Westchester's Turkish Delight?

There is a new Turkish specialty store in Westchester and I couldn't be more excited! As I alluded to in my last post, I recently took a trip abroad-my husband and I took a delayed honeymoon to, you guessed it, Turkey! We started our trip in the region of Cappadocia, located in central Anatolia on the Asian continent before spending a few days in Istanbul.  The landscape of Cappadocia is like nothing else we have ever seen (unless you count the planet Tatooine).  As a result of volcanic eruptions and years of erosion, it is covered with "fairy chimneys"--conical formations-- and caves.  For long periods of time these caves served as churches and homes for the regions residents, now most of the habitable caves have been turned into luxury resorts.  We stayed at a cave hotel that used to be a monastery.  For those skeptical about staying in a cave, the room was fully equipped with electricity and plumbing, including a spa tub, television, and wi-fi.  We may be able to tell people for years to come that we stayed in a cave, but we certainly didn't slum it!


Here are a few pictures of Cappadocia:

While we were in Urgup, a pretty big town in Cappadocia with lots of restaurants and shops, we stepped into a bakery for some amazing baklava.  The store owner suggested we try a hot beverage (did I mention it was about 30-35 degree Fahrenheit there?).  What a treat it turned out to be!!! Made from orchid roots, the drink is called sahlep and tastes kind of like liquid rice pudding. With some cinnamon on top its a truly delicious warm treat.  I was kind of sad to think that when I returned home I wouldn't be able to have any sahlep again.  But now I don't have to worry.  Turkish Meze in Mamaroneck is planning to open up a shop selling Turkish gourmet goods, and based on some promotional advertising it looks like I will be able to pick up some sahlep mix! I think I'll try the restaurant out too.  Look for my review coming soon.

Best Travel Bag

Not exactly, a local story, but I purchased the bag at Bloomingdale's in White Plains, so that should count for something right?

After months of searching for the perfect bag for my European vacation, I finally found this Marc by Marc Jacobs Crossbody Preppy Nylon Sasha. So many travel bags are dowdy and scream tourist, or at least "lack of fashion sense" and require that you carry a separate camera bag, but not this one! It met exactly all of my criteria for a great travel bag: crossbody, stylish, lightweight (who needs the extra weight of leather when you are out and about all day), zipclosures for safety, and most importantly, large enough to fit my DSLR camera.  This bag did it better than I could have ever imagined.  And the price wasn't bad either...while normally $208 (not bad) I managed to pick it up with 15% off.  Searching for similar bags designed for DSLR's I came across bags mostly in the $400 range that didn't offer the other great safety features of this particular bag.

The main front pocket which is accessible by lifting the flap fit my camera so effortlessly, with or without its case.   It also had a zip pocket for accessories like my extra battery or SD card, and a cellphone pocket. I probably could have carried a travel book in there too, but left that for the husband to carry and share some of the weight.  The zippered pocket, which forms the flap, was perfect for my wallet and passport.  The way the bag is designed left me worry free from pickpocketers.  Surely, there is no way, they could undo that zipper and slip a hand inside without my knowledge.

Travelling around with this bag made me feel not only safe, but like I didn't leave my style behind in New York.