Badem Ezmesi-is like... Badem Ezmesi!!

As I was reading the book, somewhere between the Xanthouli's adventures is the Badem Ezmesi.... thus.. i follow his directions and after a Lovely Starbucks frappuccino (cause.. what ever my vote, i will always have the capitalism in my DNA!!) I took as a weapon my lovely NON SENCE turkish and I start looking for the Rum woman who used to own a patisserie that makes the BEST Badem Ezmesi in Istanbul!!

I was in Bebek (STARBUCKS!!!!) and the patisserie according to Xanthoulis was in Bebek.. but i was not so sure if I could find the patisserie!! I left Starbuck's with the Frappuccino on my hands and I start thinking where should I ask first!! I found the DIVAN patisserie... i got inside... ask the woman in turkish-english.. she replied to me in Turkish.. nothing made sence.. and then.. a girl came.. and she show me the shop opposite the DIVAN... "this is the place that makes the famous Badem Ezmesi"...

meshour badem ezmesi the name of the small patisserie... but.. when i say small, i mean VERY SMALL... it is like came out of a 1060's film.. the only think that it was connected with the present is a 1990's TV...

I asked for a couple of Badem Ezmesi... 55 pieces 55 Tl,

"are you crazyyyy" i was about to scream... but i tried to explain her that i read on a book that "Anlamıyorum " (i dont know) and i was ready to die!! thank God, my lovely Fairy never leaves me alone.. and there was a lovely girl that she knew english and evertyhing made sense..
I bought 6 lovely Badem Ezmesi for 6 TL and they also told me the name of the owner, which is still Greek...

I left Bebek... and i walked to Arnavutkoy to find the restaurant of my friend Dilara and drink a coffee..there I met Jimmy a crazy guy coming from Turkey but born in Germany etc etc.. τ

LangDetecttr>en YahooCerror

ι εννοώ απο ΠΑΝΤΟΥ).

İstiklal Cd, Beyoğlu, Turkey

Maybe the most famous street in Turkey, maybe one of the most walked streets in the world...is the Istiklal Cd.. Grand Rue de Pera (as they used to call it)...

The English translation of Istiklal Cd is Independence Avenue

and here is the Oxymoron..
The street has been renamed around the 1923 .. and across this new-named street, symbol of a Democratic Turkey,... around the 1955...people experienced a tragic story... a story of everything but Independence..maybe movies like A touch of Spice...and Güz Sancısı could explain the facts, the truths and the lies better... rather than the books of history....

Any way!!.... In/On/At/ Across.. what ever the preposition is...Istiklal cd I felt in Love with Istanbul.. this was the Road that..I felt my heart bitting with all of her Power... On that Road..I understood for my very first time what I want the most...

Pera (how the used to call Beyoglu before 1920's).. it was always a part of my fantasies and dreams... I always imagine my self walking in Istiklal late 10's early 20's wearing a long dress holding a parasol, talking excellent French, Turkish and Greek, and with now knowledge of English (I never liked english.. i don't know why)...

When I visit Istanbul 2 years ago, older and semi-independent, I run to Istiklal... this was the only place I knew by heart... there I spent 8 hours... 8 hours to feel my heart biting stronger than the drums of the Left-Parted parade who were crying for their rights! 8 hours to beg God to stop the TIME..

At Simit Sarayı in the Beginning of Istiklal cd and months before it's renovations, and when smoking indoors was legal... I found and lost the happiness ...

In 1999 I picture my self as a Countess of the Pera; In 2007 I was the happiest sloven-chick in Beyoglu .. and there.. around the 2009 I am one step before become like Emilios, the tragic hero of Tymfristos' book "Beyoglu Guzeli" "Η ωραία του Πέραν" Who have read the book (in English, turkish or Greek) could say that.. I should compare myself with Ermioni.. but.. Ermioni was stupid- blonde (no offence galzz) and idiot chick .. but.. poor Emilios.. he died from a Heart ache.. from Sevda as they say here.. because things delayed a little bit.. Same as me..I was 6 months delayed .. and everything collapsed.. but this is something refers to me and to Istanbul...

Carrying on... Istiklal Cd has everything!! from street-Mussels to European style shops and cafes. As my good friend and mutual team supporter, my beloved Salonikian Aek-tzis and permanent citizen of Syros Elias says, Istiklal cd is the Ermou street x7, do not forget that it is a street almost 3km, with many many many small roads crossing by... walking in Istiklal you have always a good excuse to get lost.. and explore new things...

coming up (in the very future..) more photos and data about Istiklal... and how to get lost, and where to get lost...

kiss you all

Menekse

LangDetecttr>en GoogleC

Θα έρθουν πολλά post με φωτογραφίες και νέα απο την Μεγάλη Οδό του Πέραν .. σας το υπόσχομαι

Ah! Istanbul

Dear Friends

Our story will start having as a compass a book by Giannis Ksanthoulis (Γιάννης Ξανθούλης) ....whose beguiling fears drove him to find HIS ISTANBUL ....!


Everything happen because of a mosaic piece... a small golden piece... that travelled from Istanbul to Üsküp (Turkey) (Α) and from there to Alexandroupolis (Greece) (Β).. and all these because of the population transfer ....

and there.. somewhere between History and Autobiography, somewhere between Mehmed II and his grand mother Despina..here comes Ismail Kadare, and his stories about Istanbul, and few pages later... Istanbul-Constantinoupolis

Istanbul - Dario Moreno - Amazing videos are here

Through the first pages of this Book, Xanthoulis is going back.. to the "Great and totally Christian Orthodox" era of the totally "holy Greek Christian Orthodox" Schools (late 40's) that they stood still opposite the totally "Devil Muslim Turks" and from there he runs in the 1955 and the Istanbul Pogrom...

and somewhere here starts my own story .. and the Xanthoulis' Istanbul becomes a great assistant to create my own City!

always yours
Menekse

Mer-HI-ba

Dear Friends,

I know that having a totally Greek Blog... is giving on your nerves (!) and I know that there are plenty of you who I wish to speak there language so I could share with them my feeling (Sehra.. i hope one day we could understand each other without translators).

I also now that one day I will start my new Blog in turkish...but these stories are part of the future.. which is always a Mystery...

Who could told me that 31 days ago...i would take a train..and come over here to start my Life.

Someone.... came here 2 or 3 years ago.. for just 6 months.. but now her life has totally changed.... and those 6 months are 3 years and who knows how many more she will spend here....

Another one... went to the UK... for just 1 year (yeeeears ago)... but... she lost her way to Selanik... and she decided to move over here (all by accident) (Βάλια μου σ'αγαπω κ ας μενεις στου Διαόλου το κέρατο...!!!)

I am not the only crazy over here... the Turks are moving for Istanbul to Europe for job... I show Europe my wonderful 5 fingers...and I moved to Istanbul..



Together we will explore the unique character of Istanbul... (who I will insist calling her -is a SHE- Istanbul in English and Κωνσταντινούπολη or Πόλη in Greek)...

We will understand her Atmosphere.. and what is that damn thing that she has.. and makes everyone Crazy (From the 1st emperor of the Byzantines to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to Myself...)

all these through VIDEOS (youtube, metacafe, personal Videos) Photos (google search, flickr, Personal Photos) and of course through the History hidden behind every little stone....

I love you all

Menekse