Flashback to July 2012: Istanbul: Kind of Like Cincinnati

From my July 20, 2012 post: 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Istanbul: Kind of Like Cincinnati

Cincinnati skyline. Or Istanbul? Photo credit: bophoto.com

Yes, the language is different. Many of the women wear different clothing. The places of worship look different. It's hard to find barbecued pork. Istanbul's got really cool street trams. There are about 12 million more people in residence. And its history is longer.

But other than those things, Istanbul's kind of like Cincinnati.

• 70% of cars (other than taxis) have only the driver inside; 20% may have two people; 10% have more than two
• Shopping malls
• McDonald's, Burger King, Sbarro 
• Families grilling and picnicking in the park
• Children's playgrounds
• Couples walking hand in hand
• Kiddos having their hair mussed and faces kissed
• Ice cream cones
• Bridges and water
• Suburbs 

About That Intoxicating Chocolate Ice Cream in Istanbul

Twice I experienced a decadent chocolate-chocolate ice cream bar in Istanbul.

It surpassed any other ice cream I tried there. Fabuloso.

Istanbul, Turkey. Magnum ice cream bar.

Back in Missouri, I was talking to one of my brothers the other day, and the subject of ice cream came up. I described the Istanbul ice cream bar to him, naming the brand. He exclaimed, "They had the same brand in Malta! We couldn't believe how delicious it was!" (That was about 15 years ago when he'd been in Malta.)

So you know where else you can get this chocolate-chocolate fabulous ice cream bar?

Walmart. Right here in Misssouri.

Three bucks for a box of three.

What am I to learn from this? Other than to reinforce my earlier thesis: Istanbul - Kind of like Cincinnati.

Istanbul: Kind of Like Cincinnati

Photo credit: bophoto.com

Yes, the language is different. Many of the women wear different clothing. The places of worship look different. It's hard to find barbecued pork. Instanbul's got really cool street trams. There are about 12 million more people in residence. And its history is longer.

But other than those things, Istanbul's kind of like Cincinnati.

• 70% of cars (other than taxis) have only the driver inside; 20% may have two people; 10% have more than two
• Shopping malls
• McDonald's, Burger King, Sbarro 
• Families grilling and picnicking in the park
• Children's playgrounds
• Couples walking hand in hand
• Kiddos having their hair mussed and faces kissed
• Ice cream cones
• Bridges and water
• Suburbs