3 Street foods in one day - everyday ! Turkey part 4

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.


Exploring and wandering the streets of Istanbul became a daily routine for me. There was always so much going on around me. However I never felt lost in this city. Sometimes I just sat on a park bench or at a restaurant . I just observed the locals and tourists ,cars and  vendors around me. I tried to soak in the chaotic surroundings. The bustling city grew on me every single day. Apart from the history buff one thing that was remarkable was the street food. My observations led me to the conclusion that street food is a big part of the way of life here. It has its very own special place in Istanbul.

In a nutshell here are my top picks of street foods that I indulged in on a daily basis while in Istanbul - 

Kestane 

It was interesting to see the bright red carts everywhere on the streets. Curious I asked in English-- ''what is that ? " The answer was hand gesture stating no English. The cost was 5 lira for 100 grams displayed on a card in the cart. I decided to give it a try. It was the roasted chestnuts or ''KESTANE '' in Turkish. It is a popular snack especially on cold days. The weather while I was in Istanbul for just perfect for a handful of roasted chestnuts. I ate Kestane numerous times a day. The nuts are roasted on wood fire and this gives them a distinct taste. It was hard to resist the temptation especially when you passed a cart.

Handful Kestane

Misir 

There is no better street food than corn while walking along the Bosphorus. The corn is served either grilled/roasted or boiled. And of course with a dash of or even plenty of salt if you like.( P.S.  It reminded me of those college days with my friends at Rankala lake in my hometown. )

Me enjoying the corn

Salep

I had already heard about Salep prior to my trip. So when I saw a cart selling Salep I immediately ordered one. My first taste of the popular wintertime drink and it was the best. A generous dusting of cinnamon on top did not mask the taste of the drink itself. ( P.S. I did not ditch the Turkish tea even though I enjoyed the Salep )

Salep

So while in Istanbul the streets and narrower lanes, especially in the Sultan Ahmet area are worth exploring. You don't need to research online or check trip advisor reviews...the aroma will guide your way !

Tea Lovers Paradise- Turkey Part 3

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.

What was offered as a conversation starter, more so as a welcome gesture at the hotel on arrival ended up being an addiction for me. Well you have heard about my love for tea here and here. But the ''Turkish Tea" was a whole different experience - a savory one indeed.

Turkish tea is served normally without milk. It is black tea, may be because it is cultivated on the Black sea coast??? I had this tea at so many different places during my stay in Istanbul. The taste was different every time. I was amazed by the varied taste of the same tea. As much as the taste is interesting the way the tea is brewed and served is unique too. It is served in a beautiful tulip shaped glass container with a saucer and a small spoon.  Sugar is always served on the side as cubes. And lastly it is made in a special two stacked kettle called "caydanlik." All in all a very particular way of brewing and serving tea.

Check out my pictures enjoying the tea.

10 Turkish words I learnt during my trip

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.

giris- entrance

cikis- exit

girilmez- no entry

bay- male

bayyan- female

saray- palace

camii- mosque

fistikli- pistachio

cevizli- walnuts

su- water

Istanbul, Turkey Part 1

I will share my wonderful experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey in a series of posts.

I am back from my trip to Istanbul. I am tired and jet lagged. I have to be at work everyday for next 15 days. But the trip and the whole experience is worth all of this. This is one of the best trips I have been on so far. I wish my trip was longer.

This city is so much fun. The sheer magnitude of history that has taken place here is just beyond imagination. There are so many historic sites to visit, all over the city. Beautiful mosques, huge palaces and impressive architecture. I enjoyed the magnificent views of these places as I savored delicious food . I indulged in drinking the Turkish Tea every day , multiple times a day. I sort of binged on the Turkish delights and desserts even though I prefer spicy food over sweets ( hence the chubby cheeks ). And is it necessary to mention that I took full advantage of the immense shopping opportunities at Grand Bazaar and Spice bazaar.

The hustle and bustle, tourists and locals, shop owners and street vendors all made my trip a memorable experience. Definitely a must place to visit I say !

Boston Diary - Part 4

In my previous posts I shared some of my experiences living in Boston. There is so much to say and write about those wonderful years in Boston. I plan to conclude this series for now. I say "for now" because who knows what future holds for you? I may end up living in Boston again. Life has its surprises and I strongly believe in destiny.

So back onto our last day of this wonderful journey....My initial impression of the city was that only young ,college students live in Boston. I lived in the Allston area close to the BU( Boston University ) campus . No wonder I thought only young souls live here. I have heard remarks where people refer to  Boston as "city of youth ". Very true indeed. I closely observed people who lived in different parts of Boston during my train rides, during my conversations with some of them.

I realized people from that particular neighborhood are dedicated to their part of the town. I love Allston and will brag about it always. If you meet my  friend who lives in Jamaica plain( JP as I will refer to in future ) you cannot miss her devotion for JP. She takes pride in telling you all about JP.  Another friend will not fail to convince you that Bedford is the best place to buy a house in. I also lived in the Fenway area briefly during 2012-2013. The name "Fenway " speaks for itself. One word" Fenway" says it all. It was a whole new experience living here especially on those days when Red Sox were playing at Fenway Park. The electrifying atmosphere is never just limited to the stadium but spills out to the streets. The crowd, the overflowing cars on the street and the conversation about a game make it hard to tell if it is night or day. The spirit never rests. People here love Boston and live Boston.

As I have mentioned again and again Boston is a great place to visit. It is a major tourist attraction, no matter what the season is. I don't think of winter as an exception either ( keep reading and you will know why ). Like any other cities in the world spring season is the best for outdoor activities. You don't have to drive far away from the city to enjoy the spring . You could if you want to, but remember I did not own a car. ( P.S. read my earlier posts  ). I loved riding the "T" headed to  Boston Commons. But I always got off at Copley square and walked to Boston Commons via Newbury street( the word VIA is very important here ). I enjoyed window shopping on Newbury street ( I swear I never brought anything from any store off of this street ) . Those weekends when I spent hours walking by the Charles river with my husband were so magical.  Located close to downtown Boston Quincy market and Faneuil hall were one of my  favorite destinations on a gorgeous spring weekend. Hikes around the wooded area of Walden pond or just walking the Freedom trail going back into history kept me active and fit.

My Fenway apartment in spring 

 The beauty of fall foliage is beyond words. There are numerous spots in the New England area to enjoy the breathtaking views during fall. Places like JP,  Walden park  which are not very far from the hustle and bustle of the city have some splendid fall foliage. It is hard to describe in words the spectacular views. It is something you have to experience ( or check my picture below for a glimpse   ). 

Fall captured at Boston Commons 

Boston winters are harsh, can be brutal too. I don't disagree with that at all.  But I think there is beauty and warmth in this city in winter. As you see the snow flurries your heart is filled with romance. It gets dark early but with the soft snow on the ground and the street lamps lit up  the city sparkles. It is mesmerizing. The winters are not just for couples. If you decide to step outside ( P.S. assuming you are all layered up and covered up ) you can enjoy ice skating at frog pond. Wachusett is a great place to ski .If you are brave enough and have the courage you can join the speedo santa run. As holiday season approaches there are ample opportunities to take pictures with Santa, listen to holiday choirs, attend some theater performances. There is always cheer and warmth in this gleaming city.

Outside my Fenway apartment in winter 

And that is why Boston is the city of my dreams. It has a very special place in my heart. Thank you for joining me on this wonderful trip down the memory lane.

So are you making plans to actually visit Boston?

Boston Diary - Part 3

In my earlier post I wrote about LMA and my journey in Boston from academic standpoint. I know its boring to study all the time .Talk to me about it. I am a student of medicine for my whole life. Wait! I know what's going on in your mind this very moment  - "Gargi , is this you talking and that too about studies ?".  Well yes I am.  But you know I am very honest and I pen down my thoughts on this blog, with all sincerity.

So back onto our journey....My husband was a resident when we got married and later was in  Boston again for his fellowship ( thank God he is not in training anymore).  He was always busy and hardly had any free time at hand. Weekends when he was off were spent either studying or catching up on lost sleep. I was introduced to the concept of golden weekend and black weekend as I became familiar with his call schedule during training. So on one such "golden weekend " or may be I should say "diamond weekend" ( or even platinum for that matter )  we decided to just walk around in the town with no agenda in mind and spend some quality time together. 

We decided to take the "T" and get off at the last station, Government center . Once we were out on the streets station we just started walking around in that area. The weather was gorgeous. Hand in hand we walked down the roads, turning right and turning left along the sidewalks. It was a very pedestrian friendly area and we both enjoyed walking. It was so much fun just venturing out on the streets, no destination in mind. If we liked the name of a street we walked in that direction. We spotted something interesting far away and turned in that direction.

Our walking adventure landed us at the Hay market somehow. Hay market is a fresh produce market. It was not busy at that point but slowly and steadily was getting crowded. There were numerous vendors and many shoppers. And may be some were like me and husband, just taking a stroll through the city. I was very surprised by what I saw. There were open stalls and pushcarts. Some stalls were covered with canvas and some had plastic tarps. I saw stalls selling variety of fruits and vegetables, cheese and meats, spices and small goodies. You name it and Hay market has it. There were empty boxes everywhere and some stale rotten vegetables now letting out an odor. It was not unpleasant ( yet) by any means. I was shocked but thrilled by the cheap prices (especially in Boston ) . Gradually people had some serious elbowing going on to snap those bargains . I felt like you needed some skills to survive and shop there. It reminded me of the market back home ( Kapil Tirth Market in Kolhapur). The atmosphere brought back to my mind a flashback of  those childhood trips to mandai ( marathi word for market ) with my grandmother and mom. Oh I miss those childhood days !

We finally managed to navigate our way through the Hay market ( skills learnt from growing up in India clearly helped )  and were now in the North End area. We bumped into Mikes pastry by chance( you better believe me when I say by chance ).  It was our first time here. The place was crowded, jam-packed. It was a "SWEET" surprise to see the long list of desserts this shop had to offer. They say life is all about choices and making the right decisions. I am confident we had made a good choice by entering a pastry shop. The decision to eat desserts was not wrong either (those legs had got a workout already ) . The pictures of cannoli mounted on the wall helped me make up my mind. After much waiting and standing in the line we got our cannoli and a cake. Dying to know how it was?  Check out my pictures below. As I savored every bite of the cannoli I made a secret resolution in my mind to return here.Why not? I had a perfect day in Boston with my sweetheart.

At Mike's Pastry...smile says it all !

Cannoli was already gone before the picture was taken !

Boston Diary - Part 2

I wrote a post couple of days ago about Boston. I have been thinking about Boston since. So I decided to write a series of posts about this city. Posts where I can share my experiences living here. Posts where I can narrate the beauty of the city. Posts that will make you fall in love with Boston. So are you ready to embark on this journey to Boston with me  ? 

I did not own a car when I lived in Boston .We could not afford to buy one then.  I always took advantage of the great public transport, mostly the subway and sometimes the bus service. The convenient and efficient public transport makes living in this city a breeze.  I used to run across the street when I saw the "T" coming to the station across my apartment. Everytime I saw a "T " approaching the station I ran. The "T" driver saw me many times running and just smiled as I boarded  the train. It sort of became a routine. I used to hate waiting for the next train ( even though "T" came every 5-10 mins ).

At the green line "T" station 

 I enjoyed wandering on the streets, trying to hop in and out of the train  aka "T" aka the various lines(green, red, silver, blue, orange  ). I felt like a bird soaring high in the sky, flying from one tree to another. Then resting on a branch, looking at the view, soaking in all that beauty and then flying higher and higher. I started exploring all the new places, museums, malls and shops all on my own, all day long.

Sometimes my train rides were exhausting but I used to look forward to them. During one such train ride and exploring places along the train line, I landed in the Longwood medical area ( LMA ) one day. I ended up at  the Countway library of medicine which since became my second home. I studied there 7-8 hours a day, every single day, 3 weekends a month. The studious atmosphere in the library helped me gained momentum to study for my exams. Today as I am close to  finishing my residency I still remember my entire  USMLE journey. The journey  that started at Countway Library in Boston. 

Near HMS and Countway Library

I was a frequent visitor to the LMA .It is centered on Longwood avenue. HMS( Harvard Medical School ), Harvard teaching hospitals and numerous medical facilities are located in this area.  Hence the name "Longwood Medical Area" ( its obvious folks ). Last year I had an opportunity to rotate through Boston Children's Hospital as a pediatric resident for a month. It was fun being able to live in Boston again, this time in a different neighborhood. It was one of my best months in residency. The competitive spirit , doctors motivated by ambition, the discussions and conferences loaded with knowledge and the wonderful fellows I got to work with made this month a memorable experience in my professional life. It was like a dream come true. Prestigious academic institutes, world famous hospitals and genius doctors at their best, all happening right there, around me.

I lived in the " Fenway " area and could walk to work. (P.S. -I do not like driving and love to walk  ). As I walked to work everyday I saw doctors, nurses and medical staff everywhere. It was nice to see people in blue scrubs everywhere, in and out of the hospitals or even Starbucks for that matter. I took a different route everyday as I headed back home from work. I enjoyed my walk to and from work exploring the different streets in the neighborhood. Sometimes I walked along the BIDMC hoping that my husband may get off of work and might be exiting the building the same time I was there ( P.S. that never happened ). Sometimes I went to HMS , sat on the lush green grass and just stared at the building. I felt like the walls were talking to me, narrating the history of medicine. The landmark contributions in medicine have all happened here. Some detours ended up taking me to Jamaica Plain( JP ). I sat there enjoying the picturesque pretty view on one of the benches overlooking the pond. Days when I decided to take a longer route I went to the Museum of Fine Arts and then back home.

All in all I made the most of my stay in Boston. I enjoyed every moment of my days in Boston. This city  has so much to offer. It has something  for every need and every taste. Boston is the city of my dreams. It has a very special place in my heart.

Boston Diary

As a daily routine I listen to NPR on my way to work. I was about to step out of my car when I heard   " Boston healing - a report in 20 mins" . I paused for a moment. Then I realized I needed to be at work and walked out of the parking deck to my office. The words "Boston healing " kept resonating the whole day in my mind. I could not stop thinking about Boston. 

I lived in Boston from December 2007 to June 2009. I also visited the city on and off for a year from July 2012  to June 2013. This morning brought back fond memories of my stay at Boston. Boston is the first city I came to when I landed in USA. For me it is a very special city. It holds a special place in my heart. 

 I still remember that day when I landed at Logan  international airport with my husband, stepping out of the plane as newly weds. After immigration formalities and customs clearance , I was headed towards the parking lot. I was holding my husband's hand and a huge stroller bag in my other hand. The chilly wind blew on my face as I stepped out of the airport and I grabbed his hand tightly. Realizing I had not worn gloves my husband took off his gloves and gave them to me. He pushed the cart loaded with 5 more heavily packed stroller bags with bare hands(  no gloves ) till we reached the car in the parking lot. 

notice the snow and absence of a jacket and gloves

My married life started in this city. Back then we were renting a small studio apartment in Allston off of Commonwealth avenue . That studio apartment was very tiny but was like a palace of my dreams . I decorated every nook and corner of the apartment, mounted some wall decor and hung curtains on every window. I gave it some TLC ( tender loving care ) . As much as I transformed that bachelor pad/studio into a home , the city of Boston transformed me as a person. I landed as a newly married wife and found new life, going in a whole new direction.

homely touch to the apartment

bachelor pad