@ Let’s Go Shopping Kenya begins his tour of "Turkey: Marmara 2". Merhaba nasılsınız! Let’s Go Shopping Aroma and colour surround the shopper. Neatly displayed wares entice the shopper to stop and take a look. A typical bazaar will offer jewelry, perfumes, metalwork, water pipes, rugs, hammam (Turkish bath) items, spices and so much more.
While travelling Turkey, you met coco.
Kenya shook paws with coco the Chocolate Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
@ Ceramic Plates, Bowls, Turkey “I don't know how to pronounce half of these place names, Kenya!” said Rex ruefully. "Never mind," said Kenya. "We'll look them up when we get back to the hotel tonight!" Ceramic Plates, Bowls, Turkey A sea of colours and patterns greet the passerby. This stall in a bazaar offers an array of beautiful ceramic plates and bowls. It is almost a shame to imagine covering up these designs with food. You eat with your eyes first, so the presentation is as important as the taste.
While travelling Turkey, you met Rex.
Kenya shook paws with Rex the Brown Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Design Showing Typical Architecture, Bursa, Turkey “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Kenya?” said Sir Barkey Barksalot. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said Kenya. Design Showing Typical Architecture, Bursa, Turkey This colourful design graces the wall of a building in Bursa, Turkey. It illustrates the typical architecture of buildings in Turkey. The Ottoman and Seljuk styles of architecture are two of the most respected styles in Turkey. In Seljuk design for family homes all the buildings, built of stone, surround an open courtyard while the Ottoman style of the family home is built of wood, is often two-story, and is a single standing structure.
While travelling Turkey, you met Sir Barkey Barksalot.
Kenya shook paws with Sir Barkey Barksalot the Westie. They both received one silver mole!
Sir Barkey Barksalot and you found 10 Travel Tokens!
@ Turkish Handicrafts, Ceramic “I don't know how to pronounce half of these place names, Kenya!” said Hester ruefully. "Never mind," said Kenya. "We'll look them up when we get back to the hotel tonight!" Turkish Handicrafts, Ceramic The Turkish word for the potter's wheel is çömlekçi çark, and it came into use and is believed to have been invented in Mesopotamia around the 4th millennium BCE. Turkey is the world leader in ceramics, with a rich history of production and abundant resources it is the “land of ceramics”. Turkey has some of the world’s most sophisticated ceramic technology. Working with artists from around the world, Turkey can offer innovative designs that are beautiful and functional.
While travelling Turkey, you met Hester.
Kenya shook paws with Hester the Arctic Hare. They both received one silver mole!
@ Railway Track, Istanbul The 70-letter Muvaffaki-yetsizle-ştiricile-ştirivere-meyebile-ceklerimiz-denmişsinizcesine, or "as if you are one of those that we may not be able to disarm,” is thought to be the longest word in Turkish, an agglutinative tongue whose dialects are spoken across a swath of Asia all the way to western China. Yet Turkish is pretty easy to pick up, following a language reform in the 1920s that simplified the vocabulary and moved from the Arabic script to the Latin alphabet. Railway Track, Istanbul The Istanbul-Ankara Railway is a 576.6 km (358.3 mi) stretch of track that connects Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city with Ankara the capital and second-largest city. Before the opening of the high-speed railway in 2009, the Istanbul-Ankara Railway was the busiest railway in Turkey.
A very dramatic black and white shot of one part of the track. It would be a lovely way to travel and see all the sites along the way.
While travelling Turkey, you met Panda.
Kenya shook paws with Panda the Panda Cub. They both received one silver mole!
@ Paragliding "Hey, you should have joined Foxy and me for lunch at that café, Kenya!" said Milk. "Oh, I couldn't resist that street exhibition. Anyway, what did you eat?" "I had borek, a flaky pastry parcel filled with spinach, garlic and cheese, and served with yoghurt. It was yummy!" Paragliding Tekirdag is in the Marmara region of Turkey. Uçmakder, a neighbourhood connected to Sarköy in the district of Tekirdag, hosts a paragliding festival each year. A paraglider is a foot-launched, lightweight, free-flying glider aircraft. With one big sail/wing, to which are attached many suspension lines that control the airflow and shape of the wing. A paraglider flight can last for hours, and the distance can cover hundreds of kilometers.
While travelling Turkey, you met Milk.
Kenya shook paws with Milk the Holstein Friesian Calf. They both received one silver mole!
@ Ornately Furnished Room "Would you like a piece of Turkish Delight, Kenya?" queried Brown Bobby. "Teşekkür ederim, Brown Bobby!" responded Kenya. "Önemli değil!" Ornately Furnished Room The Turkish people were originally nomadic and lived in Tents/Yurts. Furniture had to be portable and sparse in order to be easily taken up when travelling. With the settling of people to one spot, though still sparse, furniture: shelves, cupboards were affixed to the walls of a house. With the passing of more time, and due to the influence of Europe, furniture became larger and more ornate.
While travelling Turkey, you met Brown Bobby.
Kenya shook paws with Brown Bobby the Brown Funky Monkey. They both received one silver mole!
@ Turkey and Ankara, The Capital, Position On The Globe Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock! Turkey and Ankara, The Capital, Position On The Globe Turkey is a predominantly mountainous country, situated partly in Asia and partly in Europe. The country from north to south is about 300 to 400 miles (480 to 640 km), and it stretches 1,000 miles from west to east. To the north of Turkey is the Black Sea, and on the southwest and west are the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.
While travelling Turkey, you met Listy.
Kenya shook paws with Listy the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Spice Of LIfe "Hey, you should have joined Foxy and me for lunch at that café, Kenya!" said Granville very long name indeed indeed. "Oh, I couldn't resist that street exhibition. Anyway, what did you eat?" "I had borek, a flaky pastry parcel filled with spinach, garlic and cheese, and served with yoghurt. It was yummy!" Spice Of LIfe Turkish cuisine is healthy and nutritious and relies on spices and herbs to bring out the flavours of the main ingredient rather than using sauces to cover up the flavour. Ground nuts such as pistachio are used in sweets such as baklava. Pistachio has a long shelf life and is also used medicinally. Some of the most commonly used spices and herbs are Cumin, Urfa Chilies, Zahter, Sumac, Mint, Parsley, Paprika. Whether used in a curry, a breakfast meal, or mixed with oil and used for dipping bread into, spices and herbs add flavour, colour, aroma, and many vitamins and other nutrients.
While travelling Turkey, you met Granville very long name indeed indeed.
Kenya shook paws with Granville very long name indeed indeed the Bashful Badger. They both received one silver mole!
Granville very long name indeed indeed and you found 10 Travel Tokens!
@ Lamps, Bazaar, Istanbul "Next trivia question, Kenya! Turkey has two places which are part of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. What are they?" "No idea, Nesi!" said Kenya cheerfully. "They are the Temple of Artemis and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus." Lamps, Bazaar, Istanbul Look at these beautiful lamps—they are like something out of a fairy tale. These would make great gifts for everyone back home if we can get them packaged up safely for travel. Maybe we can have them shipped.
While travelling Turkey, you met Nesi.
Kenya shook paws with Nesi the Short Haired Guinea Pig. They both received one silver mole!
@ Lamps, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul "Chef's making Kabak mücveri tonight—Turkish courgette fritters, Wise!" announced Kenya. "They're made with grated courgette, flour and eggs. You can choose to have white Turkish cheese and onions added, and herbs such as parsley, dill, or mint. The fritters are usually fried until golden." "They sound fabo!" remarked Wise. "I'll have mine with a side serving of plain yogurt." Lamps, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Turkish lamps are handcrafted using metal, usually, brass or bronze, worked in intricate ways, glass and small hand-cut glass tiles that will make up the design on the lamp. Each lamp is unique and can be considered a work of art. The mosaic lamp was the inspiration for Tiffany lamps.
While travelling Turkey, you met Wise.
Kenya shook paws with Wise the Brown Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cumalikizik, Bursa Province, Turkey "Have you seen this in our travel guide, Julius? It says 'Even though many associate tulips with The Netherlands, the flower was in fact brought to Europe from the Ottoman Empire. The flower, native to Turkey and Central Asia, became one of the most precious imports in the 1500s.'" "That's amazing, Kenya! We'll have to sing Tulips from Ankara!" Cumalikizik, Bursa Province, Turkey A Unesco World Heritage Site, Cumalikizik is located at the foot of Mount Uludag in the Yildirim district, in the province of Bursa. The village has its roots in the Ottoman Empires' foundation period. The historical texture of the village has been well protected with the architectural structures of the early Ottoman period still intact. The famous Cumalikizik houses are made of wood, adobe, rubblestone (irregular rough stones used as fill, walls, and stepping stones). Most of the houses are triplex, with the windows upstairs generally being latticed bay windows. Cobblestone streets are very narrow with no room for sidewalks, and a typical medieval gutter runs down the center for rain and wastewater.
While travelling Turkey, you met Julius.
Kenya shook paws with Julius the Silver Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Cumalikizik, Turkey, Close Up Of A Street "Would you like a piece of Turkish Delight, Kenya?" queried Milica. "Teşekkür ederim, Milica!" responded Kenya. "Önemli değil!" Cumalikizik, Turkey, Close Up Of A Street A closer look at a narrow street in Cumalikizik. The sides of the cobblestone street are slightly sloped toward the center to allow rainwater and wastewater to run down the middle. Notice the solid walls of the houses—built using rough-cut stone in irregular shapes. These beautiful buildings were built around 1300, at the formation of the Ottoman Empire. A popular tourist destination, this 700-year-old village is one of the oldest of its kind. Interestingly most of the houses are lived in by locals.
While travelling Turkey, you met Milica.
Kenya shook paws with Milica the Posh Peacock. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bursa, In Winter "Have you seen this in our travel guide, Pinotte? It says 'Even though many associate tulips with The Netherlands, the flower was in fact brought to Europe from the Ottoman Empire. The flower, native to Turkey and Central Asia, became one of the most precious imports in the 1500s.'" "That's amazing, Kenya! We'll have to sing Tulips from Ankara!" Bursa, In Winter Winter in Bursa, is between Dec. and Feb. with temperatures ranging from 57.4°F (14.1°C) and lows of 2ºC (35ºF). Uludag, Bursa is home to the most popular ski resort in Turkey. Sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, are all popular sports in the winter. The beautiful landscape with freshly fallen snow will make you want to take many pictures.
While travelling Turkey, you met Pinotte.
Kenya shook paws with Pinotte the Ragdoll Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Village House, Bursa, Turkey Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock! Village House, Bursa, Turkey A traditional house in Bursa. Some of the houses are 700 years old and still in use today, a testament to how well built they are. Rough-cut stones and timber make up the walls and give a feeling of permanence and sturdiness. Local natural materials blend well with the landscape.
While travelling Turkey, you met Freyja.
Kenya shook paws with Freyja the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Uludai Mountain, Bursa Province "It's turned a bit hot, Kenya. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Munich. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said Kenya. Uludai Mountain, Bursa Province Mount Uludai, which means Big Mountain, is an ancient extinct volcano once regarded as the Olympus of Mysia—known in mythology as the place where the gods watched the Trojan war. Mount Uluda? has an elevation of 2,543 m (8,343 ft). Skiing on the lightly treed mountain is in the intermediate range.
While travelling Turkey, you met Munich.
Kenya shook paws with Munich the Red Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Istanbul, Watercolour Sketch “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Kenya?” said Jack. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said Kenya. Istanbul, Watercolour Sketch This beautiful watercolour sketch done with great detail would be a lovely addition to your pet's art gallery.
While travelling Turkey, you met Jack.
Kenya shook paws with Jack the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Field of Poppies, Canola, Orhangazi, Bursa “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Kenya?” said VIOLA. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said Kenya. Field of Poppies, Canola, Orhangazi, Bursa While my pets and I were visiting Orhangazi, Bursa, near Lake Iznik (Turkish: Iznik Gölü). We had set out for a day of sightseeing. We learned about the olive production in the area that was so important to the economy—they even have an olive festival. Our feet and paws were getting tired when we saw this field of Poppies and Canola—the sight was so soothing we rested amongst the flowers and listened to the bee's drone as they worked. What a pleasant way to end our sightseeing.
While travelling Turkey, you met VIOLA.
Kenya shook paws with VIOLA the Purple Panther. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sunset Over Istanbul "Turkey—the perfect choice for our travels this spring, Kenya!" enthused Miranda. "Yup. That bazaar was incredible! I bought so many souvenirs I can't close my suitcase!" "Oh! I was thinking more of its rich history, the Ottoman empire, architecture and so on," said Miranda. Kenya selected a large chunk of lemon-flavoured Turkish Delight for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the box to Miranda. "Sure!" he said, a little indistinctly. "You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy." Sunset Over Istanbul It doesn't matter where in the world you travel—you are sure to see some dramatic skies as night draws in. Cloud formations and colours in the sky can change rapidly, so keep that camera clicking.
While travelling Turkey, you met Miranda.
Kenya shook paws with Miranda the Silver Mole. They both received one silver mole!
@ Ship, Coast Of Istanbul "Hey, you should have joined Foxy and me for lunch at that café, Kenya!" said jonny. "Oh, I couldn't resist that street exhibition. Anyway, what did you eat?" "I had borek, a flaky pastry parcel filled with spinach, garlic and cheese, and served with yoghurt. It was yummy!" Ship, Coast Of Istanbul What an amazing view. About 41,000 vessels of all sizes pass yearly through the Istanbul Strait, 8,000 of them being tankers carrying crude oil. Cruise ships dock at Galataport which is located on the shores of the Galata, Karakoy and Tophane neighbourhoods, at the entrance of Bosphorus.
While travelling Turkey, you met jonny.
Kenya shook paws with jonny the Arctic Feisty Fox. They both received one silver mole!
@ Baklava "Why do our hotel rooms have a black arrow on the ceiling, Kenya?" asked Choose a name. "Ooh, our tour guide explained that. It's called a qibla pointer, and it points in the direction of Mecca in Saudi Arabia." Baklava Baklava is a sweet treat that originated in the Ottoman Empire. Baklava is created by spreading melted butter on each thin layer of filo dough and building up the layers, adding chopped pistachio, almond, or hazelnut layers in between. The baklava is cut before cooking. After baking, a syrup of honey, rosewater, or orange flower water is brushed over the top and allowed to soak into the pastry. There are regional variations, sometimes walnuts are used or cardamom, cinnamon. A truly delicious treat.
While travelling Turkey, you met Choose a name.
Kenya shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge Oh look ... you found a picturesque rock! The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge spans the Bosphorus/Strait Of Istanbul and is the third tallest bridge in the world. The bridge is also one of the world's widest suspension bridges at 58.4 meters (192 ft) wide. The foundation stone was laid in 2013 and opened for traffic in 2016.
While travelling Turkey, you met Mochi.
Kenya shook paws with Mochi the Dwarf Hamster. They both received one silver mole!
@ The Bosphorus Bridge The 70-letter Muvaffaki-yetsizle-ştiricile-ştirivere-meyebile-ceklerimiz-denmişsinizcesine, or "as if you are one of those that we may not be able to disarm,” is thought to be the longest word in Turkish, an agglutinative tongue whose dialects are spoken across a swath of Asia all the way to western China. Yet Turkish is pretty easy to pick up, following a language reform in the 1920s that simplified the vocabulary and moved from the Arabic script to the Latin alphabet. The Bosphorus Bridge Known officially as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, unofficially as the First Bridge. This is one of three suspension bridges that span the Bosphorus. Completed in 1973 this bridge was the fourth-longest suspension bridge in the world, now it ranks 33rd.
While travelling Turkey, you met Josie.
Kenya shook paws with Josie the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Fireworks Over Istanbul “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, Kenya?” said Icicle. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said Kenya. Fireworks Over Istanbul Dazzling flowers of light explode in the air above the Bosporus shores, most likely a New Year's Eve celebration. New Year’s Day in Turkey is a national holiday. If you or your pets are sensitive to loud noise, you may want to watch fireworks from further away or from inside a building.
While travelling Turkey, you met Icicle.
Kenya shook paws with Icicle the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Traditional Turkish Coffee Cup As Kenya's tour of "Turkey: Marmara 2" comes to an end, he receives a wonderful gift! Grey Mountains, Craggy Peaks Jagged, steep, rounded, tree-filled or bare, snow-covered or subject to torrential rains—mountains are an outstanding feature on the landscape, they draw the eye, they inspire artists and climbers. Mountains affect the weather and can enclose an area of land creating valleys that are rich agricultural areas. Poems are written about mountains. Mountains are a haven for eagles and many forms of wildlife.
These marvellous mountain decorations will be perfect in your art slides whether you are making a mountain retreat for yourself or a home for your pets. Perhaps you have a pet who has always dreamed of going on a climbing expedition and making it to the top of the highest mountain. Used singly as a point of interest, or in multiples to create a whole mountain range, let your imagination soar. Traditional Turkish Coffee Cup A traditional coffee cup called “fincan” with a lid to keep the coffee warm and a sugar bowl. Turkish coffee is thick and strong, prepared by adding finely ground coffee beans to water with some sugar, and bringing it to just before the boil. The liquid is poured, the ground as well, into small cups. Kenya has completed his tour of "Turkey: Marmara 2"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour Scandinavia!
While travelling Turkey, you met Berry.
Kenya shook paws with Berry the Strawberry Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!