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The Ancient Ruins of Ephesus
The historical and cultural richness of Turkey is well apparent when you visit Ephesus, the ancient Greek-turned-Roman city situated in western Turkey. Its ruins and colosseum brings you back thousand of years BC and almost makes you feel like you’re on the movie set of Helen of Troy. Well organized and affordable, this is a…
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Our Turkish Hamam Experience
Any woman loves being treated to a spa, so when you visit a country that is historically and culturally renown for their traditional spas, there is no missing out on this must-do activity. Hamams have been around for centuries since the era of the Ottoman Empire and have become a staple representation of the luxuriousness…
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Taksim, the Modern Side of Istanbul
If you want to experience the duality of Istanbul’s ancient Orient and European modernity, Taksim will certainly provide that contrast for you. Taksim is in the European part of Istanbul where you will find a much more modern and familiar Western ambience. The streets of Taksim were filled with busy pedestrians as they strolled by restaurants,…
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The Beautiful Heart of Turkish People
Storytime After landing at the airport in Izmir, we headed to the train station which was conveniently located at the airport (ahem, take note Toronto). Our hotel confirmation indicated that the the closest subway station to the hotel was Basmane station, which was only a “15 minute” train ride from the airport. As we bought our…
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Lunch at Sultanahmet Koftecisi
One of the things that enhances Turkey’s experience is that it’s very affordable. Accommodation, transportation and food is cheap, and that is the reason we stumbled upon this little kofte (kebab) place in Sultanahmet. We were lured by the sign at the window that read “Kofte 8 TL (Turkish Liras)”, which translates to “Kofte for…
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Asia and Europe at The Same Time: Ride on the Bosporus
Turkey is the only country in the world that is part of two continents: Europe and Asia. The best way to experience that phenomenon, and to also to get a nice view of the Istanbul coast, is to take a boat ride on the Bosporus which is the trait that separates the two continents. It was…
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The Harem
Another historical must-see in Istanbul is the Topkapi Palace Musuem, where the Ottoman Sultans used to live. It’s a big palace with a lot to see but our main interest was to visit the Harem which is the private rooms where the Sultans, their wives and concubines used to live. Mesmerized by the design, colours, tiles and…
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IKEA Hack with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
IKEA has always been a part of my life growing up. As a kid, my brother and I used to pretend we lived in the demo rooms, especially the ones with the bunk beds, and we always anticipated ending our IKEA visit with a hotdog and ice cream that cost less than $1. At home…
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Upcycled Furniture Inspired by Summer and Travels
I am so happy to have finally completed refurbishing some of the antique pieces I’ve had sitting in my garage over the winter months. I had a bit of free time this past weekend so away I went with my paintbrush. I hope you enjoy the transformation! Storage Cabinet I painted this stunning piece a calming blue-green and added coral…