I was in Turkey

izmir

Izmir: The Center of It All
Written by Valantis on October 23rd, 2011 in Eat & Drink, History, Living in TurkeyNo comments yet

Many questioned me when I explained that I was moving to Izmir. The automatic, almost robotic response was, and still is sometimes “Why not Istanbul?” Of course, Istanbul is a city unparalleled in history, architecture, and food. It’s a globalized city, as you will see from the explosion of capitalistic shopping centers and eatery chains. In many ways, Istanbul does have it all. But I would argue that Izmir has an edge over Istanbul in terms of living and lifestyle, due to its location and environment, which still makes it the pearl of the Aegean. The positive aspects about the...

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Getting Married in Turkey
Written by Valantis on March 7th, 2011 in Eat & Drink, Living in Turkey, Turkish Culture5 Comments

I never thought I would get married in Turkey, and I never thought Turkey would be a great place to get married. When people fantasize about an exotic wedding, they imagine Tuscany, Nice, Cancun, the Caribbean; a place that mixes palm trees, scenic beaches, and local clubs holding all-night parties to the AM hours. Who would ever think that would exist in a “Muslim country”? It is a label which make me cringe more and more each day. When I told people that I would be eloping in Turkey, it didn’t exactly conjure up romantic mental pictures, with all the...

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A Trip to Homer’s Valley
Written by Valantis on February 18th, 2011 in TravelNo comments yet

Following the signs to Homeros, you will descend into the first valley, which is not Homeros. It constists of a small reservoir with a waterfall, a large picnic area (piknik alani in Turkish) and some short trekking paths.

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Christmas or New Year’s Tree?
Written by Valantis on January 25th, 2011 in Living in Turkey, Turkish Culture1 Comment

Celebrating Christmas a second time in Izmir brings a different experience to this expat. Having lived in Turkey for almost a year, the culture shock has come and gone, with Turkey becoming more of a home than a “cultural experience”. However, when people ask me about the holidays, they are left dumbfounded. “There are Christmas trees here. Santa Clause, lit up streets, the whole nine,” I described. “Really? But it’s a Muslim country,” my friends respond. They’re absolutely right, however, never underestimate the power of Christmas (marketing) culture. Although Turkey is predominately a Muslim country, Christianity flourished out of Asia...

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Turkish-Greek Friendship Concert of Izmir
Written by Valantis on September 2nd, 2010 in History, Living in Turkey3 Comments

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a very special concert in Izmir. “Egen’nin iki yakasindan esintiler: Turkiye-Yunanistan Dostluk Konseri”, which translates to “Aegean’s two breezes on the Seashore: Turkish-Greek Friendship Concert”. Combining the traditional musical styles of both cultures, the night was capped off with musical pieces sung together in both Greek and Turkish. After having discovered about the concert from the Greek Consulate in downtown Izmir, I was excited to tell my fiancé about the event. Coming from a Greek background, and her being Turkish, the concert reflected one of the many beautiful aspects of our...

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Kemeralti: Istanbul can’t compare to this historical bazaar of Izmir
Written by Valantis on June 11th, 2010 in TravelNo comments yet

Walking through the old streets of Kemeralti is literally stepping back over 300 years in time. A bustling mix of markets and cafes, the stores are crammed side by side, placed within the pre-war houses unaffected by the Great Fire of 1922. According to historical records, the trade area started back around 1650, and further exploded with the creation of Kizlaragasi Han, the shopping center surrounding a courtyard for rest and relaxation. Taking the bus to Konak, I jumped off the terminal and headed into the jungle of the Kemeralti with my fiancé at hand. At the ancient steps of...

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The Church Restorations of Izmir
Written by Valantis on June 7th, 2010 in History, Religions in Turkey3 Comments

It’s no question that Turkey encompasses some of the most important Christian monuments since the birth of the religion. One aspect of the land’s history is its development of Christianity, both spiritually and politically. Up until 1922, Izmir was a stronghold for Christian communities, involving Greeks, Armenians, Levantines, French, and Italians. Living in Izmir today, one may find that hard to believe. But amid all the minarets, the historical and religious significance of the city’s Christian past is reincarnating itself this year. Two former Greek Orthodox churches are set for complete restoration to help preserve Izmir’s rich diverse history, as...

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Rebetiko: The Music Of Izmir and Asia Minor
Written by Valantis on March 22nd, 2010 in History, I was in Turkey, Living in Turkey, Travel, Turkish Culture2 Comments

Athens, Greece, late 1920s. The crescent moon hangs over the meyhanes of Athenian ghettos. They are filled with men smoking their nargile, sipping their coffees and drinking a glass of raki. The small stage in front of them features a small group of bouzouki players, a kanun (santouri) player, accompanied by an oud and dumbek. A lead singer, female, opens her mouth and delivers the words of pain and sadness, using the makam style of singing, honing in on the traditions of the world they lost in Asia Minor. This is Rebetiko, also known as the Greek blues. Singers lament...

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Christmas in Izmir
Written by Valantis on March 15th, 2010 in I was in Turkey, Living in Turkey3 Comments

December 25th, 2009. The Christmas trees were up, decorations covered the windows in the neighborhood, and everyone was filled with holiday cheer. One might think I was in America from this description, but far from it, I was in Turkey. Now, to those who may not be aware, many of the ancient traditions of the holiday stem from Asia Minor. Santa Clause, originally St. Basil in the Eastern Orthodox Church, hailed from Caesarea, modern day Kayseri near Cappadocia. To this day, a traditional Greek Christmas carol proclaims his miracle work in the lands of Anatolia. In fact, his feast day...

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Izmir: Preserving History
Written by Valantis on March 12th, 2010 in Living in Turkey1 Comment

Izmir is simply one of the most beautiful cities in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Its history stems back several thousand years, detailing stories of how great empires conquered the city; everyone from the Greeks and Romans, to the Byzantines and Ottomans (many in between too). By the early 1900s, Izmir was comparable to a mini-New York, with several different groups of people and classes co-existing with one another. Ottoman Turks, Greeks, Armenians, Jews, French, Italians, Levantines; each group of people with a different language and religion, but as one-Smyrnean. It was this era that still leaves an imprint on Izmir’s...

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