b'Historic Pera Palace HotelVintage tram connects Taksim Square to Tnel220 EPC SSOParik at thePHOTOS: PERA PALACE HOTEL, ISTANBUL (HOTEL), AFORIZMART ON PEXELS (TRAM), EKRULILA ON PEXELS (IEK PASAJI)Blue MosqueFILM 037Interestingly, though, I discovered that despite coffee being an important part of Turkish culture, ay (chai) or tea is the most commonly consumed hot drink.I saw black tea served in tulip-shaped glasses (not cups) everywhere. While walking through Istanbuls architecturally mesmerizing Grand Bazaar, for instance, lots of locals were sipping tea and chatting, while shoppers roamed the maze of streets and stores. Rize tea from Trkiyes eastern Black Sea coastal province is the most popular tea, with a sweetish fruity flavor. But what was clear to me is that tea and coffee are more than just drinks and are integral to Turkish cultural traditions and social interactions. One evening, we ventured to iek Pasaj, an L-shapediek Pasaji arcade is packed courtyard of a 19th-century building filled withwith eateries and barslovely Turkish taverns. We ate at Sevi Restaurant, which serves mezze alongside music, festivity, and aI believe Trkiye has an important role to play in very social atmosphere. I highly recommend eatingthe world today because of its unique position family-style at a local establishment. In the sameand the history of its civilizations. Not only is it a neighborhood, youll find the Galata Istanbul Hotelpredominantly Islamic nation, it is also very European MGallery, in a beautiful building dating back to 1836,in nature, and it displays a strong tradition of religious with a Turkish hammam on site. There are numeroustolerance that is so important in todays world. Theres other character-filled hotels I recommend for a uniquemuch to learn from this balance and mix. Istanbul was stay in Istanbul, from the Pera Palace Hotel, opened inlove at first sight for me, and I am certain I will keep 1895 to host passengers of the Orient Express, to thegoing back. Ciragan Palace Kempinski, occupying a renovatedOttoman imperial palace.enchantingtravels.com/turkiyeENCHANTING TRAVELS\x1a29'