My Trip to Istanbul: A Travel Guide

Just before the year ended I went on holiday to Istanbul for a week. I've been a few times before, although the last time was around 6 years ago so I was looking forward to seeing if it had changed. I've never been in Winter before but as I had checked the weather report, I was prepared....and good job as it was freezing!! I believe it was even colder than London :-O We're talking 3 degrees Celsius at night! Apart from the cold I am grateful it didn't rain once (apart from the day we we're leaving).

So Turkey overall is a beautiful country. If you have been to the coast (Marmaris, Fethiye,etc) for a beach holiday then Istanbul is totally different. First of all its more of a city break and there is certainly no beach nearby. Also if you want to emerge yourself into the true culture of what Turkey has to offer then a trip to Istanbul is a must. I would recommend staying in the Sultanahmet area, as this is where many of the attractions are and you can find a lot of different hotels which will suit all budgets. This time I stayed in an apartment, which is a good option for groups but if you're on a budget then stay at a hotel.

British citizens do not need to apply for a visa beforehand. You simply pay £10 at the airport in Turkey (make sure you have the exact money as they do not offer change) and in turn you will obtain a visa. Of course check details of this before you leave the UK. Other nationalities will need to check for their own visa requirements.

Once you arrive at Istanbul make sure you grab a map/guide. These can be found in hotels/also at tourist hot spots. This is essential to plan the places/areas you wish to visit.

I take this each time I travel to Turkey. It comes  in handy!

Travel

Travel in Istanbul is cheap as there is the metro, local taxi and of course if you are in the Sultanahmet area then you may walk to most destinations. The metro covers most of the area and is relatively cheap. It costs 2 Turkish Lira (less than £1) one way. Tokens can be bought from machines at each station. The machines take notes as well as coins, but always carry change around with you. Ask for a metro map at any station, but if you are lost, someone will probably help you even before you ask. To go to the huge shopping malls take the metro. I cant remember the one I went to but it wasn't far from Taksim. You may also use the metro to travel to the Ataturk airport, just make sure you travel well in advance in case you get lost and purchase a few tokens as you will need these when you change stops.

Taxis are also a relatively cheap way to travel and are not hard to find. Make sure you check that the meter is running before you set off. You can also travel by bus, but I never did and with taxis, metro and walking you really don't need to.

Attractions

There are many places to visit once in Istanbul. If you are passing through for a few days, you will be very busy trying to fit everything in. A week would be enough to sample all that this wonderful city has to offer.

• Topkapi Palace- This was the home of Ottoman Sultans. You need to dedicate a few hours in order to make your way around and appreciate this wonder.

• Princes Islands- This is just one of the islands that you can reach by ferry. It is the last stop on the journey. To travel there you can obtain a token from the machines at the port (like the metro) again it costs just 2 Lira one way. I would recommend purchasing the two tokens (if you plan to return) before leaving the port. The ferry is a great way to travel and allows for a clear view of the European and Asian side. On the Island you can take a horse cart ride around, have something to eat in a restaurant and enjoy the ambiance. In the Summer this would be an excellent day out, but I would recommend to visit any time of the year.

Make sure you check the return times from the Island as you may find yourself stuck there if you miss the last ferry!

Taken from the ferry

Princes Island

•  Visiting the Asian Side- You can take a ferry from the European side  from the area of Eminonu (the same area as the ferry to Princes Islands) there are several ports which take you to different parts, so make sure you go to the correct port. It will all be signposted so you shouldn't catch the wrong ferry! It is well worth while visiting the Asian side as they have some beautiful mosques and also for shopping on a budget. Also it is another excuse to see the beautiful Bosphorous, the birds, and take lots of photos! Again it costs just 2 Lira one way.

•  Basilica Cistern- This lies beneath the city with Roman columns. Not much to see (there really isn't) but if you're into history then may be worth a look. It cost 10 Lira for entrance fee and can be located near the Hagia Sofia. There is also a madusa head carved into one of the columns. They did big this up but when you see it you will think "what is that it??" Yep its nothing special, but I enjoyed practising with my SLR and taking plenty of photos.

Can you believe they had a 'cafe' in the cistern? It looked so out of place

• Hagia Sofi- This is a former monastery and later mosque. It is now a museum, which you could add to your 'to do' list.

• Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultan Ahmet mosque)- An absolute must! Tourists can visit as long as it isn't prayer time. I enjoyed praying Jummah in the mosque on a Friday, with Muslims from all around the world.

Blue Mosque at night

Grand Bazaar- No trip to Istanbul would be complete without visiting the world famous Grand Bazaar, even just to have a look around. If you are a serious shopper dedicate a whole day as it is HUGE. They sell apple tea, cushion covers, desginer handbags, etc. If you have come to Turkey especially to purchase a designer bag or two, don't bother going to Istanbul as they prices are way expensive compared to other places in Turkey. For example in Antalya I was given the price of £50 for a mulberry bag, in the grand bazaar it was £300, and it was the same quality.

If you are after a bargain don't spend much in the Grand Bazaar as it is geared towards tourists. Take a stroll out of any of the exits and you will come across places where the locals like to shop. I believe its an area called Mahmud Pashar, but you can always ask a local who will be more than willing to help.

Would you wear one of these wedding dresses? :-O

Food

The food consists mainly of kebabs, bread, delicious salads and also vegetable dishes. Although it was really nice, as a Pakistani a week of no spice in my food was kind of difficult for me. They did have some chilli flakes in a pot, but this barely tickled my tongue. So if like me you love hot food, make sure you take some chilli sauce with you. (My auntie carries some around in her handbag-yes really!) If you are vegetarian don't worry its not all kebabs-you will be able to find vegetable dishes. The lentil soup is a dish I have every time I'm in Turkey, and it's especially soothing in Winter.

Lentil Soup

Dont think this needs a caption!

Corn on the cob stand

Turkish Tea

 Turkish tea is basically black tea (minus milk) If you want English tea,  ask for Lipton with a separate jug for milk. I became obsessed with apple tea whilst in Turkey. It was so delicious and refreshing and is available in cafes/restaurants. You can also purchase the teabags or apple powder from the grand bazaar or most shops.

I hope you've enjoyed this guide to Istanbul. Of course this doesn't cover all of the city and places to go. If you want to see what Istanbul has to offer take a trip there. You won't regret it :-)

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will try my best to answer x 

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My Holiday to Egypt-Sharm-el Sheikh and Cairo

I've decided to do a post on my trip to Egypt and to also give tourists an insight as to what to expect. Before you go I would recommend reading a travel guide- try this one.

So I visited Sharm-el Sheikh and Cairo. Sharm is a beach resort geared towards tourists and Cairo is the real Egypt. it was nice to experience both-the calm, and the chaotic!

By the way if you are visiting beach resorts such as Sharm-el Sheikh and not Cairo,(and are a British citizen) you do not need a visa. This was something which was not made clear to other tourist whom were all directed to purchase a visa at the airport. Many did not know about the visa issue so purchased one for no reason. And the prices for visa are made up by the person behind the desk. We paid $18 per person when in fact it was $15. So check and make sure you are aware of the visa price BEFORE.

In Sharm we relaxed on the beach, and as it was an all inclusive hotel ate a lot (my favourite part of any holiday lol). The entertainment at the hotel is the kind you find in most hotels abroad. There was belly dancing, snake charming and traditional dancing. The snake act was definitely worth watching. By the way I hate snakes, just the sight of one makes me want to puke, yes I know pretty weird but they creep me out! The snakes in the act actually looked drugged up (they probably were) At one point the guy put the snake in his mouth (yes really!) unfortunately for me I didn't record this moment but it did make me cringe. I did however record other tricks with the snakes.

Sharm is popular for snorkelling and other water sports. We planned to go on a boat with glass floor providing a view of the ocean. Unfortunately the day we planned this the weather was very windy, so didn't fancy the trip.  I made use of the scenery and took photos of the sun setting and the beach.

Beautiful scenery-is that mount sinai in the background??

For my beach outfit of the day, have a look at this post

Cairo...

Cairo and Sharm are two opposites! The trip to Cairo, well I fell asleep for most of it ha! I find this makes the journey shorter ;o) Upon entering Cairo, we were met with BEEP BEEEPP BEEPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The traffic was immense. We headed straight for our hotel which thank God was out of the busy downtown area. When we reached the hotel my face was like :-( as it looked grotty from outside, but one thing I have learnt from Egypt is do not judge a book by its cover. We found the hotel from a website I frequent EVERY TIME before booking a hotel (It hasn't let me down yet) www.tripadvisor.com and from the photos (traveller photos not just the hotel photos) we did see that it was very different inside from the outside. The hotel reviews were also positive. It was really great to return to the quiet hotel after a long day sight seeing.

As a general guide I would not recommend staying central/downtown if you want a good night sleep, also the pollution is pretty bad.

So what did we do in Cairo?? Well on one day we visited the Pyramids in Giza and did some shopping in Khan el Khalili. The Pyramids was an experience-good and bad.

The one thing (apart from the food) I have been looking forward to is visiting the pyramids in Giza. Unfortunately the experience was ruined by the constant bothering from the touts. Eventually we agreed to a camel ride and agreed the price before hand (I have learnt this from past experience in Morocco) as soon as I am on the camel the guy decides to change his mind about the price and even sworn to God he did not agree on the initial price-er hellloooo??! Eventually after a heated argument he agreed to the first price. The camel ride was a great and we were taken around one of the pyramids.

The site of the pyramids and the sphinx I have to say my initial thoughts were wow this is bit of a construction site. There was also camel/horse poo everywhere and of course with the touts bothering you (I learnt to ignore them) the experience was ruined. There were signs on the pyramids stating you may not climb, however everyone did, and the security guy didn't even batter an eyelid.

Once we were done, our driver took us just behind the pyramids and that was the view I was after! You know the view they show you in magazines and on tourists boards of the untouched beauty of the pyramids. We took a few photos but were told to leave by a security guy. I can't believe they don't allow you to see that view, why the broken bit at the front with the touts?!!

The untouched part behind the pyramids

After eating at the Pizza Hut opposite the pyramids (Yes I know Pizza Hut isn't traditional Egyptian food) we headed to Khan El Khalili, a traditional souk. If you are a serious shopper you need to dedicate half a day at least to exploring the souk, or a day if you want to stroll at your own pace.

I didn't purchase much, just a pair of sandals and some hijabs. But if you are visiting Cairo for a few days, I would recommend you fit the trip into your schedule. We stopped off at Al-Azhar Mosque, which was mashallah very beautiful.

We had tradtional Egyptian food, or so I have been told-forgot the name though..

The next day we visited the Egyptian Museum, the building was amazing! Opposite it you could see the government building which was torched-a sad reminder of the revolution by the brave Egyptians.

The entrance fee for tourist adults was 60 Egyptian Pounds. Students was 30 Egyptian Pounds. Entrance to mummy room is extra. I could have got in as an Egyptian as they assumed I was one, but I was honest and got a tourist ticket instead. The museum was HUGE! I've heard it may move to another building because there isn't enough space for the constant artifacts being discovered. The mummy room was very cold to keep the bodies chilled. Looking at the bodies It was extraordinary to think how they have been kept preserved. Although some of the faces were pretty creepy.

In the evening we decided to take a local boat on the Nile. We were hoping for a relaxing ride but instead the boat had music BLASTING. Entertainment was some hijabi dancing (lol) and we enjoyed the views of the Nile for ten minutes.

If I had to sum up Cairo in a few words I would say it's chaotic and unfinished- but a charming city. It has a vintage look to it (rust and dirt?) but it's what makes the city such a vibrant place. I would happily visit Egypt again, perhaps to visit the Valley of Kings in Luxur, or Cairo again. The Egyptian people are genuine and welcoming, making Egypt a must have destination.

Have a look at my video on Youtube to see me talking about my trip to Egypt.

Short guide to Morocco

Morocco is a wonderful place...great sites, great beaches and amazing shopping!!! ;)

I found that it helps if u know French or Arabic as not much English is spoken there..apart from the tourist places such as Marrakesh and Agadir and the bigger cities. The Arabic phrase I think will come in much use (if your a girl) is 'Emshi!' -meaning go away....when you visit Morocco you will know why this word comes in much use!

For more Arabic words and phrases click here

Shopping in Marrakesh

In Morocco the price of all things is bartered for, so don't be afraid to try it! The general rule is to go half and then a bit less than that of the asking price.

I'm sure you all seen the Apprentice episode in which Alan Sugar sent the wannabe apprentices to Marrakesh? If not check it out !

Marrakesh is a place for those who love to spend agesss haggling over the price bartering...the apprentices were sent to the bargaining capital of the world (i reckon anyway :P) to test out their skills...do you think you can match them??

Necklace Heaven!!

CD Shop

With tourists flocking to Marrakesh, and even celebrities, it tends to be much more expensive than other places in Morocco; so if you can, explore different cities, where you can witness the real beauty of Morocco.

Moroccan Fashion

Traditional Moroccan dress is the Kaftan....when i went Morocco I saw some georgous ones, such as the ones below. They come in different styles and sizes and can be adjusted to fit you.

Moroccan Abayas


If you haggle well, you can get a good deal!

Wedding kaftans are so elegant and gorgeous!!


Ourika Valley


Not far from Marrakesh this place offers a cool haven away from the heat of the city. Driving through the Atlas Mountains you can stop off and go for a camel ride. At Ourika Valley why not climb to a beautiful waterfall whilst enjoying a delicious meal of tagine- a traditional Moroccan dish.

Moroccan Tagine

High in the Atlas Mountains

Waterfall


Camel riding in the Atlas Mountains