Month: December 2017

Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople

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I had the immense pleasure visiting Istanbul before it got all crazy and America decided it wasn’t safe anymore…and by America, I mean my mother. But it is fabulous. I have visited a handful of times and while I have the flexibility to piece the city together over several trips, I would highly recommend a first timer give this immaculate place at least four days to capture the culture of the city. So let’s dive in, shall we?

I am not going to piece this city together by day. Why? Because I could do any one of these on any given day. I could also spend all day at one of these places and not think twice. So we will look at the highlights and I’ll let you piece together your own holiday.

Hagia Sophia

Let’s talk about the picture at the top of the page for a minute. Hagia Sophia is one of the most important buildings in Istanbul; that isn’t just my opinion, it’s Google’s. Once a church, then later a mosque, the interior is a shrine to the historical significance this city possesses.

 

Blue Mosque 

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Ladies, this is where you need to bring a cover for your head. This is an active mosque and you need to be prepared to respect the Muslim culture if you plan to enter this holy place. I never took photos of the inside because it is considered a holy place to those who worship inside. But it is spectacular; rooms in the back for women to worship while the men have the space in the front of the mosque.

 

Basilica Cistern

Lots of people claim the 20 Turkish Lira is too much for entry to this underground cistern but I found it fascinating. It is a stone’s throw from Hagia Sophia so to me, it’s a shame not to go. There is a lot of history behind it but all in all it’s a super cool, and by cool I mean the temperature is cool, place to step back in time.

Galata Tower

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Galata Tower is an icon of the city skyline. You can walk up to the top of the tower and get a view of the old town and the Bosphorous; which is great timing because that leads us to the inevitable water cruise.

 

 

Scenes from the River

I have used two methods to cross the Bosphorous; water taxi and a night cruise. The water taxi takes you to one location on the Asia side of Istanbul for a price of 5 TL. Follow the water taxi link to find ferry pricing and destinations. If you want to do a more formal cruise, I did a night cruise that took us up and down the Bosphorous for 15 TL. Between us? I did both and the water ferry does the job for a third of the price. I wouldn’t spend money on the authentic cruise.

Food

I love Turkish food. Love it. Crave it when I leave more than anything else. If you like spicy food, make sure to eat all the Adana you possibly can. And sweets? Baklava; but only from this neighborhood: Karakoy. It is the hippest area in Istanbul with the best tiny spots to get a coffee and baklava.

Grand Bazaar

This is where I win; bargaining. Be ready to do some serious shopping inside the Grand Bazaar, and have fun! Plates, bowls, scarves, leather goods, food, jewelry, spices, turkish delights, ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE can be found inside. Don’t buy at your first location. Get a feel for the pricing inside before you start tossing out the cash. You’ll find the same stuff at each store.

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Gent: Home Sweet Home

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The first time I visited Gent was November 2009. I just started my new job in Nashville and took my first trip to Europe and to this place. This was the first picture I took of Gent and it is the view that would end up changing my life forever. I fell in love with Gent; I fell in love with Belgium; I fell in love with Europe. Little did I know that three years later, I would call Gent home.

Why is it awesome?

My sister described Gent as a “snow globe” city the first time she visited and it’s probably the best tagline. Even though it is cold and rainy 75% of the time, the people and the background are enough to warm you up from the inside out.

It is difficult to make a weekend post about home because, well, I live here. I have the ability to do everything I want, anytime I want. If you’re looking for the sites to see, then hit up Google because anyone can tell you that. But here are a few of my favorite things in hopes you will want to explore it on your own.

Summertime…

…is the best time. Gentsefeesten in July and Patersholfeesten in August are just two festivals that keep the locals in Belgium for the summer period.

On a sunny day, you can find many people sitting on the Graslei enjoying music, wine and each other’s company. The restaurants on the canals are full of people as the Gentians crawl out from their interior prisons to soak up the long awaited sun.

But you’ll find me at my favorite cafe, Den Hoek Af. Their terrace is the best location to get every ounce of sun the day has to offer and their seasonal cocktails will make you not care when the sun does inevitably go away. It is always crowded so if you are lucky enough to get a spot outside, don’t leave 🙂

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Kiosko is a seasonal place only open during the hotty hot months of the year. Run by Italians, they serve only the best Italian meats, cheese and wine to quench the thirst of locals and tourists alike. It is a bit off the beaten path with very limited seating making this the ultimate local hangout.

2017-09-03 13.10.09 HDROh! And on Sunday’s in the Kouter, you can take a break from walking the rows of gorgeous flowers to have a glass of cava (or champagne for the ultra fancy) and a plate of delicious fresh oysters.

2017-09-03 15.29.58 HDRBut for the best coffee spot? Full Circle Coffee is a wonderful spot between St. Anna’s square and Gent Zuid. Emmett is pretty popular there and the drip coffee compliments their vegan yummy yums. The owner is a fan of USA so if you’re a fellow Yankee Doodle, then be sure to stop by and say hello!

Booze spots

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One of my first trips to Gent took me to De Waterhuis aan de Bierkant (translates to the water house on the beer bank. Belgium’s attempt at a pun that is a slam dunk. Haha it’s just so clever) for a beer experience I’ve chosen to share with anyone who visits me. However, ask any local and they will tell you it’s the biggest tourist trap in the city. Whatever. I love it. Mainly for the house beer: Klokke Roeland. It’s something like 13% alcohol and you are only allowed three per day. It’s legit.

t’Dreupelkot is the best place for local Gent jenever; it’s like gin, only drinkable. This dashing owner was smitten with my lovely Puck who quickly locked down her position as “heiress to jenever”. They have hundreds of flavors from sweet to sour, fruity to just plain brave to taste.

3. 2016-12-22 14.16.54Trappistenhuis is a lovely little underground pub that serves only trappist style belgian beers: beers made from monks. Because it is so near my house, I find myself here quite a lot 🙂 Go here in the winter time and score a spot next to the indoor fire to warm up. The terrace isn’t all that great so if you’re in the area during summer, better stick to a place near the center rather than wandering out of the center to this place. The beers are heavy but you can stay as long as you like to enjoy the tasting.

4. girlsIf you don’t like beer or beer, then Jiggers is the place for you. This is the coziest place to get an amazing vintage cocktail and located in the gorgeous Patershol district of Gent. But be careful; these drinks are lethal… Our favorite is the Green Beast but I usually stick to a classic bourbon to save my head from pain the next day.

2016-12-24 17.20.16Wintertime…

…is cold. Really, Really Cold. But at the same time is the most magical time. Gent has a Christmas market that rivals the best of the best (yes, I’m talking Germany). We have a ferris wheel, a weird christmas bulb ride, ice skating rink, gluhwine and all the food types! The lights hung on the street would make any scrooge excited for Sinterklaas to visit.

I was blessed to meet some amazing people pretty early on who showed me a Gent that most people would never see. I’ll keep some places just for me, but if you want to know more, just let me know 🙂

Oh and P.S….

…you’ll want to buy local Gent mustard from Tierenteyn Verlent. You’ll thank me later.

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Paris… My White Whale

2013-08-04 16.27.26 Ever since I was introduced to Paris seven years ago, it has dug a special place in my heart. It has been difficult to find the right way to share this amazing city with my readers and I am not sure I will do it justice now. I experience and discover something new each time I visit; having the extraordinary opportunity to see Paris with a wide range of people– first timers, locals, frequent visitors, all with a love and respect for something different. Here is my attempt to show Paris to you, through my words and over the last years of allowing this city to change how I see the rest of the world. My wish for you is that you find a place that touches you the same way that Paris has touched me.

Take a walk with me

One thing I find myself doing every visit is a day walk from the Arc de Triumphe, down to the Louvre, cut over the Seine to the other side of the river to Musee d’Orsay, up to Flow for a wine break and to bow to Napolean’s greatness and finally finishing at the Eiffel Tower. Does that intimidate you because it was exhausting to type… It is probably on the excessive walking side of the spectrum but it is the best way to drink in all the city has to offer. Let’s break down the walk…

  1. Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre (4.7 km)

Starting our walk at the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs Elysees is the perfect start to your day. Lots of high end shops and restaurants line this iconic street to take your money and your time; but don’t fret. You’re in Paris! Sit and people watch or stop in Laduree’ for the best macaroons your mouth will ever taste. You remember Emmett, right? He likes to post up in front to greet his adoring fans while his mom picks up delicious treats for the day. You can also get to the Arc from a pathway underneath the busiest roundabout to see beautiful views of the city. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see Paris from high up…my advice? Save that view for another time. Once you get to the bottom of the Champs Elysees, you’ll reach the infamous Louvre Gardens that bring you to the entrance of the pyramid entrance.

2. Louvre and across the Seine to Musee d’Orsay (1.2 km)

 

The Louvre is another white whale–take it in one bite at a time. It is breathtaking from the outside and even more spectacular on the inside. It is split into three galleries to overwhelm even the greatest art enthusiast. The first time I visited, I bought a small reference guide book to the greatest works inside to give me a small map and works to hunt. If you are interested in visiting the museum, make this a day activity. The ticket is good for the entire day so you can come and go as you please. But we are walking…so let’s continue.

3. Musee d’Orsay to Les Invalides ( 2.1 km)

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Here we are outside Musee d’Orsay— my favorite museum in Paris. A few musts here:

  1. You MUST buy your ticket in advance or you will wait in line forever
  2. You MUST take your time in this one. See everything.
  3. You MUST appreciate the building itself. The museum was installed in the previous Orsay railway station and can be considered the first work of art inside the museum.
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Flow

Remember I wrote experiencing new things each time blah blah? I can’t write about our next stop without thinking of a wonderful trip with a very good friend. On her first trip to Paris, we took this walk on our first day. In my naturally hurried nature, I wanted to walk right by FLOW but she insisted we stay for a glass to rest our feet and soak in the beautiful day. Three hours later, we were two drinks and a bottle of wine in and met some amazing people. I brought my sister and my boyfriend here later and is now a crucial stop in our walk. (The fruit tart was on the trip with my sister…we love tarts.)

4. Les Invalides to Eiffel Tower (1.5 km)

 

Les Invalides is a stunning building holding many memorials and monuments catered to the military history of France; however, we went for other reasons that I can’t share at this time.

The most significant monument (to me) is the tomb of Napolean Bonaparte. The modest man that he was wanted to have his tomb lower than the entrance to Les Invalides. Why? So people who came to see would need to “bow down” to see him. Quite brilliant…

 

5. Eiffel Tower

Depending on the time of day you chose to do this walk, you may happen to walk upon the Eiffel Tower in time for sunset, or even the light show. I am putting a lot of things to do at the Tower based on what time you arrive so try not to get confused.

  1. Go up the tower. Go allllll the way up. You can choose a time slot to go up which will help plan out your day. But do it.
  2. Watch the light show at night. It begins at sunset and goes to 1AM or 2AM, depending on the time of year. They go every hour, on the hour, for five minutes. Don’t miss the magical only blinking lights (picture on the right), the last show of the night.
  3. Plan a picnic lunch on the grounds underneath the Tower. 2015-05-24 13.08.29

One of my favorite things to do on a beautiful day in Paris is to grab some fine meats, nuts and cheeses paired with a baguette and a bottle of French wine and just sit. I always find time to do this, no matter who is with me or the time of year (must be sunny).

 

Day Two: Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge

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Notre Dame is the furthest landmark from everything else which is why I like to do it first thing in the morning. Get ready to wait in line to enter but it is worth it…and if you’re really lucky, you’ll see Quasimodo in the belltower!!

 

Next, plan to take the metro to the Sacre Coeur for a walk to the top and to have lunch in the infamous painter’s square. It is a bit of a tourist trap but is charming and a wonderful place to pick up a souvenir from your trip.

Walk back down the hill to the Pigalle area of the city– gets a bit racey but is a crucial piece to the Parisian culture.

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Moulin Rouge is in the heart of Pigalle and has a few shows every night. If you like theater, this is a wonderful show that gives you a little insight to a modern day world of “cancan”.

 

Take a cruise 

You can find several cruises to take on the Seine but the best I found is Vedettes du Pont Neuf.  A cruise is 14 euros for just the ride but you can add extras like champagne and a photo to remember the experience.

 

After the cruise, take a walk to Montparnasse Tower in the 15th arr. for a stunning view of the city from the top of the tower. 2015-05-23 22.52.58

It’s a busy schedule, and your feet will be tired, but you will have successfully seen the highlights in two days.

 

 

 

 

This is just a droplet of activities and things to do in Paris. If this is your first time, don’t be intimidated by the city. Plan out what you it is you want to see but don’t let your schedule get in the way of experiencing the city. If it is not your first time, then you know what it is you need to see 🙂

Leave your comments on your favorite spots in Paris!

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