Take a trip to Turkey

Everyone seems to be heading to Turkey. Why Turkey? And why now? Turkey provides the ideal blend of relaxing beaches, unique culture, historical buildings and party atmosphere: everything you would want for the ultimate summer holiday. Turkey has wonderful countryside of unspoilt beauty and cultural treats as well as cosmopolitan resorts, crumbling ruins and natural wonders. Whether you’re wandering around bazaars, relaxing in a Turkish bath or enjoying the nightlife, you’ll find your own way to enjoy this varied country. Turkey provides us with a window in which to view the Middle East, with the on goings throughout the area, Turkey is a safer holiday option.

Did you know?

The famous Trojan War took place in Western Turkey; around the site where the Trojan horse rests today. Tradition in Turkey states that a stranger at one’s doorstep is considered "God’s guest" for at least three days. Wait, there’s more! Istanbul has the historical building of Sirkeci Train Station. This was the last stop of the Simplon-Orient Express – “kings of trains and train of kings" - between Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul) 1883 to 1977. Agatha Christie was one of the passengers of this famous train.

What’s the weather like in Turkey?

The coast of Turkey is temperate, warm, and humid in the summer. Eastern Turkey has short summers and bitterly cold winters. Central Anatolia is dry and hot in the summer, rainy and snowy in the winter. If you plan to visit beaches, June through to September is the best time to travel. Southeastern Turkey is very dry and extremely hot in the summer. If you already know which area in Turkey you are going you can read more specific weather information here.

What should I wear in Turkey?

The best way to see the Old City of Istanbul is on foot so the advice is comfy walking attire that can be removed easily when visiting any of the many mosques. Istanbul is very cosmopolitan and stylish city but if you don't want to stand out on the street, wear modest clothing. Short shorts or short skirts are not a great idea. Smart casual for daytime and evenings works really well.

In the evenings, Turkish women tend to dress up, but bare arms and plunging necklines are seldom seen as they're covered in public (even in the dining rooms of the grandest 5-star hotels) with lightweight evening scarves or shawls.The 4 and 5 star hotels can be extremely sophisticated and glamorous and you may want to pack a smarter outfit to fit right in.

Even in warm weather when you're wearing sleeveless tops, carry a lightweight shawl to put over your bare shoulders. This is great to cover up for modesty when visiting any mosques.

In the winter months it gets really cold (and it snows) so wrap up – take a coat, hat and gloves. In rural Turkey, women tend to dress much more modestly, dark coloured head scarves, long skirts or trekking trousers and long sleeved shirts will help you to blend in a little more.

The dress code is much more relaxed in the coastal resorts, because they exist predominantly for the tourist trade. However, you'll be far more welcome if you still bear in mind the Muslim customs. For instance, don't go topless, however comfortable you are with it – the Turkish are not. Shorts, T-shirts and swimwear are all perfectly fine for use in your resort. If you know you're going to stay put, then this is the only type of clothing you'll need.

What items should I shop for in Turkey?

The best items to shop for in Turkey are handwoven rugs and kilims, leather goods, silk, alabaster, copperware and brassware, ceramics, Iznik tiles, brass samovars, and meerschaum pipes. A smile and a polite no thank you to any over eager shop keepers is a great way of not feeling pressured. Prices in Turkey are generally significantly lower than in other EU countries And, at a time when the financial protection offered by package holidays is an important reassurance, the range of accommodation, tours and activities in tour operators’ brochures looks particularly attractive. 

Getting around in the Turkey Countryside

Turkey’s roads aren’t always well-maintained and speeding is common. Don’t expect indicators to always be used. It can be expensive to hire cars. But if you do want to drive, your best bet is to book through an agent such as Holiday Autos.

Ensure that all key aspects of your holiday are organised prior to departure to avoid any unwanted complications while abroad.

Skyscanner helps millions of users a month find the cheapest flights around the world by searching over 600 airlines – budget and scheduled – and 6000 routes.

Hotelopia is one of the world’s leading travel companies offering reduced-rate accommodation to holiday makers with 25,000 properties, in over 900 global destinations in the UK, Europe, America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Australia. They offer great value for money and service to all their customers, including instant hotel confirmation, a lowest price guarantee, fully inclusive quoted rates, with no additional credit card fees. 

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Make your own chocolate face mask

This decadent mask is an excellent moisturiser leaving your skin baby soft. Best for normal skin.

Homemade chocolate face mask recipe

Chocolate Facial Mask Ingredients:

1/3 cup cocoa (not drinking chocolate)

3 tablespoons double cream

2 teaspoons cottage cheese

¼ cup honey

3 teaspoons oatmeal

Chocolate Facial Mask Method:

Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face.

Relax for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.



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Chocolate Christmas Pudding

A chocolate christmas pudding is the perfect solution for those who don't like a traditional xmas pud. 

I am a big fan of Christmas pudding but when I saw a picture of a chocolate christmas pudding I just had to try it for myself! It's a very popular choice!

Chocolate Christmas Pudding Ingredients:

1 Terry's chocolate orange
1 box of maltesers
50g dark chocolate, melted
100g white chocolate, melted
holly as topping

The key is keeping the chocolate at the right temperature. I popped the terry's chocolate orange in the fridge for an hour first. I melted the dark chocolate until there were no bits and let it gradually cool down. This will be your glue.

I dipped each individual malteser into the melted dark chocolate and then starting from the bottom I stuck each malteser onto the chocolate orange. I created pressure using my nail rather than my finger tips as so to reduce the heat and minimise the possibility of melting the maltesers and them losing their shine. I worked my way from round all the bottom and moved upwards. I then popped the covered chocolate orange in the fridge to set.

I melted the white chocolate in the microwave for 30 secs and stirred it till there were no lumps. I continued to stir the white chocolate until the chocolate didn't easily fall back into the main mixture. I then slowly dripped the nearly set white chocolate onto the top of the covered chocolate orange and added the holly to the top.

Enjoy!



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Top 5 Winter City Breaks from the UK

Paris
Two of the most famous cities in Europe are Paris and Berlin; both attracting a number of visitors during winter. The best way to explore arguably the most romantic city in Europe is to wander along the River Seine and around the different quarters. There are so many famous landmarks and museums to visit in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre and Notre Dame, but it’s not all sightseeing, with numerous bohemian cafes, stunning eateries and fantastic wine ensuring many opportunities for leisure.

Berlin

Berlin is one of the cities in Europe offering the most history for visitors to immerse themselves in with the Berlin wall being one of the most iconic sites in Europe. A large stretch of the wall remains undamaged and is now covered in striking murals. Berlin is a city of art and is home to over 150 museums ensuring it offers one of the most intriguing cultural atmospheres in Europe. For those wishing to enjoy a livelier pace to their city break, Berlin is known to party harder than anywhere in Europe. Numerous clubs and parties occur all over the city, at any time of the year.

Istanbul

For stunning architecture and centuries worth of history Istanbul is a fantastic destination. The 2010 European Capital of Culture is home to many UNESCO World Heritage sites leaving visitors in awe of the likes of Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. 

Barcelona

A classic city break in Barcelona is a great option for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in a distinctive culture. Spain’s most independent city enjoys a different style to the rest of the country whether it is language, culture or attitude. Winter temperatures are not as hot as in summer but do little to detract from the stunning architecture, the lively medieval quarter and the Port Vell waterfront area.

Budapest
Budapest is fast becoming one of the most popular city breaks for UK tourists. It consists of two separate cities; Buda and Pest. Buda is the more cultural offering being home to the majority of cafes, bars, music and the coffee house scene whereas Pest is more of the commercial centre. Budapest is famous for its thermal spa’s and bath houses and is also home to some fantastic attractions such as the Royal Palace and Buda Castle.

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Shopping in Europe: Hidden Gems

One of the advantages of living in London is that we are close enough to enjoy weekends away in Europe without it being considered a 'real' holiday.

Make the most of your shopping experience when on holiday by finding your local hidden haven. Let's face it. We all do it, particularly when on holiday. For many of us it's right at the top of the list of things to do. No matter whether I am heading for cheese in Greece or boutiques in Paris, shopping always seems to form an essential part of any holiday, well, for me at least. 

It’s often those little hidden shopping gems we find that stick in the memory. For me some of my best finds have been markets that only the locals know about, where you get the true authentic shopping experience. Here are a few places in Europe that are worth investigating when out shopping.

Plaza de Cascorro, Madrid, Spain
On a Sunday the streets are transformed into one of the largest markets in the world. Antiques, clothes and lots of misc items are on sale. It's worthy of a visit for the character of the market alone. Open from 10:30 - 3pm. The nearest metro station is La Latina and Tirso de Molina.

Cormanco, Milan, Italy
 The market at Cormanco near Milan is home to 150 stalls and thousands of bargains. The area is famous for silk as it has been making silk since the C14th. Did you know? Como produces 80 percent of Europe’s silk? Take your time and browse around the market as you’ll be sure to find some stunning fabrics amongst the household goods, toys and old clothes. There are also glass and silverware available too. This is an absolute haven for bargain hunters, You’ll need to be up early as the market starts at 7.30am every Saturday and closes by 2pm. The early bird catches the worm!

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
Shopping on holiday isn’t just about items for your home, souvenirs or clothes. There are so many intriguing food markets throughout Europe you’d be foolish not to have a look. The central covered market in Cagliari, Sardinia – Mercato di San Benedetto – has one whole floor filled with fish stalls. There’s a huge array of fish to choose from and all fresh from the sea. There will be a few types which you might not have seen before. What better way to sample the real Italy than with a fresh fish dish?

Istanbul, Turkey
You’ve probably all heard of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul and while this is a treat to go and visit, some of the stalls in the vacinity of the famous tourist attraction have much more to offer in terms of delicate and ornate Turkish jewellery and at a much more real price. Precious and semi-precious stones set in gold and silver with intricate designs are the bulk of what is on offer. Don’t rush in, have a good look round and brush up on your haggling skills. There really are some great deals to be had if you haggle hard enough.

Vieux Quartier – Annecy, France 
Nestled in the old quarter of this quaint French town the Vieux Quarter in France is a real find and reflects the regional rustic focus of its wares. From wooden tools and utensils, fishing gear, cowbells, paintings, wooden chests or armoires, you’ll never be quite sure what you’ll find here, which just adds to its charm. 

Mofu – Athens, Greece
 If homeware is your 'thing' then a trip to Mofu in Athens is a must for you. Retro fans will fall in love with the eclectic range of 50s, 60s and 70s furniture, lamps and random designer collectables. The store staff are very friendly and shipping can easily be arranged. Remember to stay on top of the exchange rates to ensure you’re getting the deal you think you are.

Shopping Europe: 1994: How to Shop Like a Professional in More Than 1400 of the Greatest Shops of Europe! (Fielding's Shopping Europe)

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