on the streets of Ortakoi

Street food in Istanbul and its environs is remarkably healthy. I just mentioned kumpir, which is a very large baked potato with overly generous toppings (perhaps not so healthy after all). In Ortakoi, where we took our Bosphorus boat ride from, there is a gaggle of kumpir stands across from a little book and crafts market. While we cruised the market, Ava had a crispy disc the size of a frisbee golf disc that was flavored with honey (also not so healthful - but wait - it gets better).

This photo is was taken specifically for my dad, whom I'm certain would've partaken from this vendor's feast. People purchase a few mussels at a time and eat them there, raw, with lemon squeezed on them.

Roasted or boiled corn was common to find (although this photo isn't from Ortakoi). We also happened across lots of freshly roasted nuts and sesame bread.

This guy, well, was just fun to see.

Apparently we hadn't had enough treats yet, so we ended our day in Ortakoi with frozen yogurt. We paused in this square because we could hear the evening call to prayer, and actually see the muezzin who was singing from the mosque in the background. He was in the minaret on the right.