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Fascinating Istanbul and Grand Turkey Tour 2012 – Special Easter Break – Registration Continues

By Ozlem Warren on January 3, 2012 in Fascinating Turkey, Uncategorised 6

Happy New Year! I wish you all a happy, healthy New Year with opportunities to explore exciting destinations.
I wanted to remind you my exciting Fascinating Istanbul and Grand Turkey Tour 2012 – I would be happy to email you the tour brochure, if you are interested in, just let me know your email address at the comments section, thank you.

The tour will be from April 2nd thru April 12th 2012 and I will have the pleasure to host this wonderful tour. It will be very special to be in Turkey during the Easter period, with visits to the Hagia Sophia Museum, which once was the largest church in the world prior St Peter’s in Rome (the photo above is the entrance of Hagia Sophia), Hagia Triada Monastery in the charming Princess Islands,

The fascinating ancient city of Ephesus; the best preserved ancient classical city at the Eastern Mediterranean and

a visit to The Virgin Mary’s House, where we will attend the Morning Mass on Easter Sunday.

We will not only enjoy the wonderful Turkish cuisine, but we will also learn how to make it, including a baklava class:)

We will visit the Spice Market to stock up wonderful spices like cumin, red pepper flakes, oregano and many more, that is essential in Turkish cooking,

We will view world famous Turkish rugs, take a demo on how they are made and if you like, treat yourself to one these wonderful treasures:)

Above all, wonderful Turkish hospitality to be enjoyed over delicious kebab or a glass of cay (tea). If you like to join us to explore the fascinating land of Turkey through a local’s perpective, please let me know -Tour is limited to 15 participants.
It would be a pleasure to explore Turkey together!

Happy travels,
Ozlem

Strasbourg Treats & Happy New Year!

By Ozlem Warren on December 30, 2011 in Uncategorised 2

Greetings to you all! I wanted to share a few more festive moments from Strasbourg before we say farewell to 2011. Strasbourg is known as the ‘Capitale de Noel” and it really is true. The town looks very festive with wonderful decorations and lovely Christmas markets.

This is the one part of the traditional Christmas market; it is very atmospheric next to the grand church in the old town. There are French, German, Swiss stalls selling ornaments, gluewine, chocolates -which you can’t get enough!!-, hot chocolates and many more:)

Roasted chestnuts are sold on vagon stalls all around the town; it really reminded me of my childhood and eating them from street stalls in Istanbul; the smell of roasted chestnuts are divine.

Can you ever have enough chocolate, especially at this part of the world? Guess not. We have been on a diet of chocolate, wine and all treats, happy days. These piggy cochons, chestnut dessert and all chocolates have been very welcome:)

Judith kindly treated us to Kugelhopf, a specialty of Alsace, northeastern part of France. It looks very pretty with roasted almonds at top, and dust of icing sugar. It is part bread, part cake, quite smilar to brioche but not as rich. We enjoyed it over breakfast with some jam. It is wonderful even next day when sliced and toasted.

As we say farewell to 2011, my best wishes to you all for a happy, healthy New Year. I do look forward to sharing many more delicious moments in 2012:)

Happy New Year !

Ozlem

Bon jour Strasbourg; City of (pretty) Lights!

By Ozlem Warren on December 22, 2011 in Uncategorised 2

Bon jour and festive greetings to you all from Strasbourg, France!

Strasbourg is a beautiful town, and indeed very festive at this time of the year; the city is decorated beautifully with very pretty decorations. Almost every shop has a decoration of its own, so lovely to look at.

This cafe has a “bonbon candy, presents” theme with their decoration, you feeling like reaching out to try one!

The Crocodile Restaurant, of course had a great big crocodie hanging amongst the pretty decorations:)

The main square and la petit France, where wonderful Christmas markets are tastefully decorated in every corner. Here is “Office de Tourisme”, decorated with gingerman, so tempting to have a little bite!