I’m reposting this from April 2013 – the time in Cappadocia and Göreme was magic! It doesn’t seem like seven years ago… ###### I’m heading to Bodrum today with many fond memories of Göreme and Cappadocia. These images will stay with me :o).
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On my last day in Istanbul, I decided to revisit the Princes’ Islands – Adalar in Turkish. The Princes’ are a chain of nine small islands in the Sea of Marmara. I first discovered them during a visit in March 2013 when I explored Büyükada Island. This time it was Heybeliada Island. Festival of Eid-al-Fitr? Somehow,…
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Turkish Folk Dances Thought I booked a whirling dervish performance through my hotel in Beyoğlu. In Istanbul communication isn’t always easy, since few people speak English. The person I usually ask for help wasn’t available, and the concierge who helped didn’t understand me. Instead of the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, he booked a cultural show of Turkish…
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Yesterday I experienced my second Turkish Bath – Hamam. Sometimes travel is stressful and a sauna, soak, scrub, and massage sounded soothing. Hamams in Istanbul are inexpensive, and the one I visited – Vezneciler Turkish Bath in Fatih District – is said to have “curative water” – yeah! Vezneciler Turkish Bath Ottoman Ruler Sultan Beyazid…
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Bosphorus Strait to Macar Bay Yesterday, I took an excursion from Eminönü to Anadolu Kavağı, a small seaside village on Macar Bay at the entrance to the Black Sea. It was a mesmerizing day enjoying astonishing views of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait! Even with sunscreen, I got sunburned. The ferry departed Eminönü dock at…
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Over the weekend, I went on a Bosphorus dinner cruise with traditional Turkish music and dancing – hoping it would be as enjoyable as the Vltava River cruise in Prague. It wasn’t what I imagined but fun! Ortaköy Camii and Bosphorous Bridge I sat at a table with three lively women travelers in their 30s.…
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During a previous visit to Istanbul I slighted Topkapi Palace, but made up for it by spending the better part of a day exploring the massive complex. The palace chambers are as entertaining to see as views of the Golden Horn are difficult to describe! Musical compositions have been written to praise the beauty of Topkapi…
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