Life in Turkey: Gaziantep

Sunday 11.22

Gaziantep is a much more conservative city than Ankara. Majority of the women I saw there were wearing head scarves and more wearing the full black çarşaf (sheet) that only showed the eyes. In Ankara, this is very rare but here there seems to be more. The ladies who didn’t wear a head scarves were usually younger women in their 2o’s or teens.

The town were were in was quit small. The streets were tight and consisted of short buildings, and old shacks. When you walked through the shopping streets, you’ll see merchants just hanging from shop. There were many dried spices and goods being sold. You can find almost any kind of shop there, including shoe maker and repairer, black smith, a knives smith.

Gaziantep is famous for pistachio but I was dumb enough to forget to buy any. Along the streets were barrels of fresh pistachio and fresh olives beings sold. But I did manage to get some delicious baklava, a Turkish pastry with fresh pistachio in the center topped with syrup. This one was amazing! I should have eaten more, but I only had one, that was leftover from Charlotte. Earlier in the day when everyone went to get some, I wanted to wait till after dinner. But after dinner I didn’t have the chance. Unlike the usual one I have had which is way too sweet and smoldered in syrup, this one was light and fluffy and the sweetness is just right for my taste. HMMM!