February 2020 – LISTENING TO THE WORLD

Monasteries of Meteora @ Meteora, Greece, February 23, 2020

Monasteries of Meteora Meteora refers to the rock formation in Central Greece and the area hosts six active monasteries of Eastern Orthodox Church. In the 14th century, monks from Mount Athos ( a peninsula in northeastern Greece and the center of Eastern Orthodox monasticism) moved to this area, fleeting the raids by the Ottoman empire. Understandably, the access to the monasteries was deliberately difficult, and the primary means of moving goods and people were ropes and baskets. Nowadays, steps have been cut into the rock, and...

Mercimek koftesi @ Lüleburgaz, Turkey, February 15, 2020

Mercimek koftesi Turkish cuisine is rich and diverse. The Ottoman Empire had allowed the introduction of multiple cultures, and different cuisines co-evolved over time. And I am glad that I had tried at least some of the most iconic dishes during my stay. In Lüleburgaz, a city in western Turkey, I had the pleasure to taste home-made Mercimek Koftesi, or lentil meatball. Its characteristic shape is the result of squeezing it in the palm, and it looks practically the same as Çiğ köfte, or raw meatball,...

with Sibel and Ozlem @ Istanbul, Turkey, February 8th, 2020

with Sibel and Ozlem Last time it was summer and they were travelers, and now it is winter and they are locals. By coincidence, we reunited on a very cold day in Istanbul, and for some time we had to cover our faces as we walked because pieces of snow were getting into our eyes. Although I was a bit unwell that day, I was excited that it felt like a late Christmas for me, with friendly company and snowy streets. Especially when walking across busy...