Istanbul

What’s it like to live in a far-off place most of us see only on TV? Get an inside look from an American woman living in Istanbul

Q. Does anybody still wear a fez?

A. No, the fez was outlawed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic. He modernized the country in 1923, secularized Turkey by decree and outlawed the fez and the wearing of veils.

Q. Of all the attractions, what’s the best?

A. Getting out on the water-on the Bosphorus. There are many very cheap commuter ferries. Just get off one and get on another. The views are priceless.

The crowded, narrow streets are fun to walk on, but no one can see Istanbul for all the building. You need to be on the water to appreciate this hilly city. Plus, since the strait was the main thoroughfare for centuries, all the ornate, wooden mansions and marble palaces edge the water. You can’t see them from the road.

Q. What about shopping? Can you buy ancient things?

A. An antique bought from a reputable dealer comes with a certificate. However, if something’s over 100 years old, it is an antiquity. As such, it is illegal to transport out of the country.

There’s plenty of fun stuff to purchase at the Grand Bazaar’s 4,000 shops--Roman-era reproduction jewelry, lots of gold with semi-precious stones. Ceramics here are very delicate, with designs favored by the sultans. Turkish kilim, flat-woven carpets made by village women, are affordable as are hand-crocheted lace and silver mirrors.

Q. What’s the dining situation?

A. Turkish food is not confined to kebabs. There’s wonderful fresh fish and a subtle, refined Ottoman cuisine. Try to find it. Vegetables slow-stewed in olive oil; and smoked eggplant mixed with cheese; braised lamb shanks. These recipes have been passed sown in Turkish families. They’re the region’s comfort food.

 Specialized Terms

fez (n)土耳其毡帽 a high, cone-shaped hat with a flat top and no brim, usually made of red material and with threads hanging from the top, especially as worn in the past by men in some Muslim countries

veil (n) 面纱 a piece of thin material worn by women to cover the face or head

crocheted (adj) 钩针编织的 made by interlocking looped stitches with a hooked needle

kebab (n) 烤肉串 a dish consisting of small pieces of meat and vegetables that have been put on a long thin stick or metal rod and cooked together

braised (adj) 焖的；慢炖的 cooked slowly in a covered dish in a little fat and liquid

Vocabulary Focus

Decree (n) order given by a ruler or an authority and having the force of a law

Thoroughfare (n) a main road for public use through a place

Ornate (adj) 装饰华丽的

Reputable (adj) able to be trusted

Semi-precious (adj) stones are stones such as turquoises and amethysts that are used in jewellery but are less valuable than precious stones such as diamonds and rubies.

Confine to (v) an activity, person or problem in some way

Refined (adj) improved because of many small changes that have been made

Comfort food (n) food that is simply prepared and associated with a sense of home, well-being or contentment

 Discussion Question

Would you tour Istanbul some day? Where would you plan to visit?

 Extra Exercise

1. Translate the following sentence into Chinese, ‘Ceramics here are very delicate, with designs favored by the sultans.’

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