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Always Already's avatar

Chaos calls to remind

of long distant shores

where peace laps gently on

settled sands, forgotten lore

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Thank you — your rhythmic poetry is wisely soothing 🙏

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Lolly Martyn's avatar

Wonderful piece. Wowza what a recipe!! I’m absolutely drooling. I’m in London for work and coincidentally just had my first Turkish bagel. These are the ones they hang on bicycle handles with the holes, right?

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Thank you! I have to admit I don't remember seeing the Turkish bagels on bike handles but I would LOVE that! Makes me so happy to imagine. I am a lifelong bike commuter (my social handle is bikerbecker!) and so now I love Turkish bagels even more!

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Lee Becker's avatar

I love these stories about your dinners and your dolls. I remember that doll. I always thought it stood out on the shelf by color and style. I also read Cloud Cuckoo Land and it has led me to a lot of other reading on the importance of Istanbul in history. Like a lot of my travels, I realize now how little I knew about what I was seeing when I was in that amazing city. I am not sure what to conclude from that realization. Certainly what I did see and experience helps me understand better what I am now reading. And I am glad I didn’t wait until I was an “expert” before traveling.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Such a brilliant point! Travel — even to the town over — opens questions, feeds human curiosity, and leads to more learning. And expertise is not necessary and sometimes even gets in the way. It has a place of course, but an open heart is infinitely more important for travel, I believe.

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Flavio Massignan's avatar

I'm going to Istanbul on Tuesday!

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Can’t wait to see your photos! Amazing city!

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Ann McCullough's avatar

I always enjoy your dinner preps and stories.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Thank you 🙏

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Ann Hollifield's avatar

Absolutely love this, Jessica. So lyrical and reverent—and I look forward to making the rice.

We never tried the bagels but fell in love with the Sultan’s Delight, which is spiced eggplant and yoghurt.

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Jessica Becker's avatar

Thank you! That’s a really nice compliment. And I think you’ll love the rice stuffing.

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Zadie Becker's avatar

loved it ❤️ keep up the good writing

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