Istanbul was a city that had always fascinated me. As someone with a strong interest in all things Islamic/Ottoman/Byzantine/Silk Road, it felt like somewhere I really needed to visit. I had tried 3 times to do so over the years, but had always had to cancel for some reason or another. Fourth time lucky and … More How I spent my 4 days in Istanbul
It was my fourth attempt at visiting Istanbul, following three failed trips in the past. For those plans, I had trawled through the internet trying to find a suitable hotel among the city’s vast offering. On each occasion, I had booked different properties, but evidently none of them were meant to be. So, going for … More The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi: My review
What do you get when you throw together millennia-old ruins, rugged, verdant mountains, fabled monasteries, dreamy coastlines, colourful fishing villages, and techno-pumping party isles? Why, Greece, of course! It is a remarkably diverse country – possibly more diverse than people realise. While the stereotypical image may be of whitewashed domed houses overlooking azure seas, it … More Travel memories: 5 picturesque day trips from Athens
The Olympian goddess of wisdom, handicrafts and war also happens to be the patroness and protectress of modern-day Greece’s capital. Athena, daughter of Zeus, the sky and thunder god in Greek mythology, is indeed widely believed to have got her name from the city itself, rather than the other way around. I, in fact, like … More Travel memories: 15 recommended things to see in Athens
London is sometimes accused of being drab and grey – and it can be, especially when it turns on its notorious grim weather. But delve a little deeper and, even on the bleakest of days, you can find a vibrant palette of trippy street art, quirky sculptures and signage, and curious but striking doorways. I … More Travel memories: London street art and colours
‘When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’, as the saying goes – and it’s hard to argue. The list of main tourist attractions in this city is long enough in itself, and these may indeed be all that can be crammed into the itineraries of first-time tourists who are only … More Travel memories: Alternative London sights
I wasn’t quite sure how to go about setting up my ‘travel memories’ blog post on London. Having taken 4 trips there in the 18-month period between 2015 and 2017 (part work, part play), I have a lot of photos and information to share. So I’ve decided to split it into three separate posts: One on … More Travel memories: 20 classic things to see in London
I had been wanting to visit the picturesque Hungarian capital, Budapest, for quite some time. Originally two separate cities bisected by the Danube River – Buda on the western side and Pest on the eastern -, it has been unified since 1873, and is today home to nearly 2 million people. Many tourists tend to … More Travel memories: 2 days in Budapest
This is an older, narrative-style post on how I spent 4 days in Rome. I hope it can still be of use in helping you get an idea of how you can build your own itinerary when visiting the Eternal City. Arrival and general impressions of Rome It’s fair to say my 4 days in … More Travel memories: 4 days in Rome
