Ellen

LATEST ARTICLES ( 72 )

• A Lousy Cup of Coffee and a Good Cup of Tea

  

  Downtown Antalya Some days are just so frustrating. Like the other day, which started with an unadvertised bus route change that had me touring the entire regio... Read more

  Posted on 17 December 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Why I Won't Go on a Cruise

  

  A Turkish gulet on a day cruise in Antalya. No, I'm not afraid of the water. I'm not even afraid of pirates. The reason I won't go on a cruise boils down to... Read more

  Posted on 14 December 2011 EXPAT, RANTS N' RAVES, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• A Day at Antalya's Police Station: Renewing myTurkish Residence Permit

  

  A view of Antalya's harbor. This has nothing to do with the post, but it's important to remember why I'm here. In order to remain in Turkey past the 90 day visa... Read more

  Posted on 12 December 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• The "ultra All-inclusive" Barut Lara Resort Hotel

  

  This week I celebrated Gabi's birthday by spending a few days with her and her beau, Murat, at the Barut Lara Resort Spa and Suites. The idea behind this hote... Read more

  Posted on 06 December 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Turkey Day in Turkey: American Holidays in Antalya

  

  Sea view from Talya Center, Antalya Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, so I was very happy to be invited to a faux-Thanksgiving dinner on... Read more

  Posted on 28 November 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• I'm Not Dead Yet: My New Writing Life

  

  I honestly don't know how successful bloggers do it. I mean, I've read plenty of posts on how they do it, but I still don't get it. Read more

  Posted on 22 November 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• A Day in Trastevere: A Photo Essay

  

  After spending two days with my parents walking around the Piazza Barberini area I decided to venture further and take a long walk to Trastevere. It was made... Read more

  Posted on 16 November 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Eating in Rome: Antica Pesa, Trendy Dining with the Stars

  

  After our concierge recommended Antica Pesa for the best in Roman cuisine we googled it. Its website is complete with a video of the cook describing his... Read more

  Posted on 14 November 2011 DINING OUT, EXPAT, FOOD & DRINK, TRAVEL

• Eating in Rome: Osteria Romana

  

  Bernini's Triton Fountain, in Piazza Barberini When eating in Rome, the most authentic Roman food is found in the Trattorias and Osterias. They serve all the... Read more

  Posted on 11 November 2011 DINING OUT, EXPAT, FOOD & DRINK, TRAVEL

• In Which I Narrowly Escape Being Thrown into a Turkish Prison

  I'm in Ataturk Airport on my way to meet my parents in Rome for a few days. They live in California, and I only make the trip to the States once a year. Read more

  Posted on 03 November 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Adventurous Travel: Cooking a Fish in My Apartment

  

  Last night I did something in Turkey that I never did in the States: I cooked a whole fish. Now this may not sound like a big deal, but for someone who doesn't... Read more

  Posted on 02 November 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• I'm Officially Versatile!

  

  I am honored to have been nominated by the inimitable Jack Scott for the Versatile Blogger Award, and I humbly accept. These awards were created by Kate, and... Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Why Turkey Attracts Expats

  

  We had barely put down our beach blankets when a stranger struck up a conversation: "The sea is nice, it's not cold," he said in beginner's Turkish. "Really? Read more

  Posted on 27 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• The Golden Orange Film Festival, Take 2: In Which I Fail to Be Moved by an...

  

  Of the four films I saw at the festival, only one was sold out. Le Gamin et le velo ( The kid with a bike) was the piece de resistance; a film by the Belgian... Read more

  Posted on 24 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• An Interview with Matt Krause

  

  As promised, here's the interview with Matt Krause: The photo on the cover of your book is beautiful. Can you tell us about it? The photo is of the Ortakoy... Read more

  Posted on 20 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Burasi Türkiye, Or What a Difference a Year Makes

  About a year ago I started this blog with a post detailing my struggle to obtain an internet connection in my home. I was frazzled and frustrated. Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Guest Post on Istanbul, by Matt Krause

  

  I only spent a few days in Istanbul, so when Matt (author of "A Tight Wide-open Space") offered to write a guest post I asked him to write about his adopted hom... Read more

  Posted on 17 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Expat Book Review: A Tight Wide-Open Space

  

  Dear Readers, I'm not the only American who moved to Turkey on a whim: It took Matt Krause ten seconds to make the decision when his Turkish girlfriend told... Read more

  Posted on 13 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Of Film Festivals and Feminism

  The Altin Portakali Film Festivali (Golden Orange International Film Festival), the largest film festival in Turkey, comes to Antalya for a week every October. Read more

  Posted on 09 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL

• Antalya's Flora and Fauna: a Cook's Paradise

  

  "And this is a fig tree", she points out, as we approach my building. Now that I take a closer look I recognize those large, distinctively shaped leaves I've... Read more

  Posted on 02 October 2011 EXPAT, TRAVEL