Things To Do in Cappadocia/Goreme.

Travel, Turkey

Göreme is, by far, the most beautiful town I have laid my eyes on. It is home to the kindest souls; every second spent there will forever stay in my heart.

If you are ever making your way to Turkey, this magical town is a MUST VISIT! Even after being a small town and not having much to offer, it is simply serene, while also unbelievably picturesque.

So here are the three things you HAVE TO do, while in Göreme:

Hot Air Balloon Ride

I truly do not have words to describe this experience. All I can say is that I am more than grateful to have ticked another dream off of my bucket list!

Its prices range from €80 per person to €180 per person, depending on the company and class you book. The company will pick you up from your hotel (at 5AM) and take you to the site, where a mini breakfast is waiting for you. While you are enjoying your tea/coffee, routine safety checks take place and if all is good, you are taken on a breath-taking journey that lasts for an hour, during sunrise.

I was lucky enough to have such a talented pilot that took us as close as possible to all the beautiful landmarks, like the Rose Salt Valley and Open-Air Museum.

Some people prefer to visit Göreme for just one night, but I definitely recommend two as the balloon ride fully depends on the weather; they are extremely strict when it comes to safety and no balloon is allowed to take off when the weather is bad. Fortunately, I was there for two nights, and I had the opportunity to fly on the second day after it was cancelled on the first.

ATV Tour

If you are a fan of quad-bikes, like myself, there is no way you can afford to miss this!

This exciting adventure costs about €35 per person, in which you are accompanied by an instructor (in a separate bike) that takes you through the stunning hills, valleys, dunes and trails Cappadocia offers. The tour lasts for two hours with breaks at every famous landmark.

For those that aren’t in to speed, there are Horse Ride Tours available as well. This is basically sitting on a horse while the instructor takes you around the landmarks.

Visit Sunset Point

The sunset point is another famous landmark in Göreme that everyone climbs up to, to unwind and relax after a full day of activities.

Watch the sun go down, while you take in all the beauty in front of your eyes, and be thankful for all the amazing adventures you get to grow through.

Thank you for reading! STAY HAPPY; SPREAD LOVE.

Eat Like A Local In Turkey.

Travel, Turkey

Turks love eating and relishing food; this was more than evident to me during my stay in Turkey. No matter what time it is, you will always find restaurants full of happy faces; it is almost as if it is their tradition and it is something so pure! I have never seen, in any other country, people appreciate and celebrate their food as much and that was one of the main qualities that made me fall in love with this cultural land.

During my stay, I devoured all the different kinds of street foods available, and here are a few of Turkey’s favourites that you have to try when there!

Borek

Borek, just like the love of our lives, comes in different shapes and sizes, but contains the same filling: Turkish cheese. It is found all over Turkey and is the most famous breakfast item. This dish pleases all taste buds and should not be missed.

Turkish Tea

“Caysiz sohbet, aysiz gok yuzu gibidir”
(Conversations without tea are like a night sky without the moon)
-Folk saying from Sivas, Turkey

There is nothing more, in this world, that the Turks take pride in than their tea. After every meal in Turkey, there is always one more course: piping-hot tea. Served in a slim-waisted, elegantly curved glass, the popular beverage is not only a daily routine but also a bonding agent. Which-ever city you are in, there is absolutely no way you can miss this sign of hospitality because it is served in EVERY SINGLE place you go to.

Kozde Misir

Having grown up in a coastal town where Grilled Corn was available every day; I decided to not give this street food a try. Of course, I regretted my decision when I did give it a try two days before I was to leave and wished I could have had it every single day I was there.

Grilled Corn can be found in carts parked on every street in Istanbul. Fresh Corn is grilled within a minute and served to you topped with salt. It is so soft and has a savoury taste like no other. Let me just put it simply; it was HEAVEN!

Baklava

Turkey’s most famous sweet dish, Baklava, can be found literally anywhere but the best place to have at is Hafiz Mustafa. There are over 100 different fresh desserts made daily at this shop and you can find over 100 different branches in just Istanbul – and it will still be difficult for you to find a seat in any given branch, at any given time. Yes, that’s how popular it is! All in all, Baklava, from Hafiz Mustafa, just cannot be missed!

Ayran

The only thing that can keep you going in the scorching heat of Turkey is this refreshing, cold drink – made by mixing Yogurt, Water and Salt. Also known as the national drink of Turkey, this thirst-quenching, healthy drink is so famous that it can now also be found in Turkey’s neighbouring countries.

Now you know what to talk about, when you want to impress the Turks.

Stay Happy.
xx

An afternoon at Borough Market.

London, Travel

A few days back, I was taken to one of London’s largest and oldest food markets, Borough Market. It consists of more than 100 stalls selling different types vegetables, cheeses, breads, cakes and much more; you name it and it’s there.

As soon as enter this foodie’s heaven, you are hit by the aroma of the combinations of fresh products on offer.

After touring around the market for some time, I was taken to try the famous Empanadas there and OH MY GOD I fell in love! They were so delicious that I ended up having more than 3! I would definitely recommend them to anyone visiting the market. It is a must have!

Provolone & Caramelised Onion Empanada

We went on to explore some more, after that.

This was me trying Macaroons for the first time.

The view of the Shard from the market.

We also tried a burger from this Vegan Burger Bar, but I wasn’t too impressed. Given the option, I would not order another one.

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We ended our day trip with some award-winning, organic milk, vanilla and strawberry ice-cream (yes, even though it’s winter – people were staring at me on our way back). Oh well, at least I had a great afternoon!

Stay Happy.

xx

London life, so far..

London, Travel

So I have 3 course-works due in the coming week, but here I am, writing this post. 😛

My first two months in London have been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride, with some amazing, heart-warming days and some not-so-happy days but, as cliché as this sounds, there’s nothing I’d ask for than this. The past two months have been super eventful- I definitely have learnt loads from it and had such wonderful experiences, oh and of course, met some fantastic people that I will forever love!

Here are a few highlights from my London life, so far..