known to have been produced in Turkey as early as the 1700s, hence its name. It is considered as one of the oldest sweets in the world available in several variations. One of the most famous is made with pistachio filling that is said to be Napoleon’s and Winston Churchill’s favourite. It is also said that Pablo Picasso used to consume Turkish delight on a daily basis to help with concentration on his work. It is the ultimate temptation in CS Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia as it is Edmund Pevensie’s favourite. A magical (enchanted) version of the sweet was offered to him by the White Witch; and like all of her magical food, it was highly addictive, making those who ate Turkish delight crave for more. Even without the White Witch’s spell, personally, I am also addicted to Turkish delight that I would love to consume it every day.

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.” – Alphonse de Lamartine