Of the nine Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara off Istanbul, Heybeliada is the second biggest after Büyükada. The Turkish name translates as Saddlebag Island, as hills at either end of the land mass make it resemble one. However locals call it Halky (pronounced halki) which is also the Greek name for the island….
Pera Palace Hotel History The Pera Palace Hotel opened in 1895 to host passengers arriving in Istanbul on the famous Orient Express train. Renowned architect Alexander Vallaury oversaw the construction of the building. It has an Art-nouveau façade and inside, the grand ballroom and the glorious Kubbeli Lounge, combining oriental grandeur with geometric patterning where…
The internet is bursting with ‘best of’ lists about where to eat in Istanbul, where to have a drink, the 10 best cafes and so on. As a professional freelance writer I know a lot of them are PR generated, meaning new restaurants open up and pay a public relations company to get them noticed….
Waiting to enter Sultan Ahmet Mosque, struggling to take off your shoes amongst the crowds of people equally keen to enter, it’s easy to overlook its majesty. Once inside though, take a moment (not just a selfie) and breathe in the history of this elegant structure. The Story of Sultan Ahmet and the Blue Mosque…
I’m often asked for my opinion on the best area of Istanbul to choose when you’re coming here as a tourist. Without a doubt, if this is your first visit to Istanbul then it has to be Sultanahmet. All the main sights are in easy walking distance. In a city as congested as Istanbul, even…
If you’ve ever been to Istanbul you’ll have probably already seen the way Turks look after street cats. People put out bowls of water, piles of dry food and even set up cat homes in parks and apartment block gardens. It seems idyllic, at least that’s what many Instagram influencers would have us believe. Although…
Most people, when asked to name one of the Princes Islands off the coast of Istanbul will say Büyükada, the Big Island. It’s long been popular as a summer escape, but so has its smaller cousin, Kinaliada. Kinaliada translates as Henna Island, in reference to the reddish colour of the stone on the island, which…
Late last year I finally made it to Joshua’s Hill, otherwise known as Yuşa Tepesi in Turkish. Yuşa is one of the four saints of the Bosphorus, and this holy site is famous for his tomb, aka the Giant’s Grave. It’s so named because the spot where he’s believed to be buried is 17 metres…
As someone celebrating a big birthday this year ending in 0 (I’m not saying which one), I know how important it is to treat yourself. As a freelance travel writer and well, just me, I always have a project on the go. If I’m not writing an article I’m making a new blouse, reading a…
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this website I’m no historian. When it comes to remembering important names and people, I’m forever looking things up and almost immediately forgetting them, unless I actually visit an historical sight and the experience brings the facts to life. As you can imagine, writing a brief history of the Ottomans…