Just what was it that brought me to Nesebar, Bulgaria? Well, for one, I love the Black Sea. I caught my first glimpse of the Black Sea when visiting Turkey. A trip to the towns of Amasya and Samsun revealed a surprisingly beautiful landscape, with dense, green forests, pastures, poppy fields, and apple orchards strung along the shore line of a sea which was anything but black. Where, I ... Read Full Article
Venice in Winter: Intrigue and Mystery
Venice in Winter Winter is a fine season to visit Venice. Finally, I get to mingle with actual Venetians, to rub shoulders with them on numerous vaporetto rides along the canals and to the islands and to haggle amongst Venetians over delicious fruit and vegetables at the markets at the foot of the Rialto bridge. More Tips about Venice: Where to Stay in Venice 20 Top Things to Do in ... Read Full Article
Three Extraordinary Istanbul Museums
I came by three extraordinary Istanbul museums because I was suffering from a case of culture overdose! For four days, I had ‘done’ all the obligatory Istanbul sights: I admired the tiles in the Blue Mosque, visited the soaring columns of the underground cistern, jostled with the crowds in the Grand Bazaar and the spice market, and I duly stood in line to visit the treasures of Topkapi ... Read Full Article
The Sparkling Residenz in Munich
Why did I visit the Residenz in Munich? It's a long story...I can’t help it - I love baubles, I love gems, I love all things shinny and bright. Not that I can afford to buy a gem of a substantial size, but I do love to peer into the deep green of a huge emerald and revel in the reflections of light, while I imagine the exotic country it came from, and what the person finding itmust have ... Read Full Article
Southeast Turkey Holds Unexpected Treasures
So just what was it that brought me to Southeast Turkey? Well, I was standing in a small art gallery in Istanbul. Part of the gallery was dedicated to photography by contemporary Turkish artists. And, what caught my attention was a series of photographs depicting a town on the banks of the River Tigris. Some of the photos displayed were: the remains of a medieval bridge spanning the ... Read Full Article
Hints for Traveling the World as a Single Woman
I have been traveling the world as a single woman for the many years. I have been to North Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the US and nearly every European country, always on my own and accumulating a wealth of experiences and insights along the way. I made mistakes and have leaned from them; honing safety skills and perfecting my accommodation choices as well as knowing what to ... Read Full Article
London on Foot: a Haunted House and Jack the Ripper
There are endless possibilities for discovering London on foot, but this time I felt a need to indulge in an exploration of the macabre. Evoke before your inner eye the image of swirling London fog barely penetrated by the yellow light of gas street lamps. Imagine unsavory characters up to no good lurking in the depth of alleys; or ghosts in haunted houses rattling their chains and frightening ... Read Full Article
Walking Over and Around London’s Tower Bridge
The beauty of London is that which ever direction you walk, you will quickly find yourself in either one of its countless parks and squares full of trees, flowers and monuments; or on the banks of the mighty River Thames. The Thames, which meanders through central London, is one of the city's most famous landmarks and the emblematic Tower Bridge is it’s most well known means to cross the ... Read Full Article
Affordable Boutique Hotels for Solo Travelers
Looking for affordable hotels for solo travelers? It’s a sad but inevitable fact that a solo traveler’s budget can suffer serious dents when it comes to accommodation. Nice, comfortable, single rooms are either not available at all or cost an arm and a leg. Many hotels will rent you a double room for use as a single, but they don’t cut the price in half! I’m always on the lookout for hotels ... Read Full Article
Bursa: City of Silk, Mosques and Shadow Theatre
“Look,” my friend Wendy, pointed. “I wonder what they are!” We were strolling around the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey and among all the glitz and glamour of the gold shops we had turned into a tiny side alley which had only three small stalls, crammed full with antiques. At the entrance of one of them hung two arm-length, elaborately crafted, painted figures which seemed to be puppets. “Let’s ... Read Full Article