Turkish Tea Party

Welcome ladies to my Turkish Tea.

Have you ever wanted to share a trip you have taken with your friends?  I returned from Turkey last June and couldn't stop talkiing about it.  I decided to host a Turkish Tea inviting my friends to join me. I will be returning to Turkey June 1-15, 2013 on a woman’s tour to Experience the Artisans, Bazaars and Culture of Turkey.

Turkey is a very special place to me.  Not only do I love the countryside, arts, culture and architecture but it is the people, the women of the country, that intrigues me.  Won't you join me as I share with you my Turkish Tea.

Below you will find the Itinerary for the 15 day trip to Turkey.  Let me know if your interested in coming along and I'll try and find a spot for you.

Here are some of the items I brought back from my recent trip to Turkey.  My mother Marlene Heinz also went to turkey and shared some of the trasures she had collected. 


During Marlene’s travels she found this wonderful Turkish Coat (green) that is whimsically lined in a large floral print. I loved all the stitching. We saw similar styles in the costume book you see on the table.


I am looking forward to my return to Turkey where we will experience the arts, heritage, customs, culture and crafts of Turkey with a group of creative and talented women.  I look forward to better understanding the lives of the Turkish women we will be dining in people’s homes eating local cuisine, and meeting with local artisans who create the crafts. There will also be time set aside to discovering their history through their dance, readings and music.

 

At our tea we served Turkish foods

Menu

Rize Turkish Tea – brought back on my trip to Turkey

Deviled Egg

Hummus and pita bread

Fresh garden tomatoes, feta cheese basil and dressing

Sliced cucumbers, with red onion and oil and vinegar

Goat cheese and ___crackers

Rosemary and ___ crackers with homemade prickly pear jam and peach preserves

Hazel Nuts and Turkish Delights candy brought back from Turkey

Baklava dessert

Fresh garden pears and blueberries

 

Sharing Turkish Books, Crafts, Arts and Stories

We enjoyed sharing and conversation about Turkey with items from past trips on the display table as a few of us had been to Turkey in the past.

There were books on Turkey, the Bazaars, style décor, Turkish costumes, clothing designers, a book on the Topaki Palace (where our group will also be going) and travel books.  The book I am currently enjoying is Yes, I would love another glass of tea.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I Would Love Another Glass of Tea

I read this book while on my trip to Turkey.  The book comprises of a series of imaginary letters written to Lady Mary Montagu, whose famous "Embassy Letters" were written in 1716-1718 during her stay in Turkey as the wife of the English ambassador.

The author Katharine Branning uses themes dear to Lady Mary, such as culture, art, religion, women and daily life, to reflect on those same topics as encountered during the author's past 30 years of travel in Turkey.

Check out the more information about the book at http://youtu.be/GJy6QPIQhKo  The tea is a symbol of Turkey and I think you too will find it interesting.

Make a Scrapbook of your travels

Marlene had traveled to Turkey in 1995 and I had asked her to bring her scrapbook with pictures as she had been to a few of the places we are going

Wether making a scrapbook, making an online book, or video it is always a good idea to make something as a memory of the trip.

Realizing the importance of culture and our willingness to try something new we practiced tying scarves on our head.  We really had a lot of fun with this and each plan to buy a scarf as a souvenir of our trip.

 

 

Next our group went upstairs to watch a video I had made from my trip and see some of the beautiful countryside of Turkey’s Eastern Black Sea Region.  (I will have a link to the video)  Then I arranged our group for a group photo.  I am planning a second Turkish Tea for November.  We will put the finishing touches on our 14 day itinerary and talk about packing tips and travel stories.

We had a lovely afternoon filled with sharing and laughter.  Now don’t you want to join us and go to Turkey?

Itinerary
day 1	San Francisco or Los Angeles Airport  - Looking into Group rate flight for 10 Los Angeles has only direct flight on Turkish Air–Price 989.00- 1,250.00 Trip begins overnight flight to Istanbul aboard an internationally recognized airline
	In-flight Dinner and Breakfast  Overnight on Plane
Sat. June 1st	Pre Boarding meet up two hours before departure at gate  Departs around 6:00PM
day 2	Arrive Istanbul 5:00PM – Pickup from airport pass out maps and information on Istanbul, Turkish customs, religion, language and people. Top 20 words or phrases in Turkish
	Hotel Check in – Free time
Sun.  June 2nd	Welcome Dinner at nearby restaurant 7:30PM  Back to Hotel - Stay overnight in Istanbul
day 3	Istanbul – Breakfast then visit the city’s Hippodrome, tour the breathtaking Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia.  Visit the  Istanbul Crafts Center. Lunch on your own.
	Afternoon - shopping Galota neighborhood the soho of Istanbul where young “up & coming” designers and artisans showcase their work.  Map of second hand stores, Gonul Paksay studio visit. Late afternoon tea in the tea garden
Mon.  June 3rd	Dinner local cuisine   Lecture on history of Turkey with Q&A period  Stay overnight  in Istanbul
day 4	Istanbul – Morning breakfast at hotel then tour the Bosphorus Straits Cruise - see Ottoman palaces and imposing medieval castles on cruise through this narrow waterway, which separates Europe from Asia. Stop for a visit to a local spice market. Lunch is included. Note: weather dependent.
	Afternoon – Visit Dolmabahce Palace, Miniaturk Park and Pierre Loti Hill or Discussion on Bazaar shopping with tips, visit spice Bazaar, covered Bazaar
Tues.  June 4th	Dinner - ?  Entertainment - ?  Stay overnight in Istanbul
day 5	Safranbolu – Early breakfast, load up and depart Istanbul 8:00am for Safranbolu.  Lecture on bus about area, pass out maps and information.
	Noon stop in village for tea and Lunch on your own
Wed.  June 5th	Arrive Safranbolu  - Visit Historic Houses, Old Village Laundry, Tea stop inside Cinci Hani hotel, Shop local Bazaar area, watch artisan craftsmen at work making local crafts
	Dinner Ottoman Cuisine      Entertainment?    Stay overnight in Safranbolu
day 6	Safranolu – Breakfast load and depart by 8:00am for Ankara -  lecture on Ankara and map/information.  Visit Anatolian Civilization Museum and enjoy a family in home luncheon in Ankara
Thurs. June 6th	Journey onto Cappadocia and stop at Salt Lake (30 minutes) and hear lecture on Cappadocia.  Check into Cave Hotel
	Dinner?    Entertainment?  Stay overnight in Cappadocia at Cave Hotel
day 7	Cappadocia Breakfast
Fri. June 7th	Morning - Pigeon Valley visit, Discover the mysterious Özkonak Underground City by guided tour lunch on your own optional Balloon ride ($200.00)
	Afternoon Selime Village, visit local craftsmen in their home studio (handcrafts, jewelry, fabrics etc.)
	Dinner local cuisine   Entertainment Folklore Dancing Group   Stay overnight in Cappadocia
day 8	Cappadocia Breakfast load and depart by 8:00am for Konya lecture on Konya and map/information Morning stops at Sullanhani, Careanseral, lunch on your own
Sat. June 8th	Konya, where you’ll find the spiritual home of Sufism and the Whirling Dervishes. Learn about the Dervishes on your tour of the Mevlana Museum, which was once their monastery.  Demonstration of Felt making then village walking tour and free time.
	Dinner local cuisine Entertainment Wheering Dervishers perform. Stay overnight in Konya
day 9	Konya breakfast then depart by 8:00am for Pamukkale then to Sirince lecture on Pamukkale & Sirince and map/information
Sun. June 9th	Stops along way to walk/lunch/photos Learn about ledgend of Pamukkale water and discover Turkish Delight.  Pamukkale, which means "Cotton Castle", describing the white lime cascades formed by mineral springs. Visit the ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and check into Hotel
	Dinner – local cuisine   Evening Spa visit   Stay overnight in Sirince or Pamukkale
day 10	Sirince – breakfast at hotel  - Lecture, maps and information on Ephesis and Sirince Depart 8:00am for Ephesus and Sirince -
Mon. June 10th	Early morning choice of touring Ancient city of Ephesus and house of the Virgin Mary or shopping in  Selcuk village – lunch on your own.
	Afternoon - walk in the peaceful village of Sirince lies in the hills outside of Ephesus. Known for its homemade wines, olive oils and needlecrafts, Sirince offers a taste of rural life.  Visit local ladies who are experts in knitting.  Learn about Herbal remedies
	Dinner in Sirince.  Entertainment.    Stay overnight in Sirince
day 11	Sirince – Breakfast load and depart by 8:00am for Kusadasi and Boat Tour lecture on Kusadasi and map/information
Tue. June 11th	Morning – Boat Tour in Kusadasi   Lunch in Izmir with Turkish Family, leave for ancient city of Pergamon by 2:00PM.  Lecture on Pergamon , map and information   Pergamon overnight
	Dinner ??  Entertainment ??     Stay overnight in Pergamon
day 12	Depart by 8:00am for Bursa, lunch on your opwn
Wed, June 12th	Walking tour of Bursa, lunch on your own Afternoon:  Visit covered Bazaar and adjoining caravan  Koza Han and Ipek Han, Tea Garden for tea stop and snacks.  Visit ottoman houses and Mosque
	Dinner local cuisine. Puppet Show (puppets are made here) Stay overnight in Bursa
day 13	Depart by 8:00am for Istanbul – after morning breakfast. Take ferry at Yalova to Istanbul.
Thur. June13th	Princess Islands visit by boat - Lunch Camlica Hill – Uskudar tea break in late afternoon.
	Dinner at Turkish family home.  Traditional family entertainment. Overnight in Istanbul
day 14	Breakfast at hotel leave 9:00 for Bazaar shopping – Places in Bazaar to eat (lunch on your own)
Fri.  June 14th	Over breakfast have discussion on Bazaar Shopping and visit to Grand Bazaar and spice bazaar. Luncheon with local family.  Afternoon appointments at Turkish Bath house. (spa treatments not included in price)
	Farewell Dinner (No entertainment) Stay overnight in Istanbul
day 15	Istanbul – Final morning
Sat.  June 15th	Morning breakfast then free time, walk or finish shopping on your own with assistance from our guide.  Bus loads to go back to airport at 10:30am
	Flight back to the United States 12:45