Posts for Food

5 Reasons to Visit Turkey

Turkey - Ross French - September 7, 2013

Visit Turkey

Turkey is becoming increasingly popular as a tourist destination, but not everyone is convinced…yet. Here we intend to give you a rundown of the very best reasons to holiday in this fascinating country. By the end of it, there is a good chance you will be ready to book your trip to visit turkey.

5 Reasons to Visit Turkey

1. Beaches

With a vast coastline, there is plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fun by the sea in Turkey. Different areas of the country have their vibes, but this only adds to the charm. In the north, you can enjoy visiting resorts on the Black Sea, while in the south there is the Aegean and Mediterranean.

These latter regions benefit from sunshine for a large part of the year, with Antalya and Bodrum particularly popular among tourists. Whether you want to get a tan, build a sandcastle, or enjoy some watersports. Visit Turkey, It has a beach for you.

2. History

You cannot go anywhere in Turkey without stumbling across a historical monument. In fact, the country is home to more archaeological sites than anywhere else in the world. Visit Turkey, Head to Ephesus where the Temple of Artemis was constructed, the city of Troy – famous for its war, and the stunning cave church of St Peter.

More recent history can also be found throughout the country and especially in Istanbul. Here, you will find the likes of the Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces and the Galata Tower, dating back to 1348.

3. Culture

Turkey is a fascinating mix of different cultures and religions that all add something to the whole. This means that music, dancing, and folklore varies throughout the regions, with influences from all over.

This has also led to some amazing architecture on show. Don’t miss the Blue Mosque, named for the color of the tiles lining the walls inside, and its neighbor, the magnificent Aya Sofya. This structure has a huge freestanding down and amazing mosaics depicting figures from Christianity.

4. Food

There are many places in the world where food is linked to the culture and eaten with gusto, but nowhere quite as much as Turkey. It has taken the best parts from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines and made them it’s own.

The most amazing kebabs come from the southeastern part of the country and bear no resemblance to those you eat after a drunken night out. Wonderful assortments of meze are presented to diners prior to the main course, and seafood plays a huge role in Turkey’s food chain.

Be sure to try a balik ekmek or fish sandwich while in Istanbul. Fish does not get any fresher than this. Once caught they are grilled right by the water, popped between some bread and served hot to tourists and locals alike.

Another assault on the senses is a walk through the spice bazaar, where mounds of rose and pale yellow cubes of Turkish delight is piled high. Try before you buy and never purchase the packaged stuff as the fresh is far more delicious.

5. Value for money

Turkey is a relatively cheap destination, and those converting pounds into Turkish lira will find that they get a good exchange rate. You can end up spending a lot of money if you want to buy expensive rugs and souvenirs, which are tempting, but many everyday items are more reasonable.

Why are you waiting for? Go and Visit Turkey!

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Booze and Food, Madrid

Destinations, Guest Posts - Ross French - May 6, 2011

casa-maravillas

By: Maria Climent Huguet
Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady. After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger. This is how she’s now a mother of no one and a better person. She also likes to cook!

If the city of Madrid is famous for something, it is –apart from its football team & coach’s shows- the city’s festive atmosphere. I lived in Madrid accommodation for a year and this is the reason why I’ve prepared a list of bars you MUST visit to feel like an authentic native to the city. And f you want to have a caña (pressure beer) with its correspondent free tapa (portion of cooked food) and moreover, you want this tapa to be good and abundant, you have to know where to go.

porrasCasa Maravillas
An awesome, traditional bar. From the architectural design of it’s façade, you’ll suspect that this bar has been there even before the street was built. Being in front of a theatre (Teatro Maravillas), it’s always crowded. For breakfast, –if you go from 11.30 am on they’ll already have run out of  porras (the most typical Madrid breakfast) and in the evenings, from 7 pm on, everybody’s there for beer o’clock. They are generous with their free tapas, they even ask you what you want to eat along with your beer. Excellent atmosphere all the time. Ask for huevos estrellados and croquetas if you are hungry (Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 13).

casa-maravillas

 

Bar El Pico
This bar is run by two very kind brothers –who have recently opened a more refined bar – restaurant in front. It’s a classic bar where you’ll find a mixture of the typical old men who live around the area and hipsters. They normally serve a tapa of paella, chicken wings or bread with some sort of meat. Their specialities are the scrambled eggs with black pudding, the patatas bravas con dos salsas (fried potatoes with two sauces, normally mayonnaise and spicy tomato sauce) or what’s called lacón (ham from the foreleg). Delicious! (Calle del Divino Pastor, 12)

La Fragua de Vulcano
If you go to Madrid, this is a place you can’t miss. It’s in Huertas district (Calle Nuñez de Arce, right next to Santa Ana square). They have all the typical Spanish food you can imagine, from paella, meat balls, Iberian Jam, cured cheese, squid fried in batter… and everything is of very good quality. Nice waiters and excellent wines –and also sangria, yes.

la_fragua_de_vulcano

El Palentino
I would dare say that this is the most famous bar in the city. Everyone knows El Palentino, and it’s a matter of two of days since your arrival to one of the Madrid apartments that you will find yourself in this bar. Their secret? It’s REALLY cheap, (last time I was there, you could get good cocktails for 3€, and sandwiches from 1.5€! Its owner is almost an emblem in the city –helping people get drunk since 1950-, and you may find several celebrities there having breakfast after a crazy night of partying. (Calle Pez, 12)

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