It has been an emotional day, as we made it to my hometown Antioch, where my parents are from and where I spent many happy holidays at my grandmother years old house. It is the place where my cooking was inspired, the place we all turn to for many special times to spend together. It is a land of peace and tolerance as for centuries Christians, Muslims and Jews has been living peacefully in this wonderful city. And after 10 years, it feels wonderful to be back the roots.
Antioch is an ancient city, dating back to BC. In 7th century, Antioch was one of five patriarchal centres of the Christian church, the others being Rome, Alexandria, Istanbul and Rome. And here we are in Samandagi,the ancient port city Seleucia Pieria BC , walking along its famous tunnel of Titus a covered channel of 1,m long.
There are rock tombs carved into the limestone cliffs by the side, dating back to Roman period, fascinating. And as wonderful is seeing the lovely eggplant aubergine plantations, pomegranate and olive trees right by the rock tombs and the channel!
What a bountiful region. And a local lady selling the daphne soap, made from the daphne berries with bay leaves , a speciality from the region β we all got our fair share! Set at the backdrops of the collapsing Ottoman Empire, it is a novel about personal and political costs of war, as well as love between man and women, between friends of the collapsing empire.
I look forward to reading it. Hi Dzoli, I hope you come one day and see with your own eyes, a breathtaking beauty. Best wishes, Ozlem. Loved this post about Antioch, I know how special it is to you, and to take a group there must be wonderful! We really would love to go there with you sometime, only in cooler weather! It looks just amazing, you are making more wonderful memories! Can't wait to see what you will post today.
