Ellen

66

Istanbul-Turkey

This afternoon after finishing all the affairs in Indonesia, Leo and Ellena are now in Istanbul to the residence mr. Arsyid, Ellena's father.

"Is it far away?"

"in 15 minutes we'll be there..."

"Emm.. This city is beautiful huh.."

"You'll find a mix of European and Asian cultures here"

"really?"

"Yes, this region extends from the Anatolian peninsula from southwestern Asia to the Balkans in southeastern Europe"

"You searched on google?"

"That's general knowledge, darl"

"Oh... It's lunch time, let's eat first! I'm hungry"

"Come on. I recommend kofte.

"Koffe? What'sthat?"

"Its main course from Turkey. Let me make you melt with this transcontinental country specialties"

"You know a lot about Turkey, right?'

"I lived here a few months ago"

"For what?"

"For business, but it hasn't been here in a long time"

"Oh... Have you traveled the world?"

"Lumayan, let's go down and eat first"

Ellena got out of the car, looking around. Is this a cafe or restaurant? This building is almost the same as other typical Turkish buildings. When I entered, a little bit. Vintage retro style is very thick.

"We're really gonna eat here?"

"Sure.. come sit down, I order"

"Emm..."

Leo called the waiter and immediately ordered a meal that Ellena did not know.

"What did you order?"

"Later to tell you..."

Leo smiled at Ellena, soon this beautiful woman will be his. Tomorrow, yes the wedding schedule is tomorrow. Unbeknownst to Ellena, Leo proposes to Ellena through her father.

After 20 minutes, all the food finally arrived. Ellena immediately gaped.

"This much?"

"Yes... why? Let's eat!"

"Are there not too many?"

"No. Come on, I'll tell you his name..."

Leo took a tray of pita bread and a sauce. Leo tore off the bread and dipped it a little. Don't forget to feed it to Ellena.

"Aakkk..."

"Emmmm.. What is this? It's a bit sour and a little spicy"

"This is called hummus and pita bread, this hummus is made of arab nuts (chickpeas), olive oil, lemon juice, pepper, and salt, delicious?"

"Enak..."

"It's an appetizer I like"

Leo took another tray. Take a meal and roll it up.

"It's pizza?"

"No. its lahmacun, let's feel it, it's delicious"

"Emmm. the bread is different from pizza but the filling is..."

"Like topping pizza in general, but added with pickles, tomatoes, peppers, onions, lettuce and eggplant seared in the middle, ayran, or salgam"

"Then what is this?"

Ellena pointed at a small bowl beside the tray.

"Chili powder, if you want spicy stay sprinkled on it"

"Wow..."

"Let's enjoy our main course"

"Which one"

"Which one did you choose? Kebab, dolma and kofte"

"I only know this kebab!"

Ellena raised a tray containing kebabs. Leo smiled. Then Leo lifted up the plate containing several scrolls.

"It's dolma, akkk. let's taste!!"

Ellena opened her mouth, and immediately bit the scroll.

"What was this leaf?"

"Wine leaves, people here used to wrap dolma using eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and grape leaves"

"Can be eaten?"

"You're eating it"

"Will not be poisoned?"

"Is there any news of people here being poisoned by grape leaves? Didn't you?"

"Well, then this is a mini steak?"

"This is what I said the main course was, Kofte. This food is almost the same as steak, but this mutton is ground and mixed with special seasoning, which is, unlike steak which is pure beef..."

"Oh... What is this?"

"Eat that kofte with salad, rice and sauce"

"All this food is heavy..."

"No, we still have dessert.."

"Yups..awhile will be served"

"You know this much?"

"It seems that when we explore the country it is incomplete if we do not peel the food, right? As in Indonesia yesterday, I know soto, pecel, satay, gulai, ronde, dawet, and many more..."

"So your travels in every country must be like this?"

"Yes, except Korea.."

"Why?"

"I had some spare time a while ago, but a gift from God came, so I just opened the gift"

"Corno?"

"You and the child"

Blusss.

"Excuse me, here's the dessert.."

"Thank you.."

There are two foods, ice cream and candy.

"Emmm.... Can the ice cream be eaten?"

"Eat it..."

Ellena quickly scooped up the cold dish, but instead her spoon could not be taken.

"Why can't you take care of me Leo!"

"No! How I've been treating you, my kebab hasn't run out"

Leo continued to chew on the kebab, while Ellena was still busy watching her inedible ice cream.

"Can't you?"

"No, look! my spoon is even concerned!"

Leo finally took the ice cream from its place.

"Ellena, you're almost 29 years old and eating ice cream like this can't?"

Yeah, Leo took the ice cream, and licked it. Ellena doesn't really know. The ice cream has a wafer cone, why not take it like eating regular ice cream.

Ellena hit her forehead slowly, she was toyed with by the ice cream.

"This cream is called dondurma"

" why is it sticky?"

"Because dondurma berry ointment in the form of a mixture of orchid root flour of young age and mastic which is the sap of the plant"

"What plants?"

"I don't know if that, and this bowl is a Lokum or a Turkis Delight, try tasting!"

"Sweet... is like jelly but more clayy? Chewing gum?"

"Not, this sweetmeat is made of starch gel and sugar, after which it is cut and given a sprinkling of refined sugar so as not to stick"

"This is given what? There's seeds and there's acid?"

"These are given pieces of dates, nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, or pistachios, as well as flavorings such as lemon, cinnamon, or mint, rosewater, and so on, or Bergamot orange is actually this sweet also exist in Greece, Romania, North America, Brazil, and the United Kingdom and its commonwealth. But we rarely find him in restaurants"

"Oh... Rose water?"

"Emmm. rosewater is not only for beauty but for food as well, many ancient people who processed flowers into food, like lotuses"

"Oh. I'm like a dust grain in front of you"

"Why?"

"Your knowledge is vast"

"Emmm. I'll be your husband, don't be that poor"

"Well, where are we going after this, my future husband?"

"My future-in-law's house, come on!"

After paying their meal bill, Leo skipped his car to the merchant population.

Ellena frowned, what a life of her papa was so sliced, this place was so simple.

Leo's car stopped in front of a busy bookstore.

"Let's get down..."

"Emmm..."

Leo took Ellena with him after getting out of the car. Leo invited him in and headed for the cashier service.

"Excuse me, did mr. Arsyid is here?"

"Oh there, I'll take a nap, please sit down!"

"Yes..."

Leo invited Ellena to sit down, looking various pairs of eyes staring at them enthusiastically.

"Oh what Greek gods and goddesses came?"

"What do the gods look like?"

"But the woman was very similar to Mr. Arsyid"

"That's right"

Ellena blinked her eyes, why did she know what they were talking about?"

"What's wrong?"

"I understand their language"

Leo just smiled and held Ellena's hand.

"Excuse me, Mr. Arsyid is in the upper room, let me drop off"

Leo and Ellena simply nodded, and quickly followed the worker.

Ellena's heart was racing as the top step of the stairs. The woman kept walking, saying nothing.

It arrived at the brown door of teak wood, and the worker let Leo and Luna in.

His heart almost jumped from the spot with the view in front of him.

*******