Turkish Breakfast

Turkish people are very proud of their food, and quite rightly so.  I have enjoyed all of the food I've tried.  One of the most important meals is of course breakfast.  Sunday morning is an important day, where families and friends have a leisurely breakfast catching up on the weeks events.

On my recent visit to Sirince, I stayed at a local Pansiyon (Bed and Breakfast) and breakfast was included.  I wasn't really expecting much when I arrived as I was the only guest staying there, but I was asked what time I wanted breakfast, and I didn't think anything else about it.

The following morning I made my way to the terrace where my breakfast was to be served.  The view was amazing.

There was a woman setting my table, and I was amazed at how much food there was for one person.  This is a traditional village breakfast made up of cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, honey with kaymak (similar to clotted cream), jam, olive oil, bread, eggs, sucuk (a type of sausage) and of course a big pot of tea.  I did't have to eat again until the evening!!

Since this breakfast I have had a couple of others, one in a local restaurant in part of Izmir, unfortunately I forgot to take photos until the food was half eaten, but it included the honey and kaymak, and some amazing Izmir tulum cheese (made from goats milk), and gozleme (a type of pancake)

The next breakfast I had was in a village called Birgi, and came on individual trays, so no fighting for anything.

I love the breakfast in Turkey, and it is something I will miss when I leave.

Ephesus

A couple of weeks ago I visit the ancient Greek city of Ephesus.  I've been to Turkey so many times but this was my first visit to this popular tourist attraction.

I took a dolmus from Izmir's otogar (bus station), which only cost 10TL and just under an hour later we arrived in Selcuk.  The dolmus was located on the top floor of the otogar and you paid when you got on the bus.  The bus station in Selcuk is small, and very easy to navigate, and it was easy to catch another dolmus to the lower gate of Ephesus and only cost a few lira.

On arrival at Ephesus there were the usual tourist stalls selling overpriced goods, and through the hustle was the entrance gate to Ephesus.  A ticket cost 30TL.

Although I'm not a history fanatic, this place certainly has the wow factor.  So many pieces of history in one area.

Ephesus covers a large area, and there is so much to see.  If you are visiting in the height of the summer I'd advise against being there during the midday sun as there is very little shade.  I was there at the end of April and it was hot!  It was also very busy as the day trippers from the nearby resorts and cruise ships had arrived.  Also one mistake I made was just carrying a small amount of water.  There are shops at both gates, and there is some distance between them, so make sure you have enough water!!!

Sirince

On a recent trip to Ephesus I stayed in the beautiful village of Sirince.  This village is a short dolmus ride from Selcuk along some twisting hilly roads, surrounded by fruit crops.

The fruit is put to good use in Sirince, as they make wine.  I visited one of the local wine sellers and had the opportunity to try a number of flavours including pomegranate, melon, sour cherry, strawberry, grape and peach and I have to say they were all pretty good, but I love all things pomegranate so that was my obvious choice to accompany my evening meal.

The village has around 600 inhabitants, but during the day it is very busy with busloads of tourists wanting to try the wine and also buy local products from the many shops.  Unfortunately the church was closed, and as you may be able to see from my photographs it was surrounded with scaffolding.

First thing in the morning the village awakens with the first tourists, and is buzzing throughout the day, until around 6.30pm when the last dolmus leaves.  The village then becomes a very quiet village again.  I stayed overnight and was amazed how quiet the village was in the evening, but I'd wanted somewhere peaceful and I certainly got it.

My pension (B&B) was a little way up the hill along a track.  I was woken up by the cockerels outside my bedroom window and a donkey braying across the fields.

I think the photos speak for themselves.  A stunning, peaceful and traditional village.

Not a bad view to enjoy breakfast from

Sirince High Street