Culinary Tour: Flavor of Turkey 
(2008 / 9 Days) November 01 – 09, 2008

Day 01, Saturday – New York 
Depart USA / CANADA

Depart from New York, JFK Airport Terminal 1 with Turkish Airlines (TK002) at 6:00PM. Due to TK002 being an international flight, it is strongly suggested that passengers be at the airport no later than 2:00PM.   

Day 02, Sunday – Istanbul- Izmir 
Welcome to Istanbul - Merhaba (Hello), the city which has been the capital of three empires in a time span of 3000 years and the unique link between east and west, past and present and the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents (Europe and Asia). Take connection flight to Izmir (45 minutes) in Aegean region of Western Turkey. Representative will transfer to Hotel Anemon for greeting and briefing. After rest and relaxation, meet with the Chef and learn about Turkish Cuisine. Hotel Anemon. D

Day 03, Monday – Izmir – Bergama - Izmir
After breakfast visit Bergama, a small Turkish town. Then visit Acropolis; see the steepest theater of the ancient world, the library and the Temple of Trojan. In addition, visit the Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum of Bergama. Lunch at a local restaurant specializing offering an excellent selection of Turkish epicurean delights. Return to hotel. In the evening, take a cooking course with the Anemon Hotel’s chefs. Assist the chefs and learn to cook a different Turkish meal for each course. At the end of the session, enjoy the prepared meals as your dinner. Hotel Anemon B, L, D

Day 04, Tuesday –– Izmir – Ephesus - Kusadasi
Early departure to Ephesus, one of the most incredible archeological wonders of the ancient world. See the spectacular ruins from the period of Greco-Roman some of which have only recently been excavated. See the Odeon, the Bouleterion, the Fountains, the Temples, the Brothel, the Library, the Agoras, the Great Theater, the Roman Baths, the Gymnasiums, the Double Church and the Stadium. Taste Turkish meze (appetizers) and Mediterranean fishes for lunch at a local fish restaurant. Hotel Korumar B, L, D

Day 05, Wednesday – Kusadasi
Visit the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world) and the grave and Basilica of St. John in the morning. Then, take a cooking course at the Bizim-ev restaurant. Assist the Chef and learn how to cook different Turkish Meals. The prepared meal will be served as lunch. Visit the house of the Virgin Mary, which was visited by the Pope on 29 Nov 2006 in the afternoon. Then, continue to the Archaeological Museum. Hotel Korumar B, L, D

Day 06, Thursday – Kusadasi – Izmir - Istanbul
After breakfast and transfer in the morning to Izmir Airport, catch the flight to Istanbul. After leaving the airport, take a short orientation tour of the exciting old city before transferring to Hotel Galata Anemon. After check in at hotel take a Walking Tour of the Grand Rue de Pera. Currently called Istiklal Street, Grand Rue de Pera runs from Galata to Taksim Square. Enjoy a late lunch at the historical Cıcek Pasaji (“Flower Passage”) of meze. Here, choose numerous meze from large trays of endless choices. Try a sip of raki, Turkey’s national liquor, an anise-flavored, colorless brandy made from grapes, to accompany the meze and to cloud the world – just as it clouds your glass. Then, return to the hotel for a final cooking class. Hotel Galata Anemon (Boutique) B, L, D

Day 07, Friday – Istanbul
After breakfast in the morning depart for a visit of the old part of Istanbul to experience the wonders of the Spice Bazaar and nearby attractions. The bazaar is often referred to as the “Egyptian Market” due to the fact that spices used to come to the market from India and Southeast Asia via Egypt. Despite the fact that the bazaar is becoming touristier, there is still plenty to discover for the foodie. Shop for ingredients to be used in the cooking class of the day as well as buy spices to take home. Saffron is inexpensive here and of excellent quality. After lunch, take the Bosphorus Cruise. Stop in Kanlica, a picturesque village on the Asian coast of the Bosphorus and sample its specialty, kanlica yogurdu, thick creamy yogurt served with powdered sugar on the side. Return to the hotel after the cruise. Depart for dinner at the Borsa Restaurant. This venerable restaurant dates back to 1927, and is considered the “smartest” restaurant in town. It has an unlimited menu of Ottoman and Anatolian food to choose from. The restaurant’s classic Hunkar Begendi, or “sultan’s delight,” a purée of roasted eggplant with cream and grated cheese, topped with sautéed cubes of meat in tomato sauce, keskek, a special white cheese, and vegetables with olive oil (zeytinyagli) are legendary. Hotel Galata Anemon (Boutique) B, L, D

Day 08, Saturday – Istanbul
In the morning, depart from hotel for sightseeing tour of the old city. Major sites are as follows. Hippodrome: Once a witness to breathtaking Byzantine chariot races, the Hippodrome today features the oldest column in Istanbul. The exquisite Blue Mosque is named after the beautiful Iznik tiles that give the mosque its interior color of striking sea blue. St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia): It is the most magnificent of all Byzantine churches and one of the world’s finest and largest architectural works of art. It is now a museum where early Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphy live side-by-side. Lunch will be served at Stork Restaurant (also known as Zindan), which specializes in Ottoman cuisine and fish dishes. Historically a jail, the building has been turned into a restaurant and currently has different reasons for keeping the visitors inside its doors: incredibly tasty food, and a panoramic view of the historic Galata Bridge and the Golden Horn. The old city tour continues after lunch. Visit to Topkapi Palace including the Harem, the Grand Seraglio of the Ottoman Sultans. Return to hotel. Dinner will at the Hunkar Restaurant. Owned by true Ottoman food lovers, the restaurant preserves the authenticity of classic Ottoman recipes in a cozy space. Many of the dishes can be seen at the counter in front of the kitchen so customers can see what is available that day. Hotel Galata Anemon (Boutique) B, L, D

Day 09, Sunday – Istanbul – JFK
After breakfast at the hotel, escorted transfer to Istanbul airport for the flight back home. Depart hotel for the airport to catch our international flights USA / CANADA leaving Istanbul at 12:05PM.

End of the services. B 

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner