via timclinchphotography:
I’ve eaten some delicious food in Istanbul…wonderful fresh fish, delicious salads fabulous breads and vegetables cooked in a myriad of ways, not to mention the desserts…some really great stuff (I’m still on course, by the way to leave the city without eating a kebab or seeing a belly dancer…two thing I’d promised myself I’d avoid on the flight over!) so I apologise on concentrating on something I found very, very strange. This is BOZA…in a wonderful old establishment I’d read about somewhere called Vefa Bozacisi. Its a beautiful, tiled place in old Istanbul. My lovely guide Elvan looked at me suspiciously when I said I wanted to visit here…As we walked in the chap in the picture was ladling glasses of the stuff into small glasses on the marble counter and sprinkling them with cinammon. Once I’d recovered from the sight of the hugest, hairiest forearms I’ve ever seen in my life we too got our glasses and sat down…Its REALLY wierd stuff…obviously I’ve not been brought up with it but…I struggle to describe the taste…sweetish, slightly sharp with a slight yeasty fizz and the consistency of cold runny custard.Made from fermented buckwheat… Apparently there are street sellers in winter who carry a cannister of it on their back and wander around crying BOOOOOOOOOZA! I’m glad I tried it as its a really traditional old Istanbul custom and the people there were lovely, funny and friendly…would I rush back to try it again? er….no.
WAAAAAAAAH BOZA! Ugh, how I love, you and miss you and would cry if i could enjoy a little glass of you while watching the fall and winter pass by through a shop window.
I flew back to Seattle last night, and as I’m getting ready to go to school, this is one piercing reminder that there are still places and things which I miss, just like any kid misses their home.
