Now What?

When faced with the choice between a sit down lunch or the chance to roam freely around a foreign land and sample different "grab-n-go" fare, the choice is simple: go wander with cash in hand.  I'm a bona fide snacker with a passion for sampling small bites. Turkey is a snacker's paradise where you can find unique (even healthy) treats on the street and the beach. süt mısır When you hear a guy calling out "süt mısır " immediately head over to him and grab a bright yellow ear of corn. Translated literally as "milk corn," these corn are boiled then grilled and sold by street vendors or some guy on the beach. They tend to be a little thicker and mealier than the crisp butter and sugar corns grown in the states. I delight in these healthy snacks as they are a perfect pick me up from a day of shopping or sun bathing and provide a good boost of salt and carbs to recharge without the guilt. midye dolma For t...

Going to the bazaar is an old world tradition that one must experience at least once while in Turkey. I've visited the Alaçatı Bazaar, held every Saturdayin the quaint old Aegean town of Alaçatı , for over ten years as part of our annual trips to Turkey. Give yourself a few hours and you will be able to find any essential item from street clothes, undergarments, toys, bags, jewelry, shoes, bed and dining linens, kitchenware, food, or anything else you need except furniture - all under one big tent with thousands of your closest shopping acquaintances. So here's some advice and insights on how to survive this unique retail experience that boasts 360 degree views of the merchandise. Preparations: Even if this is your first time at the bazaar, have a plan. Try to think about what you want to buy, how much you want to spend, and get ready to haggle (I'll touch more on bargaining later in the post). F...

The day I left for Turkey, I called my mom in the morning to say good-bye. We said our "I love yous" and she reminded me in her Italian mother tone to "watch those kids."  Traveling overseas with young kids is always a challenge, especially at the airports when everyone is beyond their wits and there's a million people around. In Turkey, extra caution is necessary even for trivial activities like crossing a street because, well, nobody pays attention to the pedestrians. Last Saturday afternoon the kids were playing in the back yard at the Cesme house when I heard my daughter Ayla scream. It was the kind of scream that pierced your gut with a feeling of dread. Before turning around, I knew instantly that something terrible occurred. I looked up the stairs and saw Ayla standing in the corner of the entrance with her tiny little thumb wedged in the hinge of the heavy iron gate. The next few moments spun in slow motion as I flew up the stairs t...

I never embraced the workout scene when visiting Turkey. While I always lugged my running gear over the years, I seldom ventured out for a run even with the inviting Aegean backdrop. Since most of our trips to Turkey occurred in August, I used the heat as my excuse to hold my sneakers hostage in the suitcase. Lame, I know, but I generally don't fare well in hot weather, never mind running in it. Yet to curb my workout pangs, I used to naively search for some local gym in the Cesme area that I could use temporarily during our stay, only to be greeted with a hearty guffaw from my husband. Some things have changed over the years. The playground across the street from the Cesme house was refurbished recently with workout equipment. Imagine monkey bars and slides on one side and strange looking apparatuses on the other. So today I took a stroll over to the "open air gym" for a closer examination. An older woman wearing street clothes...

After three planes, fourteen transit hours, one killer migraine, and two wired kids, we made it to Turkey yesterday for our annual trip to visit my husband's family. Even though its been a year since our last visit, I feel like I've never left. And that's a good thing. As we survived our first full day today feeling refreshed from the pool and my mother-in-law's home cooking, I can't help but take in all these familiar (and quirky) sights and sounds that make Turkey feel like my home away from home. Of course, some things have changed but for the most part, the familiar is omnipresent. Breakfast: Probably my favorite meal of the day (when I don't have to cook or prepare it, that is). I really love the Turkish breakfast and today did not disappoint. I think what makes this meal so appealing (to me at least) are all the options (tomatoes, cukes, cheeses, olives, fruit, and homemade preserves, to name a few) served on small plates. I'm a ...

Yesterday I busted our clothes dryer. I opened the door during the drying cycle to check on a shirt I wanted to wear that evening. When I pressed the button to restart after shutting the door, nothing happened. I repeated this about three times then slinked away wondering, (you guessed it) "Now what?" Honestly, I was baffled. We've had this dryer since we moved here about five years ago and our clothes couldn't be happier, or drier for that matter. I told my husband and he proceeded to contact the same day service folks (facial expression = not happy). Turns out, I sort of forget to check the lint tray. Who knew a half inch of lint could entrap massive amounts of heat and burn out the dryer. When the service guy came, he noticed our venting system was completely out of code so we had to get that fixed asap. I tried to get my husband to see how my lack of de-linting uncovered a potentially bigger issue, but he didn't seem to get my reasoning as he paid the s...

On March 31, 2013 I kissed my corporate life good-bye. My division was relocated to Dallas so I decided to hang around New England and give myself a little break.  After 20 years working for the man, a gal needs to recharge. Over the last few years, I noticed rapidly advancing gray hairs, diminishing muscle tone, microwaving meals, and BlackBerrying until my fingers bled. Blech! I decided that a few months of leisure would be the panacea to help me sort out the "Now What? portion of this next chapter. And in finding those answers, I am fortunate to have friends who lunch which aides in the discovery process (as does pinot noir at noon). Here's a glimpse of my last day as a corporate something. Erin has left the building.    My desk never looked so clean!    So, now you know I am a bag lady. Lots of swag to haul home.   The view of Boston harbor from my space on the 9th floor.