A Guest Among Friends – My Vacation in Istanbul and Surroundings

In July, I spent nearly two weeks in Turkey. First exploring the region with Ipek, and then working from there.

I already introduced you to the team from our purchasing office in Turkey in this post from 2020. Since then, my contact with the colleagues in Istanbul has steadily deepened. This year, I took the opportunity to combine the personal with the professional. I extended my one-week vacation with three additional days of working from our local office.

Insider Perspective – Exploring with Locals

In January, I planned to visit our colleague Ipek in Turkey. She lives about an hour outside of Istanbul, and during my stay in early July, I stayed with her and her family. This gave me countless opportunities to experience local traditions up close and to get to know the country from a completely different perspective.

A very special highlight was preparing traditional Turkish baklava together. It’s a pastry soaked in sugar syrup. We made one filled with hazelnuts. While rolling out the dough, we were helped by Ipek’s mother-in-law and her sister. Without their assistance and guidance, we would have been completely lost. Afterwards, we also made Gözleme—flatbreads filled with cheese. Both dishes tasted absolutely delicious!

Discovering the Locals’ Vacation Spots

The next morning, we set off early to catch the ferry. We spent one night on the island of Bozcaada, where we were able to truly unwind. Our hotel had its own small private beach, perfect for swimming, and the island’s charming town center radiated a Greek flair. The island is especially popular among locals as a holiday destination.

Tracing the Footsteps of Antiquity

Afterwards, we made our way toward Izmir. About 70 km south of the city lie the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus, which have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015. To escape the heat of the day, we visited Ephesus in the evening. With the lighting, the ruins looked all the more impressive!

FSR 2025 – Turkey Was Involved Too

My stay happened to coincide with the FRICKE Social Run 2025. Of course, Ipek and I didn’t want to miss the chance to contribute a few kilometers ourselves. We took a long walk in the evening sun around a small lake near her hometown.

Business After Pleasure

Of course, work wasn’t neglected during my time in Turkey. I spent the last three days working from our office in Istanbul. The agenda focused on identifying potential for improvement among our Turkish suppliers. A key priority was enhancing the punctuality of deliveries from Turkey. This involves considering the entire supply chain — from order placement and production to the transport of goods. In addition, we aim to further strengthen our collaboration with the Turkish team. To that end, we discussed suitable workarounds and defined responsibilities to ensure smooth coordination with the team in Germany.

I would like to thank the team at our purchasing office — and especially Ipek — for the warm welcome and the opportunity to spend such a wonderful time in Turkey!