We had a fabulous dinner on a hotel penthouse overlooking the old city of Istanbul. The view was just breathtaking. The thought that this part of the city has been in existence since 400AD, where merchants from across the Silk Road had plied their trades and wares, and boats from all over the Mediterrenean and the world's oceans had docked and anchored, is just overhelming. The legacy remains - in this part of the city, we heard dozens of languages being spoken - from central Asian to European. Many of the shopowners here are fluent in English, Russian, French, and Arabic besides Turkish.
Of course, the scene from the penthouse was not complete without the delicious food served. There was consensus that it was one of the most delicious and savory meals any of us had had. We ate Turkish buttered rice, grilled pheasant cooked in sauce, exotic vegetable dishes, local soups, turkish delights, and much much more, downed with a cup of Turkish tea...we wonder what Turks who travel abroad would eat...
Azlan

The view from the penthouse: