Turkey

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice

Setting Sail with Celebrity Cruises: Venice to Istanbul

An introduction to my Mediterranean cruise with Celebrity Cruises and a taster of the highlights on board and the destinations we visited.

Hagia Sophia – The Essence of Istanbul

Aya Sofya, Hagia Sophia or, in English, Church of the Divine Wisdom, is a mighty structure defining the heart and soul of Istanbul. If you only have time to visit one sight in Istanbul this is it.

Istanbul and the Beauty of the Blue Mosque

A visit to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque one of the ‘must-see’ stops on a trip to Istanbul – including photography of the mosque, tips on when to go, dress code and opening times.

Istanbul’s Sweetest Side

Turkish sweets and confectionery from Turkish Delight to Baklava – Turkey didn’t disappoint when it came to sweet treats and confectionery, some of it too sweet even for me, and that’s a first… The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul had stalls piled high with endless varieties of Turkish sweets and sugary scrumptiousness.

Bodrum, Boats and a bit of a Barter

How to spend a few days in Bodrum, Turkey. Explore the town’s history, take to the water on a gulet, enjoy some fabulous food and shop in the local market.

A guide to visiting Hierapolis

Resting on a plateau above Pamukkale’s Cotton Castle are the remnants of the ancient town of Hierapolis. With views over the dazzling white travertine terraces and 17 thermal springs, this town has to be home of the original spa break. If you visit Pamukkale I recommend you take a wander through Hierapolis – your trip won’t be complete without it.

Pictures from Pamukkale

Pamukkale means ‘Cotton Castle’ in Turkish and perfectly describes the white terraces, known as travertines, which tread their way down the Turkish hillside. Each pool is created from startling white limestone deposits filled with water from 17 of the natural hot water springs in the area.