ONWARD TO ENGLAND - FIRST STOP: WARWICK

After a fabulous week in Istanbul it was onward to England.  If you are new to this blog, I am an Anglophile so while Istanbul was a treat, I breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived at Heathrow.

Warwick Castle

We quickly got to Paddington station where we moved on to Oxford to pick up our rental car.  My friend, Leslie (also an Anglophile) and I learned long ago to never rent a car from London.  Take the train to an easy location to pick up a car and head out.   So, let's go!

                      We stayed overnight at Park Cottage right at the entrance to Warwick Castle. 

We threw our bags on the bed, peaked out the window to check our view (lovely) and then quickly walked over to Warwick Castle and arrived just before closing so we snapped a few pics.  Fortunately, we have both been there before so just a quick peek was all we needed. 

                    After a plane, a train, and an automobile, a stroll around town was required.

                 
                       Warwick was still very festive coming off the Queen's Jubilee celebration. 

                                               I would like to have tea at this darling place,

                                        and then go to the pottery paint workshop, after which to

                                         stop by this cute flat just to say "hi" before popping in to

                                                 this hardware store to buy a tea kettle.

                                                   Two heartening words: Garden Open

                 Janet, our B and B hostess, told us about this little gem--The Mill Garden, tucked in beneath the walls of Warwick Castle. We visited first thing in the morning and had the place to ourselves.

                            When I hear the words "cottage garden" this is exactly what I picture.

                                                             Down the garden path we go.

                                                             Let's go this way.

                                     Isn't everything prettier placed against an ancient stone wall?

                                           This little willow fence is just the right touch, isn't it? 

                       I imagine a hobbit will be strolling out any minute after second breakfast.

                   I love to see the back areas where random goodies are waiting to be put to use.

                                                                   A hidden gem.                                                            

                                                          
                                                                Wasn't that a nice respite?                      
                                                               
                                                                 Next stop: The Potteries

ISTANBUL WRAP-UP

A few observations about Istanbul:

Love the people - helpful, happy, hardworking--they will always try to sell you something

We rarely interacted with women, it was always the men who did  the serving, selling, etc.

Multiple daily call to prayers were a reminder that this is a history-rich ancient city

The Turks aren't like the Greeks and they make sure you know it

Traveling there in the summer without a hat is stupid

Hope you enjoy these last pics of my trip to Istanbul

Looking out from the ruins of Yoros Castle

Breakfast on our hotel rooftop

                                      Love these cute girls with their colorful dresses and braided hair

This tipped over truck had everyone scratching their heads.  It toppled just as this narrow road bends.

                          Yusuf Kurt, our darling guide we hired for a day.  He was excellent.

                                                               Gate at Dolmabache Palace

                                                      Heading out on our Bosphorus Cruise

                                                                   Rumeli Castle    

                                 Looking out toward the Black Sea from the ruins of Yoros Castle

                                                       Lunch on the Asian side of Istanbul

                                                           The Turks love their bread!

                                                         Love the modern with the old

          Impressive--we were sweltering wearing cotton and linen but these ladies didn't break a sweat.
                                                     

                                                               Goodnight Istanbul

TURKISH DELIGHTS - FOOD & SHOPPING

                                              Stacks of Turkish Delight can be found everywhere
                       I love the stuff.  Chewy, sticky little cubes of gelatin, sugar, pistachios, and doused with powdered sugar.  A variety of flavors but the pistachio version is my favorite.                    

      One of several entrances to the Grand Bazaar--Istanbul's largest covered market and the center of trade for the Ottoman Empire.

We found it best to avoid those shops right next to the gates (entrances) because the merchants were harder to deal with and more aggressive. Walking to the center and off the main thoroughfare of the bazaar we found better merchandise and less pleading to buy the wares.

As we walked by the merchants shouted, "Angelie Jolie" or "Madonna", "please let me help you spend your money!"

                                 Outside the Grand Bazaar - also teeming with stalls of stuff.

The Spice Market where we purchased Turkish chili powder to make the delicious Red Lentil soup and apple tea.

                                                       Hand made Turkish dumplings

Our cute guide, Yusuf Kurt, brought us to his favorite lunch place, Sultanahmet Koftecisi, and ordered for us which is good because I don't think they had a menu. We started with a simple salad of white beans, red onions, tomatoes, lettuce, a bit of olive oil, and red wine vinegar.  Very refreshing and I will recreate at home.

These are meatballs with a side of red pepper paste that is not spicy but adds a depth of smoky flavor. Also delicious.

Different lunch place, Ney'le Mey'le, and the waiter, Bayram, was darling--he served us fresh mackerel with a chopped salad.  He deboned the mackerel when he realized we had no clue what we were doing.

Love these Turkish towels from a little shop, Jennifer's Hamam, in the Arasta Bazaar. We liked this little bazaar because prices were noted and when we purchased a few items we would receive a 20% discount.

This guy was darling.  We would point to what we wanted and he filled our bag with what he thought best.  He was right, of course.  Delicious baklava and other phyllo dough honeyed treats at Edebiyat Kiraathanesi.

Turkish ice cream is made with goats milk and ground powder from wild orchids.  It is sticky and stretchy so the ice cream dippers play all sorts of tricks (pretending to drop it, turning it over so you think the ice cream will plop to the ground) before they hand you your cone.  We didn't love it the first time we tried it so we went to Mado's, reportedly the best in Istanbul, and it was good.

Three of the four gorgeous lanterns I purchased to hang in my backyard for a little touch of Istanbul.

                                         Leslie bought the hanging fixture for her backyard.

This shop, Cocoon, was darling--the only shop that we found with a woman running the place.  The young woman's grandmother started this shop to feature handmade items made by local stay at home moms.  Several of these pieces are made by tatting, a series of knots to make lace-like pieces.

                           I bought two necklaces for my 14 year old niece and she loved them.

Of course there is so much more to show--scarfs, rugs, textiles, jewelry, pottery, etc.  (A few more  purchases will show up in future posts.) Turkey is full of talented craftsman and artists - I could have brought home trunks full of gorgeous pieces and spices.

ETON MESS

In honor of the London Olympics, I am interrupting my stream of Istanbul posts to bring you the easiest, yummiest dessert from the UK--you will love!  Really, the easiest dessert on the planet.

Had this for the first time at the Carriage House, the restaurant at Chatsworth (more on that, soon). You can, of course, go ahead and make the meringues yourself, but it is so much easier to use pre-baked meringues and not heat up your kitchen in August.

Strawberries, cleaned, hulled and chopped
Sugar to taste
Meringue cookies from Trader Joe's
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Clean and chop strawberries, add sugar.  Let sit for at least an hour.

Beat cream until stiff, then add vanilla and powdered sugar.  Whip until blended.

Layer in individual cups: one broken meringue cookie, strawberries, whipped cream. Then layer again. The end.