I know the summer isn’t over yet, but my time in Türkiye is just about over. I’ve spent the past two months living in this beautiful country, and it has definitely impacted how I go about my days. Here’s what has been in and out for me recently, maybe you can channel some of this and experience a Turkish summer from home!
Ins
chia pudding
Jordan and I are deep in a chia pudding phase. We prep it every night after classes and wake up to a delicious breakfast. In this hot Turkish summer (with no AC), it’s the perfect breakfast. I make my chia pudding with kefir instead of milk and top it with peanut butter, fresh fruit, and nuts.
parks
spending time at parks is 100% in this year. sitting at the park. reading at the park. having a picnic at the park. people watching at the park. just really spending time outdoors and in nature. Istanbul is a huge city, but it has stunning parks that act as a refuge from the busy city life.
fruit salad
there is nothing more refreshing on a hot day, than a large tupperware of fruit salad in the fridge just waiting to be eaten. I have plenty of fruit in the fridge as well, but sometimes it is too much commitment to eat an entire fruit. Prepping fruit salad every few days to use on top of oats, chia pudding, or dessert has been a lifesaver to get me to eat some extra fruit on hot days.
learning about gut health
I have had food poisoning probably three times in about as many months. Every time, I have to reset my gut microbiome, eating tons of fiber, probiotics, etc, just to get things moving again. It's not the end of the world, but learning how to do it effectively is especially important when you are traveling, so you can strengthen your stomach so you are less susceptible for the next time a food tries to ruin your day.
ayran
ayran is a staple in Türkiye. the first few times I tried it, I won’t lie I hated it. what is so good about watered down yogurt with salt. I continue to ask myself the same question, but for some reason it just goes down perfectly with a meal, a perfect palate cleanser. good job Türkiye.
reading
I just recently got myself an ereader as a small gift to myself, and I have been putting it to work! reading while traveling can be very hard, you’re very busy, there’s always better things to do, and arguably most importantly, books are bulky. with the limited space in your backpacks and day bags, there is not nearly enough room to carry books everywhere. but a small ereader, that can house an entire library while fitting in your pocket is a godsend. I use the kobo clara and it beyond satisfies all my needs.
flea markets
move out of the way thrift stores, i’m buying my clothes at flea markets now. It’s devastating that there aren’t more of these where I live in the states. there’s nothing quite like rummaging through piles of secondhand clothing hoping you will pull out a gem. plus, when you’re on a budget, flea market prices will always beat thrift store/charity shop prices.
Outs
rolly suitcases
there is nothing quite as embarrassing as walking around a city with your suitcase scraping over the sidewalk, interrupting quiet morning cafes in its wake. I finally upgraded to a backpack suitcase, and maybe it is a little bit more uncomfortable on the back, but it will definitely save me some anxiety next time I drag myself up a cobblestone-lined hill.
avocado egg toast
my usual breakfast staple, but avocados in Türkiye? not it. they’re hard to find, expensive, and just not as good. I have no fear that it will come back into the rotation, but for now at least it has been tabled.
having more than one pair of shoes
this is definitely something that is only in for me. anyone who knows me knows that I am nothing if not a creature of habit. for me, this meant sizing down my shoes to have only one pair. it has made packing my bags a lot easier, not having to squeeze a pair of shoes into my already small luggage.
not wearing sunscreen
this is the summer of SPF. don’t get me wrong, I still manage to get burnt (oopsie) but I’m doing my best to avoid sun poisoning. I have added it to my morning skincare routine which currently consists of, literally only sunscreen.
do you have any ins and outs of the summer, pls let me know, I would love to add to my list!
Once again an interesting read.
Thanks. X