I'm back...
So it really has been a while and a lot has happened since the last time I posted! But it makes me excited to be back as I have lots to share and I can't wait to get posting and showing you all what I've been up to.
Most of my time has been dedicated to my job which has been such an experience. I met so many amazing people and learnt so much :)
Then I've been travelling quite a few times! and that's where I'm going to begin...
With a flashback to Istanbul!
I went for a week in July with my boyfriend and his family and we stayed at the Arena Hotel, located around the corner from various iconic sights.
The hotel was a perfect combination of traditional and modern which I loved.
The holiday was mostly spent with each other, exploring the different sites that Istanbul had and tasting some of the local cuisine.
So as always, this post is pretty bombarded with pictures!
The Obelisk of Theodosius
The famous Blue Mosque that had the most intricate ceiling and walls.
For our first night, we dined at a restaurant close to where our hotel was and it gave us the first glimpse of the cuisine served in Istanbul. Something we certainly learned from our eating experience was that Istanbul dishes are very meaty with only tiny side portions of vegetables, so I was definitely craving fresh fruit and salad by the end of the holiday.
Our favourite dessert that we use to have after dinner was assorted baklava! Due to Ramadan, there was a small lane of market stalls near our hotel that came alive at night and had fancy treats of Istanbul for the locals to feast on when the sun set and the baklava definitely went down a treat for us all. There was also the traditional turkish delight which was interesting to taste as well.
One of my personal favourite places that we visited was The Grand Bazaar, which was filled with loads of small stores filled with detailed and delicate turkish finds and also LOADS of fake designer goods. I loved the colourful and mesmerising lanterns that were hung across the bazaar, I was really tempted to buy one however decided not to after realising I'd run the risk of completely smashing it on the journey home.
Our visit to Topkaki Palace was rich of colours, patterns and luxury. We got to walk across a lot of the ground and see so many aspects of the palace, each as elegantly designed as the other, which makes you think how much time was put into it.
For one of the evenings, we went to a really 'must-try' restaurant called 'khorasani' which specialises in kebabs and grills. It was so popular with us that we returned another night, so I definitely recommend this place if anyone is visiting the area!
Towards the end of the trip, we took a boat tour of the Bosphorus. It was fun as the top of our boat was fake grass and open top so we got to soak in a lot of the sun as we viewed all the famous sights.
We also got to take the ferry to visit other areas such as Maiden's Tower, located on a small islet. After arriving by a small boat, we climbed to the top of the tower where we viewed parts of Istanbul.
We had dinner at Aras, where we got to try the slow cooked clay pots and these get smashed open top or bottom at your table, so its like a type of personal show before you get to feast away. One of our favourite dishes of the trip, had to be the classic mixed meze plates as it was perfect for trying different flavours and for dipping our bread into.
After dinner that night we took a visit to Basilica Cistern, the ancient cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. There was something so mystical about the tunnels in the darkness along with the fish swimming under the walkways.
Istanbul was a great place to visit with fabulous sights and great food. I definitely recommend it for those who like to take cultural walks and are massive meat eaters! The restaurants, 'khorasani' and 'amedros', we went to are definitely worth a try if you are in the area as I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Despite going at an interesting time of the year, which allowed us to see how locals celebrate Ramadan and Eid, the sights are still accessible throughout the year and it's a great city to travel to.
Have anyone to be Istanbul before? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
Most of my time has been dedicated to my job which has been such an experience. I met so many amazing people and learnt so much :)
Then I've been travelling quite a few times! and that's where I'm going to begin...
With a flashback to Istanbul!
I went for a week in July with my boyfriend and his family and we stayed at the Arena Hotel, located around the corner from various iconic sights.
The hotel was a perfect combination of traditional and modern which I loved.
The holiday was mostly spent with each other, exploring the different sites that Istanbul had and tasting some of the local cuisine.
So as always, this post is pretty bombarded with pictures!
The Obelisk of Theodosius
The famous Blue Mosque that had the most intricate ceiling and walls.
For our first night, we dined at a restaurant close to where our hotel was and it gave us the first glimpse of the cuisine served in Istanbul. Something we certainly learned from our eating experience was that Istanbul dishes are very meaty with only tiny side portions of vegetables, so I was definitely craving fresh fruit and salad by the end of the holiday.
Our favourite dessert that we use to have after dinner was assorted baklava! Due to Ramadan, there was a small lane of market stalls near our hotel that came alive at night and had fancy treats of Istanbul for the locals to feast on when the sun set and the baklava definitely went down a treat for us all. There was also the traditional turkish delight which was interesting to taste as well.
One of my personal favourite places that we visited was The Grand Bazaar, which was filled with loads of small stores filled with detailed and delicate turkish finds and also LOADS of fake designer goods. I loved the colourful and mesmerising lanterns that were hung across the bazaar, I was really tempted to buy one however decided not to after realising I'd run the risk of completely smashing it on the journey home.
Our visit to Topkaki Palace was rich of colours, patterns and luxury. We got to walk across a lot of the ground and see so many aspects of the palace, each as elegantly designed as the other, which makes you think how much time was put into it.
For one of the evenings, we went to a really 'must-try' restaurant called 'khorasani' which specialises in kebabs and grills. It was so popular with us that we returned another night, so I definitely recommend this place if anyone is visiting the area!
Towards the end of the trip, we took a boat tour of the Bosphorus. It was fun as the top of our boat was fake grass and open top so we got to soak in a lot of the sun as we viewed all the famous sights.
We also got to take the ferry to visit other areas such as Maiden's Tower, located on a small islet. After arriving by a small boat, we climbed to the top of the tower where we viewed parts of Istanbul.
After dinner that night we took a visit to Basilica Cistern, the ancient cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. There was something so mystical about the tunnels in the darkness along with the fish swimming under the walkways.
For our second to last meal, we decided to try out a recommendation made to us, a restaurant called amedros. I always trust a highly rated tripadvisor restaurant and after dining there, I definitely have to say it deserves all of those great reviews. It had a great atmosphere, the staff were polite and importantly...the food looked and tasted delicious!
Istanbul was a great place to visit with fabulous sights and great food. I definitely recommend it for those who like to take cultural walks and are massive meat eaters! The restaurants, 'khorasani' and 'amedros', we went to are definitely worth a try if you are in the area as I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Despite going at an interesting time of the year, which allowed us to see how locals celebrate Ramadan and Eid, the sights are still accessible throughout the year and it's a great city to travel to.
Have anyone to be Istanbul before? Please share your experiences in the comments below!
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