ITCHY FEET TRAVELS

Ankara, Turkey

July 15, 2023

A passing conversation at the front desk of the hotel in Mosul, Iraq was how I met Mustafa. A couple of days later I met his colleague and friend Selim when we sat and chatted over tea and coffee. Our conversation meandered over myriad subjects and topics in the way of all the best chats.

They are both from Ankara and were in Mosul for work. I was to contact them when I reached Ankara. And so I did. Knowing my penchant for delving into yesteryears, Mustafa played tourist for a day as we went on a walking tour of Ulus. Julian’s Column of Roman days, followed by wandering into Hagi Bayram Cami, the Citadel that towers over Ankara and the Roman Baths.

Somehow, on short notice, he had managed to round up Selim and a couple of other friends. My welcome to Ankara started with an evening out that extended well into the wee hours of the morning. Too many bottles of excellent wine and mezzes were followed by an introduction to a specialty called kokorec at the Attaturk Forest Farm in the outskirts of the city. It was only after I had finished the sandwich that I was told what it was. Who knew that stuffing made of the large intestines of lamb could taste so good?

I hope to repay their Turkish hospitality when they visit me and will have to find equally esoteric foods to introduce them to!