Tag: Travel

Top 10 Things to Do and See for your First Time in Istanbul, Turkiye

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Istanbul is truly a unique city. It offers decadent food, stunning architecture, and a rich, historic culture. It’s an easy city to just wander the neighborhoods and take in the sights, smells, and sounds. This is why I would recommend not over-planning a trip there, but instead allowing yourself to get lost in the city. The views from around the city are truly breathtaking, and there is just so much to see and do. But, if you’re type A like we are, I highly advise having a list of places you want to see and then centering your explorations around those landmarks! Below is a list of my top ten must-do recommendations for this awesome city!

I was in Istanbul for work and stayed at the Sheraton Istanbul City Center. It was a great venue for my work conference, had comfortable rooms, and a lovely breakfast buffet with a variety of wonderful Turkish dishes. The best part was that the hotel offered a free shuttle that took us straight to Taksim Square (see #4) for sightseeing, people-watching, and plenty of shopping! The Sheraton also provided some nice treats in the room when I arrived!

And if you’re interested on catching up on Istanbul’s history, I read a non-fiction book about the city called Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World that helped me understand the city’s history before my trip.

  1. Bosphorus Strait Cruise

I always love to travel to cities with beautiful rivers or bodies of water flowing through them. Istanbul might just be the most ideal spot for water views! I wrote a review about the GetYourGuide Istanbul: Bosphorus and Black Sea Cruise with Lunch in Istanbul, and I absolutely recommend it! A cruise like this lets you put your feet up and just enjoy the majestic beauty of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait.

2. Explore Ortakoy Mosque and have dinner with views at Banyan

This corner of Istanbul may just be my favorite. The Ortakoy Mosque (also known as Büyük Mecidiye Mosque) has stunning views of the Bosphorus, and the sights feel like they are out of a movie. There are so many great photo opportunities, and I just loved being right on the water! After exploring the mosque, my mom and I had dinner and drinks at Banyan. It’s a restaurant perched on the water with stunning sunset views and delicious food. We were able to watch the boats drift by in the water and relax over some nice cocktails.

3. Basilica Cistern Tour

This Istanbul: Basilica Cistern Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide Tour was unexpected, but so much fun. It was a bit eerie because it is underground and quite dark, but there were so many beautiful sculptures and breathtaking architecture. The atmosphere is what makes it such a unique and surprising activity! My mom and I loved taking photos down here and watching as the lights changed color on the columns and water reflection. The highlight is definitely the Medusa sculptures in two of the columns – be sure not to miss this!

The ancient cisterns are just 150 meters from the Hagia Sophia, making it an easy pitstop while sightseeing and should only take an hour or less to explore. Be sure to book here if you’re interested in a tour and fast-tracked entry.

4. Taksim Square

While Taksim Square is a bit touristy, it’s a central hub that offers a segue into some of the beautiful shopping streets in Istanbul, including İstiklal Street. You can grab a Simit (Turkish bagel-like treat) or Pide (Turkish flatbread) from a food stand or find one of the famous ice cream performers.

I also recommend popping into Hafiz Mustafa which is a famous cafe known for its Turkish coffee and desserts, including its baklava (pictured above). This is a great stop for souvenirs 🙂

5. Galata Tower

Galata Tower is an iconic landmark in the city that is in a bustling corner of Istanbul. It’s beautiful for photos and exploring. You can also climb atop it and explore the small museum inside. It’s a picturesque tower with much to see and do nearby! If you would like to skip-the-line and pre-book with an audio guide, I recommend this entry with an audio guided tour.

6. Topkapi Palace Museum

Topkapi Palace is truly a must-visit when in Istanbul. I would compare it to seeing Versailles when visiting Paris. It’s a large palace complex with so much history to unpack. It has beautiful and well-maintained grounds with stunning views of the city and water below. It’s also close to the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, but note that visiting all three in one day may be a bit tiresome. There is a lot to see at the palace, and I recommend having a tour guide like we did. This really helps bring the history to life and understand the past. Again, there are so many beautiful photo opportunities in and around the palace. This two-hour tour: Topkapi Palace & Harem, Skip-the-Line Small Group tour is similar to the one we had booked that included the Harem as well.

7. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

If this is your first time in Istanbul, I highly recommend planning to visit both the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque together – they are both absolute must-sees! They are next to each other, with a beautiful square sitting between the two mosques. Be mindful of prayer times, and also be sure to bring a headscarf and to cover up appropriately. As is custom for all mosques, you must remove your shoes upon entering.

If you prefer to travel with a tour guide and learning more about the history and architecture, you can book the GetYourGuide Istanbul: Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Tour w/Entry Tickets
here. And if you want to combine multiple excursions, this combination tour offers a tour of the Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, and the Hagia Sophia (you would need to enter the Blue Mosque on your own).

8. Sahaflar Bazaar (Book Market) and the Grand Bazaar

For great souvenirs, I always love to get vintage maps, stamps, postcards, or paintings. I love anything I can hang up in my house or use to scrapbook and journal my adventures. Right outside the Grand Bazaar, are winding pathways filled with antique books, paintings, maps, and anything you can imagine. We managed to snag some really great items that are hanging on my walls now. There are so many beautiful items here and I find it less overwhelming than the Grand Bazaar and is more my cup of tea (literally because we sat inside a store and had tea with one of the vendors!).

If you’re curious, like we were, to at least see and explore the Grand Bazaar, I recommend it. Be wary that the vendors can be aggressive, but we did end up buying a few lamps we love!

9. Attend a Whirling Dervish Show

We had arranged to see a Whirling Dervish show on our last night, but I got an awful cold that I couldn’t shake and had to stay in my room for the night. The shows are put on by Sufi groups that perform an active meditation. Whenever I am back in Istanbul, I am going to make sure I see a Whirling Dervish show, it seems like a once in a lifetime experience!

10. Indulge in the food!

While we didn’t have time to arrange a food tour, I really wish we had! There are just so many delicacies to try in the city. GetYourGuide has a few offerings for food tours that look fun to try. If I could book one, I would choose this Istanbul: Guided Food Tour with Ferry Ride and Tastings. The tour takes you to a few different locations around Istanbul and looks like a fun day of city exploration tied into yummy food experiences!

A few of the restaurants we really enjoyed were Divan Brasserie (which had spectacular rooftop views), RestoHan (had live music), Seven Hills Restaurant (mainly just for the view!), and Arada Cafe.

11. Bonus – Find alllll the cats!

Istanbul is known for its friendly street cats – be sure to keep an eye out, they are all so cute!

❤ Natalie Anne

Top 15 Things to See & Do On Your First Trip to Japan

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1. Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa – Tokyo)

Sensō-ji Temple is a stunning ancient Buddhist Temple (the oldest in Tokyo) located in the Asakusa District and surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and beautiful photo ops. There is so much history here and you could truly spend an entire day wandering around and looking at the architecture. I’d recommend doing a walking tour like this one of the temple and the rest of the Asakusa district. It’s a great way to start your trip in Japan!

2. Robot Restaurant (Shibuya – Tokyo)

I mean. You can’t go to Japan without visiting the famous Robot Restaurant. You can catch a glimpse of the crazy action in my YouTube video here! Make sure to stop by the Cat Cafe in Shibuya before the show too. 🙂

3. Shibuya Scramble (Shibuya – Tokyo)

You’ve probably heard of the “Shibuya Scramble” or the Shibuya Crossing, a popular pedestrian intersection where you can watch thousands of people “scrambling” through Shibuya. I’d recommend watching from above at the Shibuya Skydeck. Shibuya is sort of like the Times Square of Tokyo, with bright lights, endless restaurants, and lots of people visiting from all over the world.

4. Harajuku District (Tokyo)

No visit to Tokyo is complete without visiting the Harajuku district. This is where you will witness the incredible fashion, shopping, food, and younger culture of Japan. It’s bright, energetic, and busy. There is so much to see and do in this part of town so make sure to set aside time to wander and shop!

5. Fushimi Inari Shrine (Kyoto)

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably one of the most memorable spots from our trip. It is a Shinto shrine filled with hundreds of bright red gates. You can wander the paths for hours, or you can take the steep 2.5 mile hike to the top. We only made it about halfway to a viewpoint of the city of Kyoto, which is where most people decide to stop and turn around. But go for it if you want to say you climbed to the top! I definitely recommend going on an early morning tour like this one to avoid crowds!

You can check out my YouTube video about our visit to the Inari shrine here!

6. Gion District (Kyoto)

The Gion district, or “geisha district”, is an extremely old and historical part of Kyoto. It’s filled with wooden structures, izakayas, and teahouses. You’ll find travelers and locals alike wearing traditional kimono. It was an incredibly beautiful and magical part of our trip. We stayed in the Kyoto Inn Gion The Second hotel and absolutely loved it.

7. Chion-in Temple (Kyoto)

This temple actually wasn’t originally on our list to visit, but it was close to our first hotel we stayed in, the The Kyoto Hana Hotel, and we couldn’t take our eyes off of it. There is a LOT to see here and so many places you can sit and meditate, photograph, or admire. This walking tour includes the Chion-in Temple, as well as a few other famous landmarks in Kyoto, so it might be best to be pushed along a little so that you can use your time wisely. 🙂

You can check out our visit to the Chion-in Temple in my YouTube video here!

8. Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (Kyoto)

This was another place we stumbled upon while wandering through Kyoto. We were on our way to Honke Owariya, the oldest restaurant in Kyoto, Japan, established in 1465! They are known for their handmade soba noodles. On our way there, I looked at the map and saw a giant park called Kyoto Gyoen National Garden. There were so many beautiful plants, flowers, buildings, and gardens here. The Kyoto Imperial Palace was especially stunning! This morning walking tour of Kyoto will take you through this park if you’re interested!

9. Owakudani Mountain (Hakone)

Owakudani Mountain is a truly magical place. It’s known for it’s “black eggs” that are boiled right there in the hot natural spring water. It’s known to bring you 7 years of good luck if you eat one! There is a cute visitors center at the top of the mountain and a gorgeous view of Mount Fuji if you’re lucky enough to have a clear day. As a photographer, I loved seeing the volcanic steam rising from the mountain. The black eggs weren’t too bad, actually, but the curry bun we got at the visitor’s center was delish! If you take this tour of Hakone, you get to take the cable car up the mountain to Owakudani.

Watch my YouTube video about our day at Owakudani Mountain here!

10. Hakone Open-Air Museum (Hakone)

The Hakone Open-Air Museum really sticks out in my mind because it was such a peaceful and inspiring place. We went on a rainy day so it was super quiet and meditative. There is a foot bath with natural running spring water that we rested our weary feet in for at least an hour. It was so nice and much needed. This tour includes the Open-Air Museum, as well as Owakudani Mountain mentioned above. We also stayed in a gorgeous guesthouse called Irori Guesthouse Tenmaku, which was incredibly memorable and unique, in the best way.

11. Onshi Hakone Park (Hakone)

If you’re in Hakone, you absolutely need to catch a glimpse of Lake Ashi at some point. I’d recommend a tour like this one so you can take a ride on the epic pirate ship that coasts around the lake. As a photographer, I loved wandering around Onshi-Hakone park and taking photos of all of the beautiful plants, flowers, and views.

12. Nara Deer Park (Nara)

If you google Nara, Japan, the first thing you’ll see is wild deer everywhere. It’s so fun to feed them and it is super memorable. I’d plan to walk through Nara Park on your way to Tōdai-ji Temple, mentioned below. Or, take a walking tour or bike tour of Nara to make sure you don’t miss anything!

You can watch my YouTube video about our day in Nara here!

13. Tōdai-ji Temple (Nara)

Tōdai-ji Temple is gorgeous, and a must-see if you’re in Nara. There is also a lovely view of the city from the area around the temple. The temple also houses the largest bronze Buddha statue in the country! My husband was amazed by the building because it’s also the largest wooden structure in Japan! The walking tour or bike tour will bring you to the Tōdai-ji Temple too. 🙂

You can watch my YouTube video about our day in Nara here!

14. Kōtoku-in Buddhist Temple

The Kōtoku-in Buddhist Temple is located in the quiet and peaceful town of Kamakura. I loved this temple because you can actually walk around INSIDE the giant Buddha. I had a very memorable moment while visiting this statue and I’ll never forget it. This half-day walking tour will bring you to Kōtoku-in, as well as a few other key stops in Kamakura.

Make sure to watch my YouTube video about our day in Kamakura here!

15. Kamakura Zaimokuza Beach

I couldn’t visit Japan without visiting a beach. Kamakura Zaimokuza Beach was beautiful and it was a perfect way to end our trip. The half day walking tour I mentioned above will also bring you to this beach. We stayed at the Kamakura Prince Hotel, which had a stunning view of the ocean. I’d also recommend Moana Makai if you’re looking for a restaurant!

Make sure to watch my YouTube video about our day in Kamakura here!

I hope these travel tips give you some insight into the magic of Japan and everything it has to offer. I’m hoping to visit again next year! Feel free to leave any thoughts, comments, questions. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned in my travels. 🙂

You can read a more detailed post about these landmarks on my photography blog here. Or check out my YouTube channel to see all of our travels!

❤ Myles Katherine

Top 10 Travel Tips for your first time in Amsterdam, Netherlands

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  • 1. Stay in De Pijp – Staying at the Sir Albert, of course! De Pijp is a down-to-earth neighborhood that is easy to stroll and not quite as noisy as the city center. It is filled with lovely restaurants and has great streets and canals to meander. It’s also a 20-30 minute walk to the city center and red light district or a quick metro ride!
A little duck fancied himself a ride on our vessel
  • 3. Visit the Tony’s Chocolonley Headquarters – Tony’s Chocolonley is a Dutch chocolate company that was created to combat the exploitation in the cocoa manufacturing industry. Not only is its mission important, its chocolate is amazing. Conveniently, its headquarters are based in the heart of Amsterdam. The company has creative flavors, bars, and snacks to choose from. But if nothing on the menu tickles your fancy, then you can actually make your own chocolate bar – amazing, right?!
Blueberry Deluxe with a scoop of saffron ice cream. Heavenly.
  • 6. Try bitterballen. If croquettes and beef stew had a child, it would be a fried baby bitterballen. You simply cannot leave Amsterdam without trying one. We ordered them at cafe t’Smalle, and they were so delicious!
  • 7. Check out a museum – We opted for the Van Gogh museum. You can purchase tickets ahead through the museum’s website. If you prefer to enter through a guided tour, you can purchase tickets and the tour here. While we didn’t do a tour this time, I recommend booking your tickets ahead of time for the day and time slot you want to go. I would set aside a minimum of two hours for the Van Gogh museum. If you’re short on time, the Kattenkabinet (cat museum) is quirky and cool with a lovely gift shop! It only takes 45 minutes to an hour to explore.
  • 8. Enjoy a cocktail date night – The Flying Dutchman was a perfect date spot, but be sure to make reservations! It had an inspiring menu showcasing classic cocktails throughout the ages and a robust whisky collection.

Til next time

❤ Natalie

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The Best Restaurants in Portland, Oregon – A Foodie Haven

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I just got back from visiting my sister in Portland, Oregon and felt the urge to share some of the lovely meals and desserts we experienced over the course of five days. So here is my list of odd and spectacular foodie places to experience in PDX!

Screen Door – The Mother of All Brunches

Brunching is a huge deal in Portland. There are multiple episodes on Portlandia centered around brunching and the show features some of the best brunch restaurants around, including Screen Door. My sister and I are both avid brunchers always seeking both sweet and savory foods. I feel like it’s way too common that popular places are overrated, and I was nervous that Screen Door would not live up to my expectations. But indeed I was proven wrong and indulged in the most delicious brunch a girl could dream of. There were five of us dining and we all ordered different things which resulted in our table becoming a smorgasbord of an insane amount of food. We ordered basically everything: Eggs Benedict, Chicken and Waffles, Cathead Chicken and Biscuit Sandwich, Praline Bacon, Cheddar Grits, and Bananas Foster French Toast. Also keep in mind that each dish could easily feed three people until they are full. The Chicken and Waffles alone features three steak-sized fried chicken slabs on top of a ginormous waffle. It was glorious. And made us delightfully miserable for the rest of the day.

There was quite a long wait for Screen Door, but it just so happens that right next door is the perfect coffee shop to wander into while trying to waste time and which happens to be our next recommendation.

Kopi Coffee House – Best Coffee House

This is the coffee house every cafe should aspire to be. Its decor and ambiance is asian-inspired and tranquil, it has signature lattes as well as the classics, and features delicious breakfast sandwiches.  I got the Crème Brûlée Latte that the barista caramelized with a torch in front of me. Perfection, right? So go and check it out!

Pip’s Original Donuts – The Best Bite-Sized Donuts in the Universe

If you wanna skip the VooDoo Donuts line, and stand in another line, albeit, a much shorter one, check out Pip’s Original. Grab yourself a dozen of Honey, Sea Salt and Nutella doughnuts and a yummy Chai drink before spending your day exploring the city!

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Cascade Brewing – The Best Brewery in Portlandia

You have to go to at least one brewery when in Portland, and Cascade Brewing has a diverse beer menu as well as upscale bar food. It also has a great open patio where you can sip on as many beers as you like and just hang out in Portland and eat yummy pretzels.

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Yataimura Maru – The Best Asian Cuisine

I don’t think I had ever truly had authentic Japanese food before coming to Maru on Division St. in Portland. The restaurant seems to transport you to Japan and allows you to soak up the culture. It has the most incredible Ramen dishes I have ever tasted and their Teriyaki Chicken is definitely worth a try as well. Definitely make sure to save room for dessert. We ordered the Red Bean Ice Cream and Mochi as well as the Tempura Banana with Vanilla Ice Cream— we may have gone a little bit overboard!

Rimsky-Korsakoffee House – Best Dessert House with a Thrill and a Really Creepy Bathroom

This is one of the most “Portland” places you could possibly go, it’s located on a dark street, in a creepy, creaky old house and serves dessert and coffee late until midnight. My sister hadn’t originally planned to take us here, but we decided to go after spending a long day hiking at Mount Hood and exploring the Timberline Lodge. We were just getting back to the city and the house seems like the set of a scary movie.

It has dark lighting and is decorated with candles and creepy puppets and wallpaper. My sister warned us of the enchanted trickery that the house is famous for, so we kept out eyes and ears open. Our waiter was extremely nice and had an intensely dry sense of humor that matched the spooky vibe of the house perfectly. We ordered a variety of the desserts they offer (the Banana Split was to die for!) and sat back and observed the eclectic frills and mischief.

The most alarming thing I have to admit is the bathroom. It is by far the creepiest room  due to the most terrifying man-doll I have ever seen in my life. Even after we covered his face with a napkin, I made my mom wait for me right outside the bathroom door. I was more than certain he was going to start turning his head to stare at me or start whispering in my ear. He didn’t though, thank goodness!

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Even More Amazing Places:

Salt & Straw – The Best Ice Cream in the World

Nothing I say about Salt & Straw will actually do this place justice. It is simply magic. And simply the best Ice Cream ever. Make sure to get a waffle cone, sample as many flavors as you desire, buy some merchandise, and enjoy uninterrupted happiness. Seriously, the line is worth the wait and you will not regret coming here!

See See Motorcycles Coffee – Best Merchandise and Portland Vibe

Its a dream coffee shop for motorcycle enthusiasts and has super cute clothes and decadent hot chocolate, I wish I could bring it back to the East Coast with me.

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So now I recommend that everyone go to Portland and try these awesome places for yourselves! ❤

Sweet Lingonberry Crepes with Cream Filling

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Crepes are one of my all-time favorite indulgences. Ever since I had my first one in fourth grade made by my favorite teacher in French class, I’ve been hooked. The great thing about them is that they can be oh-so sweet and bursting with Nutella, sugar, and fruits, or they can be excessively savory with creamy French cheeses and sliced meats. When Try the World surprised us with their most recent subscription box featuring Sweden that offers mouth-watering goodies like Elderflower Saft Syrup and Lingonberry Preserves, I knew instantly what I wanted to make. If you’re interested in learning more about Try the World, here is the link to our introductory blog post or check out their website and use our discount code “bonvoyage” for 15% off!

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Crepe Recipe (adapted from here)

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk flour and eggs (texture of dough will be a bit tough and sticky). Slowly add milk and water stirring until smooth. Add salt, butter, sugar, and extract and continue beating until smooth.
  2. Heat and oil pan to medium high temperature. Pour about ¼ cup of batter into pan and tilt the pan to swirl in a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly in a circle that covers the whole frying pan.
  3. Cook crepe for about 1 to 2 minutes until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, and turn crepe over and cook its other side for about 1 minute.
  4. Remove from the crepe from heat and onto a plate and spread cream filling (see below) in the middle and roll crepe and top with Lingonberry Preserves or other sweet jams, fruit, chocolate, powdered sugar or even whipped cream! This recipe makes a of crepes (around 20) so repeat, repeat, repeat, and eat, eat, eat!

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Cream Cheese Filling with Elderflower Saft (adapted from here)

  1. 1 (8 ounce) package Cream Cheese
  2. 1/3 cup Sugar
  3. 2 tablespoons of Elderflower Saft
  4. 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  5. 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (optional)

Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl.  Using a hand mixer blend together until light and creamy.  Transfer to a bowl until ready to use.

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Since the recipe made so many crepes, I actually added dark chocolate chips and Try the World’s Holiday Box Italian Hazelnut Spread after flipping the crepe over the first time on the heat. I put the toppings on the crepe while it was still in the pan and then folded it four ways to create the traditional triangular shape!

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Bon Appetit! ❤