Some Past Events
Wool and Wine in Selçuk: Visiting Can Carpet and 7 Bilgeler Şaraphanesi
Early morning on Monday, October 22nd, a group of us from IWAI met at Swissôtel in Alsancak to board the bus for Selçuk, where we would visit a carpet weaving workshop as well as a winery.
Thanks to IWAI member and textile expert Frances Ergen, we visited with Osman Can, founder and owner of Can Carpets. Can started his business in 1968 and is passionate about his work. He is committed to creating rugs of the highest quality in a way that is ethical. All of the carpet weavers are women who are trained by fellow experienced craftswomen. The facility is located in a bright and inviting series of buildings. Each structure is dedicated to a different aspect of carpet-making, from the spinning and drying of the wool to the weaving and storing of the rugs. There is also an inviting garden area in the back of the facility next to a cluster of mandarin trees. Only natural dyes are used in the dyeing of the wool, from plants such as saffron, madder root, walnut shells, and indigo.
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Italian Cooking Class
In late September a lively group of IWAI members met at a cozy café in Urla to learn some tasty Italian foods. Our cooking teacher, Filiz, planned a gourmet meal, which she prepared for us, with a little help from the attendees.
The menu started off with Fresh Tomato and Roasted Pepper Bruschetta with homemade Focaccia. We saw how to blacken the skin of the peppers to get that lovely roasted flavor.
The centerpiece of the meal was Pasta Carbonara made with homemade pasta. Filiz showed us how to make the tagliatelli dough, first mixing it by hand and then using a pasta-making machine to press out the dough to the desired thinness. Anna Elibol proved to be an excellent pasta maker. The sauce for the pasta was made with pancetta brought back by Filiz from the Czech Republic. The lovely saltiness of the pork mixed with egg yolk creaminess made for a delicious dish. Served alongside the pasta was quickly sautéed spinach with lemon.
To round off the meal we learned how to make pannacotta – surprisingly simple, which was served with poached pears.
Of course, the best part of the class was eating a lovely lunch and socializing with our friends.
Written by Ginny Yildirim
Photos courtesy of Charlotte and Ginny
In late September a lively group of IWAI members met at a cozy café in Urla to learn some tasty Italian foods. Our cooking teacher, Filiz, planned a gourmet meal, which she prepared for us, with a little help from the attendees.
The menu started off with Fresh Tomato and Roasted Pepper Bruschetta with homemade Focaccia. We saw how to blacken the skin of the peppers to get that lovely roasted flavor.
The centerpiece of the meal was Pasta Carbonara made with homemade pasta. Filiz showed us how to make the tagliatelli dough, first mixing it by hand and then using a pasta-making machine to press out the dough to the desired thinness. Anna Elibol proved to be an excellent pasta maker. The sauce for the pasta was made with pancetta brought back by Filiz from the Czech Republic. The lovely saltiness of the pork mixed with egg yolk creaminess made for a delicious dish. Served alongside the pasta was quickly sautéed spinach with lemon.
To round off the meal we learned how to make pannacotta – surprisingly simple, which was served with poached pears.
Of course, the best part of the class was eating a lovely lunch and socializing with our friends.
Written by Ginny Yildirim
Photos courtesy of Charlotte and Ginny
Arkas Winery Tour and Dinner
In the northern hemisphere, late August to early October is the grape harvest season, and to celebrate the end of the 2018 crop, Lucien Arkas Vineyard in Torbalı hosted special harvest dinners at their LA Mahzen restaurant.
The weather on Friday 14 September was perfect for the IWAI trip to the bağları and we began our evening amongst the vines armed with baskets, secateurs and the encouragement to pick as many grapes as we liked. We were able to see the different stages of ripeness of the fruit and to taste the difference between the merlot and cabernet grapes. We were also advised to swallow the pips as it was good for the health of our stomachs!
Foraging completed, we made our way into the storage and processing building where we learned more about the winery by happily sampling 5 of their wines.
As the sun began to set, we took our seats on the restaurant’s terrace, where we could gaze out at the distant mountains standing guard over the rows of vines. This beautiful setting complimented the fantastic food on offer. We enjoyed an array of seasonal mezes, cheeses, and salads, followed by an artichoke risotto, and the main course of tender beef and mashed potato, before finishing the meal with a delicious crème brûlée and Turkish coffee.
A special and enjoyable outing - not only because of the excellent food, wine, and ambiance - but because it brought together IWAI ladies and partners, resulting in not just a dinner, but an evening with friends.
Written by Claire Ullyett
Ebru Master Class
The IWAI ladies met on Tuesday, November 21 at Rengahenk Klasik Sanatlar Derneği in Alsancak to learn about the Turkish art of paper marbling, known as Ebru. The teachers here create the design using the traditional way but combine modern looks into their art as well. Something they paint miniature about their city or neighborhood and other times they create more spiritual pieces. The money they make from selling their products goes towards charities and scholarships for students.
After watching the master, we each had the chance to try your hand at the art of Ebru. The dernek provided a delicious lunch for our group as well.
Interestingly enough, Ebru is a winter art. We learned that the paints don't set as well in the summer. If you are interested in this activity, this is a perfect time. The dernek offers many courses throughout the week and group workshops like ours. In summer the office is closed.
Thanks ladies for a great time and company!
Written by Catie Funk
The IWAI ladies met on Tuesday, November 21 at Rengahenk Klasik Sanatlar Derneği in Alsancak to learn about the Turkish art of paper marbling, known as Ebru. The teachers here create the design using the traditional way but combine modern looks into their art as well. Something they paint miniature about their city or neighborhood and other times they create more spiritual pieces. The money they make from selling their products goes towards charities and scholarships for students.
After watching the master, we each had the chance to try your hand at the art of Ebru. The dernek provided a delicious lunch for our group as well.
Interestingly enough, Ebru is a winter art. We learned that the paints don't set as well in the summer. If you are interested in this activity, this is a perfect time. The dernek offers many courses throughout the week and group workshops like ours. In summer the office is closed.
Thanks ladies for a great time and company!
Written by Catie Funk
Shopping trip to TIRE Tuesday Market
Tire’s market has been around for more than 600 years, and up to 30 thousand people visit every. More than 1700 sellers display their goods from nearby villages, including fresh produce, herbs, flowers, cheeses, and oils. The handmade textiles produced by Tire’s village ladies are also beautiful.
90 kilometers away from Izmir (just 60 from Kusadasi), Tire holds a farmers market held in the downtown area every Tuesday. This market carries the distinction of being one of Turkey's largest outdoor market and it's fame brings day tours like our to see what there is to offer. Alongside the local vegetables and fruits, visitors can find clothes, houseware, blankets/sheets, and even electronics. Farmers come from several villages nearby selling their products.
Different than other farmers market, you would also see:
- Handmade goods such as scarves and tablecloths
- Point lace jewelry and scarves
- Beledi Weaving
- Felt Makers and clothing products that use a blend of silk and felt.
- Handmade saddle makers for horses and donkeys.
- Quiltmakers
Written by Catie Funk
Cappadocia Trip
Fabulous! Incredible! Amazing! Wow! These are only some of the words that were repeated over and over throughout our trip. The laughing and the good times already began at the airport. Even the flight was a laugh.We landed in the dark of night, which made the scenery even eerier. It was like a moonscape. We were all very excited and were not disappointed for a minute. The hotel was restructured from caves. Yes, we slept in caves with all the conveniences. Hard to believe. The brave ones, Ginny, Wedad and I, woke at 5:30 to enjoy Cappadocia from the hot air balloon. Amazing and thrilling. We even got medals!
Later we had a nice walk looking at caves from afar. Only one hitch, Ginny slipped and broke her ankle. She was quickly evacuated and is now resting at home. We continued to see sights that I cannot begin to describe. We visited the Goreme Outdoor Museum, which is made up of ruins of monasteries, churches, and houses carved into the volcanic rock from the 4th Century.We were then on to a trek of the Fairy-Chimney. This was a mind-blowing experience.
All this doesn’t even cover all the events of the first day. We kept going climbing and trekking, loving every minute of this unique experience.
Day 2 included a fabulous walk through Gulludere valley with an incredible landscape. The highlight of the day was the visit to Kaymakli underground city. We had to crawl through the caves to see how early Christians hid from the Romans. I must not forget the winery, for wine tasting and buying; the ceramics factory, where the kids had their chance at making pots and the buying of pots; and the carpet factory, where we saw the incredible, exacting work done by the local women and the purchasing. All aspects of the area’s crafts showed how rich the culture is.
In short, we had the most fabulous, glorious time. Beyond all the marvelous sites, which were lifetime adventures, the best part of the trip was the camaraderie. Really, the best group of women ever.
Written By Carole Reiss
Cooking Class in Urla
A dozen IWAI members met in mid-October to learn new recipes from our teacher, Filiz Keyder Ozkan. The Autumn-inspired menu began with the preparation of a richly flavored pumpkin soup. Many were surprised to see the combination of flavors added to the pot, which included mustard, ginger and a full bottle of beer.
The main attraction of the lunch was the preparation of Urla Güveç, a slow-cooked beef stew prepared in a traditional güveç clay pot that is quite famous in this region of Turkey. To accompany the main dish, Filiz prepared Turkish rice and sautéed swiss chard (pazı) with garlic.
As no Turkish meal is complete without bread, we learned how to make sourdough (ekși maya) bread from a starter that Filiz brought with here. Surprisingly simple, the recipe gave many of us hope that we too can bake yummy sour-dough bread at home. A special treat was that Filiz gave all of us enough starter to take home with us. Don’t forget to feed your starter ladies.
For dessert, we learned that making pie crust is a simple process requiring cold butter, flour, a dash of salt, some sugar and ice water. With this crust, Filiz prepared a rustic apple/pear galette, which when served with organic vanilla ice cream, proved the perfect end to a delicious meal.
Filiz is available for future classes and is experienced in both Turkish and international cuisines. Here’s to many more happy afternoons in the kitchen.
Written by Ginny Yildirim
Aphrodisias, Isparta, and rose petals galore!
In early June 2017 a group of women from IWAI took a two-day trip to the ancient city of Aphrodisias and then on to Isparta with its incredible rose fields and rose oil production facilities.
The first day we visited Aphrodisias, an ancient Greek city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. There we visited the amazing sculpture museum and toured the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite, the impressive city gates, the marketplace and the incredible stadium which held 30,000 spectators and was the site of Olympic style games. The ancient site is well preserved and set among green fields and trees. As Aphrodisias is not too far from Izmir and also close to Pamukkale, it is highly recommended to all.
After touring Aphrodisias, we continued on to Isparta and our hotel where we enjoyed a lovely iftar meal and headed to bed. An early start the next day began with a stop at a rose field where we took lots of photos, picked our own rose buds and even met the local mayor who was being filmed by a television crew promoting the Rose Festival of Isparta.
We stopped and shopped at a women’s cooperative in the area where local women are able to sell their handmade products. Many of us found lovely items there.
We continued on to visit two different rose oil factories where we did some serious shopping for rose-scented creams and other cosmetic products. We learned how the rose oil is extracted and had a wonderful tour of the entire process. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Eglantine factory and even were lucky enough to have a private aromatherapy demonstration.
Written by Ginny Yildirim
Doğanbey and the Costume Museum
Fun in the Historic Aegean Sun!
What do you get when you mix a group of women from all over the world with perfect Aegean springtime weather, a dash of history and a lovely lunch by the sea? Pure fun!
On Thursday, April 27, friends and soon-to-be friends from the International Women’s Association Izmir took a trip outside of Izmir. 24 women rode the bus from Izmir (6 others joined by car) to Eski Doğanbey, a lovely village located on the south side of the Dilek Peninsula National Park, near Kuşadaşı. When the ladies arrived, they took in the beautiful surroundings of the tranquil, stone-homed hamlet, overlooking the delta of the Büyük Menderes (Great Meander) River.
Located at the foot of the Samsun Mountain, Eski Doğanbey was originally known as Domatia (meaning “rooms” in Greek), a Greek settlement in the late 19th century. In 1924, during the population exchange, the Greek inhabitants moved to Thessaloniki, and the new arrivals came to Domatia from Albania, Bosnia, and Greece. It was an uphill battle as the new residents struggled with barren land, wind, mountains, fires, and floods. Eventually, the renamed “Doğanbey” became largely deserted. A new settlement was located less than a kilometer away around 1985 called Yeni Doğanbey (New Doğanbey) as a more modern hub, with the original then being known as “Eski Doğanbey” (Old Doğanbey).
However, in the 1990s Eski Doğanbey caught the eyes of artists, explorers and those interested in restoring and celebrating Turkish and Greek architecture and culture. Today the village is a natural beauty and is growing with a few boutique hotels, cafes, coffee shops and museums.
While enjoying the atmosphere of the village itself, the women were treated to a tour of an Ottoman Costume Museum, said to be one of the most important ethnographic collections in Turkey.
The museum isn’t easy to find, but it’s worth it once you get there. It was opened in 2015 within one of the restored buildings in the village. Displaying Ottoman costumes, clothes, goods, headwear and period pieces collected from various parts of Turkey from the 19th and 20th centuries, it is said to be the second largest of its kind in Turkey.
The proprietor of the museum is Emel Aksoy, granddaughter of Şakir Pasha, one of the two Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II. With her timeless beauty, she looked like she could have been modeling the traditional Ottoman costumes herself – and it turns out that she has! She has hosted fashion shows all over the world to share the lovely artform of Ottoman women’s wear. The International Women’s Association visitors enjoyed hearing stories about the Ottoman styles as well as spending time getting to know one another even better.
On the meandering, narrow stone streets of the village, the women enjoyed playing with neighborhood kittens and puppies, inhaling the fresh spring scents of the flora and discussing how they might afford some of the vacation homes that are for sale in the village!
Appetites were strong after spending the morning exploring and walking about, so the next stop was lunch by the seaside! Sea bass, fresh mezes, dessert, and drinks were served at Karina Restaurant overlooking the Aegean Sea. It was the perfect spot to rest, rejuvenate and continue conversations about the wonderful, magical hidden gem in the hills we had just visited.
After lunch, we proceeded to the ancient site of Priene. This Greek city of Ionia was founded in the 8th century BC, but as with many historical places in the region, the location of the original city still remains unknown. In the 5th and 6th centuries AD Priene became a Christian city. In the 13th century AD Priene was the seat of the Byzantine local prince, Sabas Asidenos, until later that same century it passed into Muslim control. We enjoyed touring the sites and taking photos of ourselves in the “royal seats” in the very well-maintained ancient theatre.
The bus ride back to Izmir was lively as the friends excitedly recounted their experiences, comparing notes and photos. The day was hot and long, but rewarding in so many ways. The only question the women had left at the end of the day was, “When is our next excursion?!”
Written by Ann Gogerty
Day Trip to Bergama
On March 15th a group of 12 women spent the day at the archeological sites of Bergama (ancient Pergamum) about 100 km north of Izmir. Our first stop was the Asclepion or healing temple, sacred to the god Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.
This site dates back to the 4th Century BC but became prominent under the Romans in the 2nd Century AD. Here our guide, Nuket Franco, described how people would visit the Asclepion to be healed, both physically and psychologically. Here they would sleep and report their dreams to the priest who would then interpret the dreams and prescribe a cure which may have included the taking of herbs, bathing in or drinking sacred waters and other spa treatments. With its emphasis on dreams and mental health, some claim the Asclepion in Bergama was the world’s first psychiatric hospital.
The complex of the Asclepion includes the remains of a theater, library, marketplace and circular temple, proof of a highly developed cultural life. On one pillar can be seen the image of a serpent, still the symbol of physicians and pharmacies today.
After visiting this amazing complex, we moved on to the Acropolis on the other side of the city of Bergama. Perched high on a hill, we took the modern gondola up to the site. Once there, the Temple of Trajan impressed us with the size of its marble pillars as did the stunning Hellenistic amphitheater perched on the steep slope overlooking the city.
Our day finished with a tasty meal and a chance to purchase the delicious Bergama Tulum Cheese and other local food products.
I would encourage anyone to visit Bergama, an impressive historical site within easy driving distance of Izmir.
Written by Ginny Yildirim