Rosie’s 2007 Turkey Culture and Cuisine Tour
12 nights
by
Turkish Heritage Travel
Guests should arrive in Istanbul on their own by 3:00 pm October 14 for first tour activity.
Individual pick-up from airport that day can be arranged for $25.00 or guests can choose to take a taxi on their own to the hotel.
Sunday October 14
Guests arrive to a special class (traditional Ottoman) hotel in Sultanhamet area of Istanbul. Sultanhamet is the home to major historical sights in Istanbul.
3:00 PM.: Meet at hotel.
Tour the Aya Sophia Museum, built in 537 by Emperor Constantine and the greatest Church in Christendom until 1453 when it was turned into a Mosque as part of the Ottoman Empire. Also visit the Blue Mosque, one of the largest and most famous mosques in the world. We will discuss and learn about Islamic religious traditions.
Walk to a welcome dinner at a local restaurant for traditional Ottoman food and discussion of Turkish cuisine with a chef. Visit a traditional tea garden after dinner. This Will be the last day of Bayram, a three day festival of sweets following the 30 day
fasting of Ramazan. There will be celebrations all over the area.
 Monday October 15
Morning Tour: Underground Cistern and Grand Bazaar, with over 4000 stalls and shops. The architecture, goods and handsome merchants will provide the ultimate shopping experience as it has for centuries. Free time will be provided to shop on own.
Lunch on own
Afternoon: Transfer to airport for late afternoon flight to Cappodocia
Arrival: Guests check into the lovely Kelebek Hotels (highly praised by many international guidebooks - www.kelebekhotel.com)
Welcome dinner and orientation to Cappodocia by our host Mr. Ali Yavuz. Kelebek was Ali’s family cave home before he turned it into one of the most architecturally unique hotels in all of Turkey. Now hotels in the area try to copy the style and service of Kelebek. With no formal architectural training, Ali is now sought after to design homes, restaurants and hotels throughout Turkey.
Guests will receive an orientation to Cappodocia’s unique geography, lunar-like landscapes, ancient churches and dwellings carved into caves throughout the region, and picture postcard villages steeped in tradition. Once the home of the Hittite Empire (2000BC), this “other worldly” area of Cappodocia will provide the backdrop to explore traditional village life, Turkish cuisine, and famous Turkish hospitality.
In addition to the tour itinerary, optional experiences such as horseback riding (Cappodocia means “the land of beautiful horses”), hot air ballooning, and visit to a traditional hammam (Turkish bath) are available to guests at an additional fee. Also available are visits to a local jewelry making workshop, hiking in the Rose or Ihlara Valley.
Tuesday October 16
Morning: Tour Goreme Open Air Museum a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will explore a cluster of rock-cut Byzantine churches chapels and monasteries.
We will then go to Ortahisar to tour the Museum of Cultural Life. Through discussion and dioramas, we will explore aspects of village life that have been in existence for centuries such as how cave homes were made, how to make pekmez, a grape syrup made every Fall, that cures everything from a stomach ache to respiratory infections and even raki hang-overs.
Lunch and wine tasting of local wines.
Afternoon free time and dinner on own
 Wednesday October 17
Morning: Cooking with village women in a traditional kitchen to experience making traditional cuisine (bread, soup, dolmas, manti) with our own hands under expert training and supervision. After lunch, see how cheese, Turkish coffee and tea are made and visit local homes.
Afternoon and evening free. Dinner on own
Evening: Attend Whirling Dervish Performance at a 13th Century Caravanserai.
Thursday October 18
Morning : Tour the Underground Cities of Kaymakli. We will explore a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth and see the secret life of Christians and how they lived for centuries. We will also see Pigeon Houses across the area, which are the basis of organic farming to this day.
Visit to kilim workshop and have a demonstration and explanation of Turkish carpet making techniques, symbols and different types of carpets.
Afternoon: Free time and lunch on own.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant and visit with chef
Friday October 19
Morning shopping at Avanos local market. Visit Avanos which is the ceramic center of Cappodocia where we will learn about the local ceramics and try our hands at it, under the supervision of a master potter. Potters have handed down the craft and used the red clay of the region to produce famous artisan earthenware for centuries.
For lunch, we will have pottery kebab in a cave restaurant in Avanos and learn how it is made.
Afternoon Free time on own
Evening: Banquet at Kelebek hotel, music by local muscians.
Saturday October 20
Early departure to Pamukkale by coach.
Stop in Konya for lunch (hopefully with a famous local “Rumi” chef and PhD nutritionist recently written about in Saveur Magazine, depending on her availability). Brief tour of Mevlana Museum,the former lodge of Rumi, one of the great mystic philosophers and poets, and founder of Sufism and Whirling Dervishes.
Depart Konya about 1:00 pm
Arrive in Pamukkale late afternoon. Tour Travertine cliffs. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Sunday October 21
Travel to Kusadasi. Free afternoon in the Aegean resort town.
Evening free and dinner on own
Tuesday October 22
Tour Ephesus and Selcuk.
Evening flight to Istanbul and hotel Check in. Dinner on own.
 Wednesday October 23
Morning tour of the Topkapi Museum,one of the most famous museums in the world. The subject of many colorful stories, Topkapi offers a glimpse of over 500 years of Ottoman history. The intrigue of the harem and the gifts from governments around the world to the Ottoman empire are some of its treasures.
We will then visit the Egyptian Spice Market, constructed in the 1600’s and famous for centuries for its spices, perfumes, baklava, fruits and nuts and of course, Turkish delight.
Lunch and afternoon Bosphorus Boat Tour
Dinner on own.
Thursday October 24
Morning free
Late Afternoon Tour Galata Tower, Begyolu and Taksim
Evening: Dinner in Begyolu with mezza and raki. Begyolu is where all of Europe would arrive in the 19th Century on the Orient Express. It is the home of the Pera Palace hotel where Agatha Christie wrote her famous mysteries. Wandering the Cicek or Balik Passages, lined with permanent stalls selling fish, fruit, vegetables, olives we also will see modern Istanbul full of designer boutiques, coffee houses and hip clubs. Most of the area is closed to traffic and you can see a microcosm of modern Istanbul strolling the streets.
We will have dinner at a traditional Meyhane, an outdoor (and indoor) Turkish Tavern, where traditional mezza ( starter plates of vegetables dishes, melons, cheeses, fish, seafood and meat) will be accompanied by Raki, the anise flavored national alcoholic drink.
Friday October 25
Free day in Istanbul
Evening Farewell Banquet at a traditional restaurant.
Saturday October 26
Depart for USA or other parts of Turkey or Europe. Airport transfer can be arranged for $25.00. Other tours such as a gullet trip along the Turkish Mediterranean coast can also be arranged.
Please write to
info@turkishcuisinetours.com
for further information and booking. |
2007 Turkey Culture and
Cuisine Tour is organized
with Rosie Cohan
Rosie Cohan loves Turkey and Turkish cuisine and culture. She has many years experience as a management consultant to some of the most successful food and service businesses in the Bay Area.
She is not only an expert in organizational development, but is a lifelong world traveler. She lived in Istanbul for five months and has traveled there seven times on extended visits.
She has associated with Turkish Heritage Travel because through her own experience, she knows the partners will provide outstanding service.
Rose Cohan & Associates
Strategies for Growth and Change
1725 Oxford Street #309
Berkeley, CA 94709
510 548-6673
United States of America
Rates and Terms
2007 Turkey Culture and Cuisine Tour is
2900 USD 7 to 12 Guests
3200 USD 4 to 6 Guests
480 USD Single Supplement
Includes:
 12 Nights accommodation at special class hotels
Inter-Turkey air and bus transportation
Food and cultural tours including Bosporus Cruise, cooking class, wine tasting and several other food and cultural activities
Daily breakfast
7 dinners with wine, beer or raki and gratuities
6 lunches, beverages and gratuities
English speaking guides
Museums and all entrance fees
Transportation to and from all sights, cities, cultural outings, hotels etc. (over 2000kms)
Airport transfer at end of tour in Istanbul
Excludes
Airport pickup in Istanbul (optional for $25.00 fee)
Transatlantic airfare
Personal incidentals and gifts, etc.
Food and drink outside of scheduled meals
Gratuities for exceptional individual services
Turkish Heritage Travel
Turkish Heritage Travel was established in 2004 by tourism professionals with many years of professional service to clients from around the world. Key personal for this trip would include:
Mr. Ali Yavuz:
Ali Yavuz, founder and owner of Turkish Heritage Travel and Kelebek Hotels, Ali is a native of Goreme, the village heart of the tourist area of Cappodocia. In addition, to building and running hotels, through his love and extensive knowledge of Turkish culture, traditions and his history of personalized service to guests, he received numerous requests to provide tours of Turkey with the same excellent quality that he provided hospitality to his hotel guests. Thus, he founded Turkish Heritage Travel that specializes in customized travel experiences and providing experiential exposure to small groups of travelers interested in an authentic Turkish cultural experience. Mr. Yavuz is a leader in his community and in the tourism industry in Turkey and has the experience, connections and relationships throughout the country to make a trip to Turkey with Heritage Travel a unique, personalized and unforgettable experience. His entire staff is dedicated to serving the guests needs and providing outstanding service.
Ms. Serap Avcu
Serap, a founding partner of Turkish Heritage Travel, is originally from Malatya. She attended a 4 year national guiding program at the University in Nevsehir. (Cappadocia). She has been guiding for 8 years throughout Turkey, but specializes in her favorite place Cappadocia, where she has lived for six years. Besides being an expert guide, she is also is the mother of Mert, who was born in October 2006 right after she led our 2006 cooking tour. Raised in a traditional area of Turkey, Serap, is a modern Turkish young woman, balancing her love of guiding with being a wife and mother. She applies the same high standards and excellence and customer service to both vocations.
Mr. Mustafa K. Turgut
Mr. Turgut, a founding partner in Turkish Heritage Travel, is a licensed national tour
guide throughout Turkey. His excellent English language skills, sincerity in meeting all guests special interests and his historical and geologic knowledge of all areas of Turkey, provides the basis of his popularity as a tour guide and travel planning professional.
In addition, Mr. Turgut is a licensed pilot in Hot Air Ballooning (licensed in Albuquerque, New Mexico) and is constantly furthering his in-depth knowledge with specialties in leading tours in Turkish cuisine music, carpet-making and wedding traditions.
|
