Photos: William Neuheisel from DC, US, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Jebulon, after an original picture taken by EvgenyGenkin, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: William Neuheisel from DC, US, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Jebulon, after an original picture taken by EvgenyGenkin, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ulus, Ankara's old market district, on camera
Your local guide
Sibel Korkmaz
View profile
Highlights
- Spice shops kept in the same families
- Sumac, pul biber and dried herbs
- Pastırma stacked at the counter
- A dry climate suited to curing meat
- An everyday trade kept going for generations
About this tour
This session walks through Ulus, Ankara's old commercial quarter, from a row of spice shops to a traditional grocer selling cured meats. You see sumac and dried herbs piled at the spice shops, then pastırma stacked at the grocer's counter further along. Together the stops trace the everyday food trade this part of the city has kept going for generations.
I begin with a sound check at the spice shops, then we move shop by shop while you ask questions about the products. I stop a little longer at the grocer's to explain the curing process. At the end I send a short list of the products we discussed.
This suits anyone curious about Ankara's food beyond its restaurants. It also suits a cook wanting to understand pastırma and other cured meats before buying some.
Included
- Live video session with a local guide
- A close look at the dishes and where locals buy them
- A short list of places and dishes to try later
Not included
- Food and drinks shown on camera
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Ankara before heading out.
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Spice Shop Row 21 min
The camera moves along a row of spice shops selling sumac, pul biber and dried herbs. I explain how these shops have stayed in the same families for generations.
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Traditional Grocer 21 min
You see a grocer's counter stacked with pastırma and other cured meats. I point out how these products are made and why Ankara's dry climate suits curing meat this way.
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Your questions 9 min
Time to ask anything about Ankara: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 4 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Pastırma (air-dried cured beef) and Kızılay, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Istanbul time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Ankara, showing you Spice Shop Row and Traditional Grocer live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to buy or cook anything?
No. This is a conversation: the guide describes the dishes and where to find them, so you can try them yourself whenever suits you.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I show you Ulus's market live with my phone.
Times shown in Istanbul time (GMT+3)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Thu 12 Nov · 10 seats left From 20,00 €
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