Exploring Istanbul – 10 Reasons to Visit the Historical City

Visitors going to Istanbul find ample reasons to venture out into the town and partake of the pleasures that wait. After a bracing cup of Turkish coffee, you can set out to tour charming museums filled with ancient artifacts, followed by a luxuriating afternoon at the Turkish Baths leading up to a leisurely evening taking in the view from rooftop bars and bistros all over Istanbul. If you are traveling on a budget and want to save your Lira’s on the activities below why not browse through some chic and cheap hotels in Istanbul

1.     Visit a traditional Turkish Bath

Kind of the opposite of a trip to the gym is a sojourn to a Turkish bath, known as Hamams. These often palatial monuments to good clean fun get you not only soaked and scrubbed till you squeak; you can indulge in massages and scrubs that leave your feeling like a butterfly released from its cocoon!

2.     Have Coffee with a Friend

Reputed to be the strongest brew in the world, Turkish coffee has developed a local mystique and in Istanbul they believe that if you join someone for a cup of Turkish coffee cooked up in the traditional copper “cezve” and served in a “fincan” cup, you will remain friends for forty years.

3.     Fill up on Bargain shopping

Some of the best souvenir shopping isn’t all on Istiklal Street, the backstreets in the Avrupa Pasaji district sport narrow alleyways crowded with tall shops that deal in everything from antiques to designer shoes.

4.     Chill out on Rooftop Bars

In Istanbul, Purgatory is located on Istiklal Street on the top two floors of an apartment block accessed by a tiny elevator. Once there, walk right in because there is no cover charge for the music and drinks are dirt cheap. A favorite hangout for college kids, expats and regional characters, Purgatory is the place to see and be seen in Istanbul.

5.     Food, Oh the Food!

Your taste buds will not know what hit them at the Spice Bazaar, a traditional marketplace that specializes in varieties of Turkish delights, those chewy, jelly-filled concoctions that are laced with nuts and flavored with subtle whispers of rose water, mint and lemon.

6.     Visit Sacred Sites

Aya Sofya (The Church of the Divine Wisdom) inspires visitors to connect with their inner deity in a chapel built with 30 million gold mosaic tiles.

7.     Capture beauty

A favorite shutterbug destination is the Blue Mosque, built in 1609 near Hagia Sophia on the site of the Byzantine Imperial Palace. The six minarets topped with blue spires make for beautiful exterior photographs and the stained glass windows and rotundas bathe the interior in a soft blue glow.

8.     People Watch

Hang out around the Galata Bridge or the New Mosque to watch the fascinating parade of humanity making their way through there day

9.     Explore Grandeur

See how the Sultans live at royal abodes like the Topkapi Palace where the harem room stands in testament to the lusty ways of Imperial families.

10.  Discover Turkish Culture

The rich history of Istanbul is displayed in over 72 museums, some in grand edifices like the Kariye Museum while others are tucked away in houses like the Asiyan Museum displaying relics of one of Turkey’s most renowned poets.

Guest post provided by Lela Lake,  a travel writer for Hostelbookers. Hostelbookers providing Chic and Cheap hotels in Istanbul, Turkey

You would think that the more I travel the shorter my bucket list gets; however, that is not the case. My thirst for travel and new adventures just continues to grow the more I see. Included in my must visit list are Peru, Australia, New Zealand, the Grand Canyon, and Hawaii. Recently,  my retired father recently returned from a trip to Kauai, further filling my desire to wander West to the Hawaiian islands. Like myself, I bet the below guest post written by my father will inspire you to wander to Kauai.

Because of time constraints I only had a few days to visit Kauai. In retrospect, visiting Kauai for only a few days is a sin (the most appropriate word). As retribution, I promise myself that I will return.

I picked up a car in Lihue  and drove a very short distance to what the guide books call one of the best beaches in Kauai, Kalapaki Beach. It was beautiful. It is shaped like a horseshoe and protected by a jetty. Just a few steps from the beach across a manicured  lawn and in front of the Marriott Resort was a nice restaurant where I enjoyed a beer and a snack. Toward the back off the restaurant ,there is a waterfall with surrounding pools of water. Passing by the falls, leads you into the Marriott Resort. As I was on a budget, I couldn’t stay there, but I could at least walk through. (Who knows the next time I am here I might be rich!) The grounds were beautifully decorated and in the lobby was an antique outrigger canoe. It must have been at least sixty feet long and carved out of beautiful hard wood. It was from the mid-eighteen hundreds and had belonged to the royalty of Kauai.

Next, I drove toward Waimea Canyon (pictured above and left). I passed by a beach that was not in the guide book: MacArthur Park. There was a life guard there on this almost deserted beach. to the left the beach was half a mile long and to the right I walked mort than a mile with no end in sight. MacArthur Park is a secret that I will only share with my best friends (or readers of Ms Traveling Pants’ blog).

I drove highway 552 that parallels Waimea Canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. It is smaller, 3,567 feet deep and a mile wide, but no less spectacular. The steep walls, unlike the Grand Canyon, are covered with vegetation. I stopped at one of the several look out points. As I as walked toward the best view, I saw a man dressed in what looked a grass skirt, head gear, and carrying a spear. I thought perhaps I was not in the right place. Actually, the young man worked for the park service and provided information about the Canyon and the first settlers who arrived in Kauai about 700 AD. The head gear he was wearing was something like the original inhabitants would have worn to protect their heads from the long voyage in open canoes. He said that according to oral history the first settlers knew that Hawaii was there before leaving Tahiti. Still a spectacular feat to travel 2,000 miles in an open outrigger canoe and bring everything with them that that the would need to survive.

As icing on top of my Kauai cake, I headed back to Lihue for nothing less than a the helicopter ride. All the guide books say that if you do nothing else in Kauai you must take a helicopter ride over and in Waimea Canyon, Na Pali coast, and Mt. Walaleale. The guide books were right. You must do the helicopter ride! (picture from beside the pilot in the helicopter over the Na Pali coast below)

I look forward to seeing Kauai from a helicopter, hiking trail, beach, and more. Where I’m sure I will gather more good times and good stories!

Without further adieu…..

Madrid is the capital city of Spain, located in the very center of the country. Home to Real Madrid F.C., one of the world’s best known football teams, this city is known for its culture, its gastronomy and its nightlife.

Some of the city’s most visited places include the spectacular royal palace located next to the Sabatini Gardens, the ever crowded Plaza Mayor (pictured right) and the emblematic Plaza de Sol. A short train trip away lies El Escorial, a historical residence of the Royalty near the mountains that now houses the basilica and the Pantheon of Kings. South of the city lies Toledo, the ancient capital of Spain where Christians, Jews and Muslims used to live.

Madrid’s Golden Triangle is the triangle formed by three of the city’s best known museums, the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen Bornemisza. The museums offer discounts for groups and there are hours when admission is free. A short distance away stands the imposing Palacio de Comunicaciones, one of the finest examples of the city’s architecture. Currently this palace located in the Plaza de Cibeles is the City Hall.

Visitors can take the double decker tourist bus that explores the city’s historical centre, where the main hotels in Madrid are located, and the financial district next to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. For a greener option, visitors can opt for a bike ride near Madrid Rio, the recently rebuilt river front.

For a taste of the authentic Madrid, visitors can stroll around the traditional markets. The Mercado de San Antón, located in Chueca, and the Mercado de Antón Martín have been transformed from old fashioned markets into trendy ecologically conscious stalls where locals can enjoy a caña.

The city’s famed nightlife is by no means limited to one area. Moncloa is traditionally known for its wide choice of student bars, and Chueca is a barrio known for its gay friendly bars. La Latina is the place to visit if one wants to enjoy a caña while people watching. Huertas, located in the historic centre, is a place where one can meet students, locals hanging out with friends, middle aged couples enjoying a night out and visitors who want to find out what the city has to offer.

Those who want to enjoy the city’s hip culture and visit the places where the Movida Madrileña took place can spend a night out in Malasaña. This centric area is filled with emblematic 80′s bars, alternative clubs and chic lounges standing next to small designer boutiques and vintage stores.

Those who want to soak up the city’s glamour can spend a day shopping in the Serrano area. Serrano street and the adjoining streets are known for their many designer label boutiques and exclusive cafeterías and restaurants where visitors can enjoy some of Spain’s finest cuisine accompanied by a local wine.

One of the city’s most visited places is the Parque del Buen Retiro, which stretches across the city from the Puerta de Alcala to the Prado Museum. Its tree lined avenues are decorated with statues, and visitors will be able to enjoy a ride in the row boats in the pond. The Crystal Palace, one of the park’s best known features, is now an art gallery.

Coming aboard the stern with three large conch shells, our ultimate “concher” challenged the other crew members to figure out the rest (seen at the finale of this post). With hundreds of conch shells lining the harbors and rocky cays, we had all noticed a small slit in the empty conch shells. It led us to believe that that slit technique was the chosen way to shell a conch. Despite having a small set of tools, including a screwdriver, hammer, mallet, and more, we were not successful in making a seamless slit like those seen on the shoreline. Instead with quite a Herculean effort, our handyman armed with a hammer and screwdriver went into a gladiator match with the conch (pictured right).

After much mess, flying shell, near misses with the screwdriver, and nervous observers, the hole was made. Unlike the small slits, our hole was far less attractive. No one was to save the shell as a memento. Despite the size of the hole, the conch was not yet letting go.  So, the handyman needed to get the pliers. With a little pull, the large conch muscle now on a cutting board slipped and slid, but back to the galley it went with the “concher” and her sous chef.

After a light saute in garlic and olive oil, the conch served in small chunks was served on the aft-deck table. Not all pounced on the opportunity with gusto as if it were pizza freshly out of the oven. Instead, all were a little hesitant taking a small piece to start. While in chunks, the verdict was that the conch was really chewy. I would compare it to overcooked octopus. So the sous chef and handyman decided to thinly slice the conch almost paper thin. That was indeed the ticket. Thinly sliced, the conch was a little sweet almost like a scallop with a good light taste of garlic, oil, salt, and peppers.

Unlike my previous post on must sees and my repeat list, I would say that this experience can be crossed off my to do list. I have now experienced conch first hand in the Abacos. I’ll leave the conch experts to preparing my next order of conch fritters or conch chowder.

Have you experienced conch? Have you shelled a conch and cooked it?

Please share your stories and tips here, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Here’s to more good times and good stories.

Hope Town Lighthouse on Elbow Cay

Hope Town is a great first stop after a day of sailing from your departure from Marsh Harbor. Only a matter of miles separate you and your crew from Hope Town, its harbor, and the beloved candy-striped lighthouse. A landmark for all of the Abacos, the lighthouse is painted red and white.

Although now, it draws many visitors to Hope Town, it was not a favorable addition upon first construction.  With the majority of the town making a living off of salvaging shipwrecks, the lighthouse was not a wise choice short-term. All I can say is that the person looking at the larger picture back then was probably not very popular, but most that are ahead of their time are not – just refer to Christopher Columbus, Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, and others.

If you still are not tempted to jump ship and climb the lighthouse, look right at the view that you too may see through various windows along your journey up the windy staircase, past the kerosene light, and through a small door to the panoramic look out deck.

Nipper’s

Located on Great Guana Cay, another easy day sail from Hope Town, this is a great harbor with ample moorings with opportunities for provisioning and entertainment. Located only a dinghy ride from the boat to the docks and a short walk or golf cart ride, Nipper’s is an eclectic bar overlooking the Atlantic side of Great Guana Cay. Decorated in bright Caribbean colors with multiple decks and two pools, Nipper’s bar is known for its drinks, live music, and pirate theme; thus, our crew decided to play the part with pirate hats, swords, eye patches, and well rum (AAAArrrrrrggggggghhhhh).

So as I said earlier, whether you are visiting the Sailing Capital of the World for a weekend, week, or a season, both the Hope Town Lighthouse and Nipper’s are two must sees. In fact, they made my To Repeat List. On my next cruise through the Abacos (hopefully Spring 2013), I will make a stop at each. If you have visited either, I would love to hear your comments here or on Facebook or Twitter.

Here’s to more good times and good stories.

The adventure was hard to beat. It certainly will take a stellar, serendipitous tropical spot that would serve as an comparable to the recent experience. If and when, I find that place, I will let you know. However in the meantime, I wanted to run through the highlights of cruising the Abacos to whet your palate and wet your fins.

1) Turquoise waters

In typical Ms Traveling Pants style, I wanted to show you as I saw it. Pictured in this post are my flippers on Fowl Cay’s beach looking at our catamaran. No place was any less worthy of reflections. If fact, many of our crew asked ourselves if there were a place that we would rather be. The waters with their brilliant blues and greens of various hues were no less than captivating and hypnotic.

2) Private islands for snorkeling, shelling, and chillaxing

Every day from anchorage or harbor, we explored with GPS, charts, and line of sight navigation to find the best place for snorkeling and lunch. With a motley crew of SCUBA divers, shell aficionados, and just plan explorers, it was a wonderful way to escape or better said “to jump ship” and see starfish, fan coral, barracudas, conchs, sea cucumbers, and many others that we could not identify. Our time for witnessing beautiful maritime life was not only while snorkeling, but also on deck.  All days we saw either sea turtles, flying fish, or other. In fact, one morning we awoke to a pod of dolphins fishing around our anchorage.

3) Sunsets

As each day of exploration was complete with a safe anchorage or mooring in harbor, we would relax around the aft deck table or trampolines on the bow to witness some of the most breathtaking sunsets. While dinner cooked in the galley, the crew threw on light jackets to see the sun and moon change the guard to watch over the Abacos. The colors were nothing less than a buffet of oranges, reds, ambers, and yellows with the colors amplified by the reflections off of the crystal waters, rocky shoreline, and the other sailboats. For those that would watch right at the horizon as the sun disappeared, could witness the Green Flash.

As this is meant to serve as an appetizer for a more detailed post of the must visit sights, restaurants, and experiences, I’ll be serving up the main dish later this week. Until then….

Here’s to more good times and good stories.

***If you have been to the Abacos or have sailed in another similar location, I would love to get your feedback and comments. Connect with me at Facebook and Twitter.

Up until now, I have tried hang gliding, SCUBA diving, hiking, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, driving a Lamborghini Murcielago, flying helicopters/planes, but I have yet to say that a catamaran is where I hang my hat, even if only for five days. My ride for the next week is a Lagoon 380 catamaran built for exploring the beautiful shallow waters and reefs of the best cays in the Abacos: Elbow Cay, Great Guana, Green Turtle, and various unknown beaches, dive spots, and ocean view picnic spots, of which I plan to uncover.

Until my next update, I wanted to share what is playing in my head as I finish packing, provisioning, and hop on the puddle jumper to Marsh Harbour….none other than Enya:

Stay tuned for more good times and good stories via the Bahamas.

Auckland: Most travel guides rave about New Zealand’s knock-out landscapes, but the country also boasts a number of lively cities. Auckland has consistently been voted one of the world’s most liveable metropolises, and it’s known as the ‘City of Sails’ thanks to the abundance of boats and the popularity of sailing. Other cities certainly worth a visit include Wellington, with its thriving cultural scene and impressive capital buildings, and the seaside town of Napier with its quirky Art Deco architecture.

Rotorua: This geothermal hotspot epitomises all that is unique and sensational about New Zealand. Surrounded by volcanoes and literally bubbling with geysers and mud pools it’s pervaded by a constant smell of eggs – but don’t let that put you off. The numerous Maori-owned attractions, spa experiences and stunning natural surroundings more than make up for the stench. (View over the Blue-Green Lakes, Rotorua shown left)

Abel Tasman: Accessible only by sea, the deserted white beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park make up some of the most iconic scenery in the country. Think thick verdant jungle, a ‘desert island’ feel and beautiful views over the water to a range of small islands. Join a tour or hire a boat to see this remote area of the country in style.

Southern Alps: If you want true Lord of the Rings scenery then head to the Southern Alps. This was where the blockbuster trilogy was largely filmed and attracts tourists in their droves – but there’s plenty of room for everyone. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try skiing in the winter or mountain biking or hiking through the range in the summer.

Looking for a rare ocean paradise?

Your search is over.

Let’s explore Ningaloo Reef, Australia together.

An absolutely stunning World Heritage Site, Ningaloo Reef is known to be one of our planet’s very last ocean paradises. It is one of the world’s largest “fringing reefs”, and unlike most other reefs, is accessible straight off the beach.

For those who have experienced diving and swimming with hundreds of tropical fish on the reef, and have seen the colorful coral with their own eyes, it just doesn’t get better.

Diving at Ningaloo Reef

The reef forms a protective barrier that has created a fairly shallow, sandy lagoon between the reef and the beach. It is ideal for snorkeling and for swimming, particularly around the North West Cape, and you can literally walk out with the brilliantly colored tropical fishes swimming between your legs.

But the reef is also an immensely popular diving spot. The water is warm – even deep down – and visibility always excellent. And you’ve got a choice off where to dive, largely based on your level of diving experience – with or without scuba diving professionals.

Four of the most popular entry-level dive sites are:

• Blizzard Range
• Fish Pit
• Gullivers
• The Labyrinth

Whereas, advanced divers prefer: Helby Bank, Helgas Tunnel, and the Sponge Garden Drift

There are other ways to explore and view the reef too. For instance, there are a number of boat charter companies that offer Ningaloo Reef sailing tours in and around the incredible coral gardens with their teeming fish life. Double sea kayaks are also available to hire for those who prefer a less tourist-orientated approach. Since the water in the beautifully sheltered lagoons is hardly ever any deeper than 3 m (or about 10 ft), it’s a safe and relatively effortless way to explore this ocean paradise.

The Location of Ningaloo Reef

When looking at a map of Australia, follow the line of the west coast from the capital city of Western Australia, Perth, past Shark Bay, to the North West Cape, which is where you will find the fishing town of Exmouth.

The Ningaloo Marine Park – which is where Ningaloo Reef is located – stretches from Bundegi Reef (which is near to Exmouth), 260 km or about 160 miles south to a little place called Coral Bay. In all, the “park” stretches about 20 km or a little more than 12 miles out to sea, and comprises more than 5,000 square kilometers of ocean, boasting an incredible 500 or more species of tropical fish, and at least 220 species of coral. (Holy mackerel!!!)

Summer is generally the best time to visit Ningaloo Reef, especially if you do so in late January to February when rare turtle species are known to hatch into the waters that flow over the reef. But if you want a bit of an adrenalin rush, dive the reef between April and June, which is when the huge, but docile, whale sharks also visit the area.

Are you ready to dive Down Under? Or perhaps surfing by sunset?

***Here’s to more good times and good stories OR a combination of both…

Guest post provided by Travel Insurance Cover.  Provides non-resident travel insurance for international visitors to Australian destinations, including Ningaloo Reef, as well as domestic and international travel insurance for Australians.

There has never been said a more true statement at least to those that have traveled, will travel, or wish to travel AND especially in Paris.

As I’m still a photography novice, but with an appreciative eye and determination, I wanted to share the below, recommendations for the camera toting traveler by Hostelbookers.

Here’s to enjoying the view, sharing with your friends and family in the now, and cherishing them forever.

Photo opportunities in Paris

From candid snapshots of your gang at a stylish sidewalk cafe to a high-resolution picture-postcard photograph of the Eiffel Tower, Paris has infinite possibilities for both amateurs and professionals to capture stunning images. Shutterbugs delight in finding charming neighborhoods ideal for launching photo safaris. Stalking the perfect picture adds a touch of savoir-faire to your excursions as you learn the art of waiting for the light as well as developing the reflex to reach for your camera when you encounter those once-in-a-lifetime moments that are so special you’ll be glad you preserved them for posterity.

Best for Digital Photos for your Facebook Page

If you want to make your Facebook friends drool, upload some digital shots of yourself eating bonbons from the legendary chocolatier shops like l’Etoile d’Or or the decadent macrons at Pierre Hermé’s Bakery.

Best for Vintage style Portraits

La Promenade Plantee is a defunct overhead railway that has been transformed by talented horticulturists into a living tunnel full of enchanting shades of green interspersed with secluded benches draped by wisteria vines – making it a divine backdrop for portraits. Along the Champs-Elysées, the bizarre statue garden outside of Le Petit Palais is ideal for more dramatic poses and can even lend a comic edge to your self-portraits.

Best for Polaroid photo albums

Still considered the best medium for memory books , those old-fashioned Polaroids are ideal for shooting your gang riding on carousels, posed before the fountains of the Luxembourg Garden or admiring the Arc d’ Triumph.

Best for Professional Challenges

Indoor photos of the exhibits in the Aquarium de Paris can make a professional photographer’s skills obvious to even the most casual observer. The glass pyramid at the Louvre can be used to frame up abstract photos that boggle the mind with bizarre perspectives and reflections.

Best for Eiffel Tower shot

Though visible from many places in Paris, the best place to get that bird’s eye shot of the Eiffel Tower with the city spread out at its feet is from the dome of the Sacre Coeur Bastille church.  For a nighttime ground-level perspective, take a cruise along the Seine in the evening and with your tripod and watch for the perfect moment to capture the lights of the tower against a moonlight night sky.

Best for Idyllic River Seine

Standing on the Pointes des Arts Bridge you can capture view of the Seine that lovers through the ages have savored on romantic evenings. Also, Paris’ newest fad of declaring your undying love by placing a padlock, or Love Lock, on the bridge presents the opportunity for some very cool photos. While standing on the bridge, you’re in a great position to get shots of some famous landmarks, especially Notre Dame. Head out to the Île de la Cité, the river island loaded with old world charm, for some gorgeous reflection shots of the towers and formal gardens in the silky waters and candid shots of the fascinating houseboats that cruise the river.

Best for Weird Architecture

The architecture of Notre Dame is in and of itself quite a feast for a camera, but high atop the soaring buttresses sit the silent gargoyles patiently waiting to be stalked by the intrepid photographer who makes it up to the rooftops. To add dimension and mystery to your gargoyle pictures, consider using the Instagram technique to give your photos that vintage look.

Sunset at the Père Lachaise Cemetery is full of chilling effects as the shadows stretch out from the rows of tombstones dotted with intricately carved mausoleums. The scene changes minute-by- minute as the burnished marble catches the final rays of the setting sun and creates the potential for some spectacularly eerie photos.

Guest post provided by Lela,  a travel writer for Hostelbookers. Hostelbookers provides Chic and Cheap hotels in Paris