Posts in Turkey in my eyes

The Bank Hotel Istanbul: A Remarkable Combination of deep-rooted History with Eclectic Architecture

Adventure Travel Turkey in my eyes 3 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual trips, welcome to a new post on the Mr.M blog. People who have been following the Mr.M blog for years know that traveling is my passion and an integral part of my job, and it is always necessary to have reliable partners. During my last visit to the imperial city on two continents, I accepted the invitation of an interesting hotel that represents an extraordinary combination of deep-rooted history with eclectic architecture – The Bank Hotel Istanbul.

The story of this hotel began in the famous street in Istanbul – Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street), where The Bank Hotel Istanbul is located. This is no ordinary street because it hides a rich and unusual history. Once known as Voyvoda Street, it has always played a central role in Galata’s life. The importance of this axis, which was formed as a road together with the inner city walls of Galata, can be recognized as the building of the Parliament of Genoa Palazzo del Comune and the square Piazza Market.

The Genoese community (Magnifica Comunita di Peira) continued in semi-private status until 1682. In the mentioned years, European merchants developed and improved because there were various shops and banks in that area, and local Ottoman administrations were also located there. This street has retained its importance as it did in the Ottoman era. Hence, it can be understood that the street was named after the apartments and residence of the Duke, the local administrator responsible for public order in Galata. In the street below Voyvoda is Mahkeme Street, where Galata Court was located. The name Voyvoda Street was given by Evliya Çelebi, who at that time was a famous explorer in the 17th century, and the street became the center of finance and trade of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century.

The unusual meeting of Yılmaz Ulusoy Holding and the hotel building As mentioned earlier, the Bank Hotel building was built in 1867 by Antoine Tedeschi in the Neo-Renaissance style and still emphasizes the importance of the historical value of the city. It is a perfect reflection of the eclectic architectural style of the 19th century. In 2010, their property was bought by Mr. Yılmaz Ulusoy and they started a new adventure in their story that continues since the 1860s. Moreover, the hotel building was created as a combination of two buildings; The Sümerbank building and the Cemaathan building, the former community center of Neve Shalom.

The Bank Hotel Istanbul is located on Banks Street, formerly known as Voyvoda Street and is the center of jewelers and bankers. The trademark of Yılmaz Ulusoy Holding “The Bank Hotel Istanbul” is his first step in the restoration of the building, which has historical and cultural values, with the aim of keeping it alive from the past to the present. After the hotel building was bought by Mr. Yılmaz Ulusoy, the restoration works were carried out by the architect Han Tumertekin.

The building still today reflects the identity of the region where it is located, since its creation in the 19th century. The Bank Hotel Istanbul building, which has been restored on the principle of restoring it by preserving its original condition and protecting its artistic value, continues to host its guests with its meeting rooms, historical calculators, cash registers and life experiences. Who is Mr. Yılmaz Ulusoy? Yılmaz Ulusoy, whose business life for more than half a century has been crowned with the story of a productive, this hard-working and highly positioned businessman is still in the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yılmaz Ulusoy Holding A.S., which operates in many sectors, especially in the branches of tourism, shipping, energy and construction.

During my stay I had the opportunity to stay in a Deluxe King room with a usable area of 29 square meters. These rooms feature colorful ceilings, a green Carrara marble bathroom with a rain shower, specially designed furniture and lighting, a wide sofa and a motorized curtain system. Most rooms have large windows and 5 meter high ceilings. What is important to know about all room categories in this hotel:

  • All rooms are designed by Sinan Kafadar in warm and organic colors, special interior decoration
  • Workable ceilings and parquet floors
  • The radiators are protected in their original condition
  • Blackout curtains and LCD TV
  • Blankets and pillows made of goose feathers
  • All rooms have a work desk
  • Loccitane bathroom products
  • Bathrobes and slippers
  • Mini bar
  • Free internet
  • There is a free coffee machine as well as tea making facilities.

The story of Serica restaurant is inspired by the Silk Road, which brings us traditional recipes of ancient civilizations that sprung from the Mountain of the Gods thousands of years ago and stretched to Istanbul. Although the legacy of the food culture of the Gokturks civilization, which is a nomadic and conquering society to which Turkic communities feel a sense of belonging, is very extensive, other nomadic civilizations that left a mystical gastronomic path to the Silk Road also have different storage and cooking techniques. Serica’s menu was created by the famous chef Tolga Atalaj, bringing together the flavors that the Silk Road gave to the world of gastronomy. The historian of gastronomy, Ozge Samanci, is also a major contributor to the research. Every detail of the recipes that make up the menu contains emotions, tastes, smells and colors that reflect this historic giant road.

In addition to the exceptional Serica Restaurant, this hotel also has the Bank Roof Bar, located in Karakoy, one of the most beloved areas of Istanbul’s history, offering its guests an unforgettable experience with signature cocktails and unique flavors with a magnificent view of the historic peninsula.

Of course, there is also the Lobby Bar & Restaurant in the warm and sophisticated aura of The Bank Istanbul Hotel, located in the center of the bohemian Karakoy, offering its guests the tastes of world cuisine and buffet breakfast options, as well as various cocktails and drinks.

The Spa at The Bank Hotel Istanbul offers modern and traditional care with a classic Turkish hammam in white marble, a fitness center, sauna, steam room and three massage and facial rooms (including a couples room). The spa is available to hotel guests and visitors by appointment.

The Bank Hotel Istanbul represents the pearl of the Marriott International hotel design brand with a rich history and an example of eclectic architecture. This hotel is located in the immediate vicinity of Galata Tower, Galata Bridge and the famous Taksim Square.

Taksim Square located in the Beyoglu area (Beyoglu) in the European part of Istanbul is a major tourist and recreational area known for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network.

Do you perhaps know where the word Taksim comes from? The word Taksim means “division” or “distribution” in Arabic. Taksim Square was originally where the main waters from the north of Istanbul collected and branched off to other parts of the city (hence the name.) This use was established for the area by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from an Ottoman-era stone reservoir that located on one side of the square.

Today, Taksim is a cultural center with numerous places for entertainment and relaxation, that part of Istanbul never sleeps!

Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue) historically known as Pera Grand Avenue in Beyoglu (Pera) historical district, is a 1.4 kilometer long avenue, a famous pedestrian street and one of the most famous streets in Istanbul. It got its modern name after the proclamation of the Republic on October 29, 1923, Istiklal (Independence) in commemoration of Turkey’s triumph in the War of Independence. The street starts at the northern end of Galata at Tunel Square and goes to Taksim Square. This street features buildings from the late Ottoman era, mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries in a variety of styles, including Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, and the first Turkish national architecture.

There are also several Art Deco buildings from the early years of the Turkish Republic, as well as a number of more recent examples of modern architecture. This street used to be mostly residential blocks, but today most of it is now occupied by boutiques, music stores, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, libraries, cafes, pubs, night clubs with live music, hotels, historic patisserie, chocolate bars, restaurants and a growing number international chains of well-known stores. There is even a branch of Madame Tussauds Istanbul on this street.

The Galata Tower (Turkish: Galata Kulesi), officially the Galata Tower Museum, is an old Genoese tower in the Galata section of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Built as an observation tower at the highest point of the (lost) walls of Galata, the tower is now an exhibition space and museum and a symbol of Beyoglu and Istanbul.

During the Byzantine period, Emperor Justinian ordered a tower to be erected in what was to become Galata. This tower was destroyed during the Fourth Crusade in 1204. In 1267, a Genoese colony was founded in the Galata part of Constantinople. It was surrounded by walls, and the Galata Tower was first built on their highest point as the Romanesque Christ Tower in 1348 during the expansion of the colony. At that time, the Galata Tower, at 67 meters, was the tallest building in the city. After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the Genoese colony was abolished and the walls demolished. The tower was allowed to survive and was turned into a prison.

There is a legend that in 1638 Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi allegedly tied his wings and made the first intercontinental flight from the roof of the Galata Tower, landing in Dogancılar Meidanı in Uskudar on the Asian side of the city, a story of dubious authenticity told by the Ottoman travel writer Evliya Çelebi. From 1717, the Ottomans used the tower for fire protection (on the old Istanbul side of the city, the Beyazit Tower had the same function). In 2020, the Galata Tower was restored and then reopened as a museum. The tower is mainly popular for the 360-degree view of Istanbul from the observation deck.

The Galata Bridge is a bridge that spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Especially since the end of the 19th century, the bridge appears in Turkish literature, theater, poetry and novels. The current Galata Bridge is only the latest in a series of bridges that have connected Eminonu in the Fatih district and Karakoy in Beyoglu since the early 19th century. The current bridge, the fifth in the same place, was built in 1994. The bridge was named after Galata on the northern coast of the Golden Horn.

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this special travelogue about The Bank Istanbul Hotel and I believe you will take the opportunity to stay at this hotel during your next visit to the imperial city on two continents. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the world’s Turkish airline – Turkish Airlines and The Bank Istanbul Hotel, which allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Turkish culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey my impressions about this unusual experience from Turkey.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I would like to give special thanks to the staff of The Bank Hotel Istanbul for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, a unique experience that I will remember!

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with companies that are at the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank Turkish Airlines and The Bank Hotel Istanbul once again for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience it in a very different way. I feel the beauty of this unusual Turkish culture.

How did you like my story about the unusual The Bank Istanbul Hotel and the presentation of the imperial city on two continents? Have you had the chance to visit Istanbul yet?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With love from Istanbul,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by world airline Turkish Airlines and The Bank Istanbul Hotel as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Turkish Airlines: Take Advantage of the Stopover in Istanbul!

Adventure Travel Turkey in my eyes Turkish Airlines Adventure 6 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual trips, welcome to a new post on the Mr.M blog. I would like to thank you for the many messages and emails you have sent me regarding the adventure in China. I am pleased to know that you liked your adventure in China and that you enjoyed my travelogues during May. Today’s story will be dedicated to the new service of the leading Turkish airline, Turkish Airlines, with which you will have the opportunity to enjoy the charms of Istanbul.

If by any chance you missed reading travelogues from China or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from China: Explore the Peal of the Far East with Turkish Airlines
  2. Letters from China: The Peninsula Beijing, explore the first luxury hotel in the heart of Beijing
  3. Letters from China: Tiananmen Square, let’s explore The Gate of Heavenly Peace together
  4. Letters from China: The Temple of Heaven, the Imperial Sacrificial Altar in the Heart of Beijing
  5. Letters from China: The Summer Palace and The Great Wall of China

As I promised you in the first travelogue from China, today I will explain in more detail the new Turkish Airlines program called – Stopover in Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines is the Turkish national airline, which from 2022 operates regular flight services to 340 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, which makes it the largest major carrier in the world by the number of passenger destinations. Interestingly, Turkish Airlines serves more destinations with direct flights from one airport – Istanbul, than any other airline in the world and flies to 126 countries, more than any other airline.

Today I will introduce the Istanbul Stopover program, which offers all Turkish Airlines passengers the opportunity to explore Istanbul. Passengers connecting via Istanbul Airport can enrich their trip by discovering the history and cultural life of the city with the Istanbul Stopover program and enjoy free accommodation in partner hotels.

What exactly does the Stopover in Istanbul program enable? Turkish Airlines provides 1 free night in a 4-star hotel for economy class passengers and 2 free nights in a 5-star hotel for business class passengers on a bed and breakfast basis. Free accommodation in the Istanbul Stopover program is available for flights from different cities, so you can check the LIST and find Stopover departure & destination points.

NOTE: If you are traveling to distant destinations, you can contact Turkish Airlines and find out about the possibility of using this program depending on the final destination.

Conditions that must be met in order to be able to use the Stopover in Istanbul program:

  • Travelers who wish to take advantage of this benefit of free accommodation in Istanbul should choose a connection with a minimum 20-hour waiting time.
  • Free accommodation is only valid for passengers who purchase a return ticket and can only be used in one direction during the trip, on the way out or on the way back.
  • Free accommodation is only valid for Turkish Airlines flights with tickets.
  • The entire procedure of booking and issuing the hotel voucher must be completed 72 hours before the trip.
  • The costs of the transfer between the airport and the hotel and the Turkish visa (if required) are covered by the passenger.
  • Travelers using the free accommodation service cannot use the TourIstanbul service at the same time.
  • The departure and return country of the round trip must be the same for a stopover to apply.
  • The boarding pass and hotel voucher must be shown when checking in at the hotel.
  • Travelers who do not have a hotel voucher with them cannot use the free accommodation service.
  • Passengers with reissued tickets due to flight cancellation or any other irregularity cannot use this service.
  • Free accommodation is subject to hotel availability and Turkish Airlines has the right to change conditions at any time.

Turkish Airlines has two programs for passengers TourIstanbul and Stopover in Istanbul. What is the difference between these programs?

The Touristanbul program is for all Turkish Airlines passengers who have an international flight with a stopover in Istanbul and the connection time is between 6 and 24 hours. In that case, you can take advantage of Turkish Airlines’ free Touristanbul service to discover Istanbul. You can choose one of the eight tours offered by Touristanbul according to the time frame that best suits your flight’s arrival and departure schedule. During the tours, you can visit the most prominent historical sights of Istanbul and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience. After landing at Istanbul airport, a vehicle will pick you up and return you to the airport at the end of the tour. Although the tour time is carefully arranged and planned, if the guest is unable to take the flight in cases that are our responsibility, we will ensure that the passenger arrives at the destination smoothly on the next flight.

The Stopover in Istanbul program provides a free overnight stay in partner hotels on a bed and breakfast basis. Turkish Airlines provides 1 free night in a 4-star hotel for economy class passengers and 2 free nights in a 5-star hotel for business class passengers on a bed and breakfast basis.

THE DIFFERENCE: Touristanbul is a program of a short visit to Istanbul with a provided meal and a tour of Istanbul, while Stopover in Istanbul is a program that exclusively provides bed and breakfast in partner hotels without the tour of Istanbul, you are free to discover Istanbul on your own.

How to apply for the Stopover in Istanbul program through the Turkish Airlines office? At least 72 hours before the first flight, all Turkish Airlines passengers who meet the above conditions of this program can make a reservation by emailing their first and last name, reservation code (PNR) and ticket number, desired dates of accommodation, desired room type , phone number and e-mail address. For all departures, you can check the LIST and find Stopover departure & destination points and contact information.

When Turkish Airlines receives your request, you will receive a hotel voucher that must be presented at hotel check-in.

If you want to apply for this program through the Turkish Airlines website, you can do so at this LINK.

Partner hotels participating in this program are:

Stopover in Istanbul partner hotels for Turkish Airlines passengers with economy class tickets (1 free night with breakfast):

Stopover in Istanbul partner hotels for Turkish Airlines passengers with business class tickets (2 free nights with breakfast):

Since you have successfully qualified for the Stopover in Istanbul Turkish Airlines program, I would like to share with you some suggestions of what you should visit during your visit to the city on two continents that never sleeps – Istanbul.

Misir Bazaar – Spice Bazaar – Egyptian Bazaar

One market, many names, a place where all your senses will delight. This market is one of the biggest bazaars in the city. Located in the Eminonu district of Fatih district, it is the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi). Why was this bazaar named “Egyptian bazaar”? It got this name because it was built with revenues from the Ottoman Eyalet of Egypt in 1660. The word mışır has a double meaning in Turkish: “Egypt” and “corn”. That is why the name is sometimes wrongly translated as “Corn Bazaar”.

The bazaar was (and still is) the center of the spice trade in Istanbul, but in recent years shops of other kinds have gradually replaced the spice sellers. The building itself is part of the New Mosque complex. The income obtained from the rented shops in the bazaar building was used for the maintenance of the mosque. The structure was designed by the court architect Koca Kasım Aga, but construction work began under the supervision of another court architect, Mustafa Aga, in the last months of 1660, after the Great Fire of Istanbul in 1660.

After the fire, a major restoration and reconstruction began in the city, which included the continuation of work on the construction of the New Mosque in 1660, the work was temporarily stopped between 1603 and 1660, the construction of the mosque was finally completed in the period between 1660 and 1665. and the beginning of the construction of the mosque. the construction of the Spice Bazaar in the same year, as well as all the buildings in the Kulliie New Mosque, including the Spice Bazaar, was ordered by Sultania Turhan Khatija, Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) of Sultan Mehmed IV.

SULTANAHMET – HAYA SOFIA – BLUE MOSQUE

Sultanahmet Square, once known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, is today a square in Istanbul, in the immediate vicinity of which are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Previously, it was a circus that was the sports and social center of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (ippos) – horse and dromos – road. For this reason, it is sometimes called Atmeidanı (“Horse Square”) in Turkish. Horse and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world, and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

The Blue Mosque of Istanbul, also known by its official formal name, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a historic Ottoman-era imperial mosque located in the center of the old part of the city. A functional mosque, it also attracts a large number of tourists. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I.

Its Kulije contains Ahmed’s grave, a madrasa and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the interior walls of the mosque, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight side domes. It is located next to Hagia Sophia, the main mosque in Istanbul until the construction of the Blue Mosque and another popular tourist spot. In 1985, the Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Historic Areas of Istanbul”.

Hagia Sophia (literal translation ‘Holy Wisdom’), officially the Great Mosque Hagia Sophia is a mosque and the main cultural and historical site in the old part of the city. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Orthodox church that lasted from 360 AD until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. It served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. Two years ago, in 2020 to be exact, Hagia Sophia became a mosque again.

The current building was built by the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as a Christian cathedral in Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, and was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralus. The official name of the church was the Church of the Holy Wisdom. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is considered to have “changed the history of architecture”.

The current Justinian building was the third church of the same name to occupy the site, since the previous one was destroyed in the riots in Nicaea. As the episcopal seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, it remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years, until the Cathedral of Seville was completed in 1520. Beginning with later Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia became the paradigmatic form of the Orthodox Church and its architectural style modeled on Ottoman mosques a thousand years later. It has been described as “occupying a unique position in the Christian world” and as an architectural and cultural icon of Byzantine and Orthodox civilization.

Eminönü

Eminonu, historically known as Perama is a predominantly commercial coastal area in Istanbul within the Fatih district near the mouth of the Golden Horn with the southern entrance to the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. It is connected to Karaköy (the historic Galata Tower) via the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn. From 1928 to 2009 it was part of the Sultanahmet district when Sultanahmet was absorbed into Fatih. The bustling main square of Eminonu is overlooked by the New Mosque (Ieni Cami in Turkish) and the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Carsısı in Turkish). Eminonu is an important transport hub.

Several ferries have terminals along the Eminonu coast, and the T1 tram has a stop here. In the southeast, Eminonu flows into Sirkeci, while in the northwest it joins the commercial areas of Tahtakala and Kuchukpazar. Inland from Eminonu is another shopping district, Mahmutpaşa. In Turkish, Eminonu means “in front of justice” (“emin” meaning “justice” and “onu” meaning “in front”). The name probably came from the Ottoman courts and customs houses on the docks; “Emin” was the title of an Ottoman customs official.

Taksim Square – Istikal Street

Taksim Square located in the Beyoglu area (Beyoglu) in the European part of Istanbul is a major tourist and recreational area known for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network.

Do you perhaps know where the word Taksim comes from? The word Taksim means “division” or “distribution” in Arabic. Taksim Square was originally where the main waters from the north of Istanbul collected and branched off to other parts of the city (hence the name.) This use was established for the area by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from an Ottoman-era stone reservoir that located on one side of the square.

Today, Taksim is a cultural center with numerous places for entertainment and relaxation, that part of Istanbul never sleeps!

Istiklal Street (Independence Avenue) historically known as Pera Grand Avenue in Beyoglu (Pera) historical district, is a 1.4 kilometer long avenue, a famous pedestrian street and one of the most famous streets in Istanbul. It got its modern name after the proclamation of the Republic on October 29, 1923, Istiklal (Independence) in commemoration of Turkey’s triumph in the War of Independence. The street starts at the northern end of Galata at Tunel Square and goes to Taksim Square. This street features buildings from the late Ottoman era, mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries in a variety of styles, including Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, and the first Turkish national architecture.

There are also several Art Deco buildings from the early years of the Turkish Republic, as well as a number of more recent examples of modern architecture. This street used to be mostly residential blocks, but today most of it is now occupied by boutiques, music stores, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, libraries, cafes, pubs, night clubs with live music, hotels, historic patisserie, chocolate bars, restaurants and a growing number international chains of well-known stores. There is even a branch of Madame Tussauds Istanbul on this street.

If you want to feel modern Istanbul and enjoy the charms of shopping, my sincere recommendation is to visit the famous Nisantasi district. Nişantaşı is an upscale, mostly secular residential neighborhood in the Şişli neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul. From Osmanbey and Pangalti in the west to the bustling Halaskargazi Caddesi, it is a popular shopping district, full of boutiques, department stores, cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. Many of the streets are still lined with fine apartment blocks from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Directly to the south is the large and green park Mačka, and to the east is the city district of Besiktas.

After a successful shopping therapy, you can go down to Macka Park and enjoy the view of the beautiful Bosphorus! Yes, it is that famous landscape that we can see in many famous Turkish TV shows! Istanbul is full of wonders and believe me, every time I go there I always discover and learn something new, so I always get excited and fall in love with this imperial city on two continents!

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this special Istanbul travelogue and I believe you will take advantage of the Turkish Airlines Stopover in Istanbul program where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this imperial city on two continents. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the world’s Turkish airline – Turkish Airlines, which allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Turkish culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey my impressions about this unusual experience from Turkey.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I am honored to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank Turkish Airlines once again for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Turkish culture in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about the Istanbul Stopover program, the presentation of the imperial city on two continents? Have you had the chance to visit Istanbul yet?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With love from Istanbul,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by world airline Turkish Airlines as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from China: Hutongs, the Best Way to Experience the Beauty of Local Life in Beijing!

Adventure Travel Turkey in my eyes 5 Comments

My dear travelers and fans of unusual trips, welcome to the new series of long-awaited travelogues from China on the Mr.M blog. The month of May will be dedicated to one of the cradles of human civilization and a country with thousands of years of written history – China. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue, I would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism of the People’s Republic of China – Visit China and the leading Turkish airline Turkish Airlines for the kind invitation and hospitality. With their help, the travelogues and fashion stories that you will have the opportunity to read this May were created and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy them.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues or want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from China: Explore the Peal of the Far East with Turkish Airlines
  2. Letters from China: The Peninsula Beijing, explore the first luxury hotel in the heart of Beijing
  3. Letters from China: Tiananmen Square, let’s explore The Gate of Heavenly Peace together
  4. Letters from China: The Temple of Heaven, the Imperial Sacrificial Altar in the Heart of Beijing
  5. Letters from China: The Summer Palace and The Great Wall of China

Today we will explore together one of the oldest Hutongs in the capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing. Hutongs represent a type of extremely narrow alleys that are a symbol of northern Chinese cities, especially in Beijing.

In Beijing, hutongs are alleyways formed by rows of xiheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Siheyuan represents a historical housing type commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Throughout Chinese history, the xiheyuan composition was the basic pattern used for residences, palaces, temples, monasteries, family businesses, and government offices. In ancient times, a spacious xiheyuan would be occupied by one, usually large and extended family, signifying wealth and prosperity. Today, the remaining xiheyuans are often still used as split-level apartment complexes, although many lack modern amenities.

Many neighborhoods were formed by merging one siheyuan with another to form a hutong, and then merging one hutong with another. The word hutong is also used to refer to such settlements. Since the mid-20th century, many Beijing hutongs have been demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. More recently, however, many hutongs have been declared protected, in an attempt to preserve this aspect of China’s cultural history. Hutongs were first established in the Yuan Dynasty and then expanded in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

During the dynastic period in China, the emperors planned the city of Beijing and arranged residential areas according to the social classes of the Zhou dynasty. The term “hutong” first appeared during the Yuan Dynasty and is a term of Mongolian origin, meaning “water well”. In the Ming Dynasty at the beginning of the 15th century, the center of Beijing was the Forbidden City, surrounded in concentric circles by the Inner and Outer City. Citizens of higher social status were allowed to live closer to the center of the circles. Aristocrats lived east and west of the imperial palace. The grand xiheyuan of these high officials and wealthy merchants often had beautifully carved and painted roof beams and columns and carefully landscaped gardens.

The hutongs they formed were tidy, bordered by spacious houses and fenced gardens. Beyond the palace, to the north and south, were the common people, merchants, artisans and workers. Their xiheyuans were far smaller in size and simpler in design and decoration, and their hutongs were narrower. Almost all Siheyuans had their main buildings and gates facing south for better lighting, so most hutongs run from east to west. Between the main hutongs, many small lanes led north and south for convenient passage.

Historically, the hutong as a term was also once used as the lowest level of administrative geographical divisions in a city in ancient China, as in the paifang system: the highest division in a city in ancient China was the canine, which is the equivalent of the current day ward. Each canine was surrounded by walls or fences, and the gates of these enclosures were closed and guarded nightly, somewhat like a modern gated community.

Each canine is further divided into several panels or pai, equivalent to the current community (or neighborhood). Each pai in turn contained an area that included several hutongs, and during the Ming Dynasty, Beijing was divided into a total of 36 canines. However, as the ancient Chinese system of urban administrative division gave way to population and household divisions instead of geographic divisions, hutongs were no longer used as the lowest level of administrative geographic division and were replaced by other approaches to division.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Qing court was disintegrating as China’s dynastic era came to an end. He also influenced the traditional arrangement of hutongs. Many new hutongs, built randomly and without any plan, began to appear on the outskirts of the old city, while the old ones lost their former neat appearance. The social stratification of the inhabitants also began to disappear, reflecting the collapse of the feudal system. Many such hutong-like areas have been demolished.

During the period of the Republic of China from 1911 to 1948, society was unstable, plagued by civil wars and repeated foreign invasions. Beijing deteriorated, and conditions in the hutongs worsened. Formerly owned and lived in by individual families, xiheyuans were and are shared by many households, with additions added as needed, built from whatever materials were available. The 978 hutongs listed in Qing Dynasty records had grown to 1,330 by 1949. Today in 2008, in some hutons, such as those in Da Shi Lan, conditions are still poor.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, many of Beijing’s old hutongs were destroyed, replaced by wide boulevards and high-rise buildings. Many residents were forced to leave the streets where their families had lived in previous generations and move into high-rise buildings. In Sicheng County, for example, nearly 200 hutongs were demolished out of the 820 it boasted in 1949. However, many of Beijing’s ancient hutongs still exist, and some of them have been designated protected areas. Older neighborhoods survive today, offering a glimpse of life in the capital as it was for generations.

Many hutongs, several hundred years old, near the bell tower and drum tower and Shichahai Lake are preserved among the reconstructed modern two-story and three-story versions. This area is full of tourists, many of whom tour the neighborhood on bicycles. Today, as in the past, hutongs are home to celebrities, business owners and officials. After the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, Zhao Ziyang spent his fifteen years under house arrest in a hutong. Zhao’s hutong was previously occupied by one of Empress Dowager Cixi’s hairdressers.

Hutongs represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing. Thanks to Beijing’s long history and its status as the capital of six dynasties, almost every hutong has its own anecdotes, and some are even connected to historical events. In contrast to the court life and elite culture represented by the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, hutongs reflect the culture of Beijing’s citizens. Hutongs are residential neighborhoods that still form the heart of Old Beijing.

The pictures you can see in today’s post were taken in one of the oldest hutongs in Beijing – Yandai Xiejie (Yandai Xiejie in Chinese), Yandaikie Street (Yandaixie Street). Located in Xicheng District, it is close to Shichahai which are famous attractions in Beijing. It is 232 meters long with its eastern end at Di’anmen Street and its western end at the Silver Ingot Bridge. Stepping into the street for about 50 meters, one would come to the southern end of Dashibei Hutong, which goes to Drum Tower West Avenue (Gulou Xidajie). Crossing the Silver Ingot Bridge leads to Houhai Bar Street.

According to one of the many books, which was published during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, Yandai Biwai was originally called Drum Tower Xiejie and was changed to the name we know today at the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is recorded that during the Qing Dynasty, there were many pipe shops in this street, including one called Shuangshengtai. The owner of the shop placed a 1.5 meter high wooden smoking pipe as a sign. As time passed, the street was known throughout the city for its huge smoking pipe, hence its name. Some people also say that the street looks like a smoking pipe.

After the revolution ended in 1911, the Qing royal family was deposed, the army (Manchus fed by the Qing government) lost their income and many of them had to sell their possessions, such as antiques, to make a living. Gradually, many ancient markets were formed in Beijing, among which was the great Yandaikie Street. But after 1949, the antiques trade in this street gradually declined. Yandaikie Street lost its commercial position in the 1950s and many buildings were converted into residential buildings, including the Taoist Temple – Guangfu Guan.

At the beginning of the 21st century, more precisely in 2007, the street was renovated in order to regain its historical characteristics. Guangfu Guan became a tourist spot and many reproductions of classical architecture were built on the street. The buildings house shops for Indian clothing, Miao costumes and accessories, Tibetan costumes, Lijiang handicrafts, Shanxi ceramics, Chairman Mao badges and quotes, etc. If you want to experience Chinese commercial culture, the best way would be to buy some souvenirs and haggle with the merchants.

Every hutong has a name. Some have only had one name since their inception, while others have had several throughout their history. Many hutongs are named after their location, local landmark or business, such as: City gates, such as Inner Xizhimen Hutong, indicating that this hutong is located in the “Xizhimen Nei” or “Xizhimen Within” district, which located on the city side of the Xizhimen Gate, a gate on the city wall.

Markets and businesses, such as Yangshi Hutong (Yangshi literally means sheep market) or Yizi Hutong (the local term for soap is iizi) Temples, such as Guanyinsi Hutong (Guaniyinsi is the Kuan-yin Temple) Local features, such as Liushu Hutong (Liushu means willow), which was originally named “Liushujing Hutong”, literally “Willow Tree Well Hutong”, after a local well.

Some hutongs are named after people, such as Mengduan Hutong (named after Meng Duan, the Ming Dynasty mayor of Beijing whose residence was in this hutong). Others were given an auspicious name, with words with generic positive attributes, such as Xiqing Hutong (Xiking means happy) Hutongs that share a name, or longer hutongs divided into sections, are often identified by direction. for example, there are three Hongmen Hutongs (“Red Gate Hutong”), namely West Hongmen Hutong, East Hongmen Hutong and South Hongmen Hutong (all three Hutongs have been erased since 2011 and no longer exist).

While most Beijing hutongs are flat, Jiudaowan Hutong turns nineteen times. Located near Beikinkiao Station, its name jiǔ dào wān literally means “Nine Turns”. At its narrowest point, the Kianshi Hutong near Qianmen (Front Gate) is only 40 centimeters wide.

My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this sixth and at the same time the last special travelogue in the series of travelogues about wonderful China where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in the heart of East Asia. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the Ministry of Tourism of the People’s Republic of China – Visit China, the world airline company Turkish Airlines and The Peninsula Beijing Hotel in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of ancient Chinese culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions about this unusual experience from China with Turkish Airlines.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I am honored to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank Turkish Airlines once again for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Far Eastern culture in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about China and the presentation of the Hutongs which adorns the heart of this unusual capital of this interesting country in East Asia? Have you had a chance to visit China so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from China, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey leads you to this capital of this ancient faraway country!

With Love from Beijing,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by world airline Turkish Airlines, Visit China and The Peninsula Beijing Hotel as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Nisantaşi: Istanbul Luxury Shopping Guide

Fashion Lifestyle Travel Turkey in my eyes 6 Comments

My dear fashionistas and travelers, I hope you are well and ready for a new (fashion) adventure. Today’s post will be slightly different compared to the previous travelogues that you have had the opportunity to read on the Mr.M blog. The travelogue you will be able to read today will be written in the form of an interesting shopping guide where I will introduce you to some interesting places to shop when you are in Istanbul. In addition to the luxury places to shop, I’ll also give you some tips on where you can buy good quality designer stuff at significantly cheaper prices, so this guide will cover all fashionistas with all budgets, because everyone deserves to be stylish dressed according to their budget.

If you forgot to read my travelogue about Istanbul or you want to remind yourself of some interesting details, before you continue reading this guide, spare a few minutes of your time to read my latest travelogue in this imperial city on two continents – LINK. Let’s remind some of the most important details about this Turkish metropolis.

Symbol of Istanbul: A red cart with a glass window where you can always find fresh simit (bagels) and other pastries.

Istanbul, the imperial city that has remained known throughout history as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populated city in the Republic of Türkiye. This city is also the economic, cultural and historical center of the country. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, located on the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The commercial and historical center of the city is located in the European part, while about a third of the city’s population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which has more than 15 million inhabitants. Istanbul is one of the most populated cities in the world, the seventh largest city in the world and the largest city in Europe. Istanbul is considered a bridge between East and West.

The fairy tale view from the terrace of the presidential suite of the Divan Taksim Istanbul hotel

I will try to list the parts (districts) of the city for you, so that you can find your way around when you come to this magical city. Istanbul is divided into the following city districts:

  • Sultanahmet – the old part of the city
  • Galata – Beyoglu area, where Taksim Square and the famous Istikal Street are located
  • New City – The main business district of the city with many modern shopping centers and districts such as Elmadag, Nisantaşi and Etiler.
  • Bosphorus area – The European shore of the Bosphorus dotted with numerous palaces, parks, waterside villas and bohemian districts such as Beşiktaş and Ortakoy.
  • Golden Horn area – The banks of the Golden Horn, the estuary that separates the European side into characteristic areas. Here is Eyüpsultan, with an Ottoman ambience.
  • Prince’s Islands – A convenient place for a perfect break from the city, consisting of an archipelago of nine car-free islands – some of them small, some of them large – with beautiful wooden villas, green pine gardens and beautiful landscapes.
  • The Asian part of Istanbul – The eastern half of Istanbul, with beautiful neighborhoods on the banks of the Marmara and the Bosphorus.
  • The Western part of Istanbul, the western suburbs – are a collection of Istanbul districts, which lie west of the city walls of the old city. Bakırköy is the main center of this part of the city.

The center of our shopping guide today is the famous Nisantaşi district. In the immediate vicinity of this famous shopping paradise is the Divan Istanbul hotel, where I stayed during this visit to Istanbul. By staying at the Divan Istanbul hotel, a visit to Istanbul takes on a new dimension and definition of travel, relaxation and an idyllic vacation. Hotel Divan Istanbul offers its visitors a complete travel experience that will exceed all their expectations.

Hotel Divan Istanbul, thanks to its extraordinary location, dominates the different rhythms of Istanbul. Just a few steps away from Taksim Square, the hotel is intertwined with the vibrancy of the city and is conveniently located to be inspired by Istanbul with all its historical and cultural texture. Don’t forget to listen to the legendary story of the Galata Tower located in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, mingle with the colors of the Grand Bazaar, open the doors of history in Topkapi Palace and visit important places that reflect the spirit of the city in order to make new discoveries or rediscover them.

As I mentioned a little while ago, near the Divan Istanbul Hotel is the most famous shopping district where there are many famous international fashion and other brands that you can find on Nisantaşi. Nişantaşı is an upscale, mostly secular residential neighborhood in the Şişli neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul. From Osmanbey and Pangalti in the west to the bustling Halaskargazi Caddesi, it is a popular shopping district, full of boutiques, department stores, cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. Many of the streets are still lined with beautiful apartment blocks from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Directly to the south is the large and green park Macka, and to the east is the city district of Besiktas.

Nisantaşi is the right place for all those shopping lovers who are looking for something more and want to feel an extraordinary luxury shopping experience that is truly unique. How did this today’s paradise for shopaholics get its name? The name “Nişantaşı” is among those whose origin is based on a sign in the typology of district names of Istanbul. One of the two engagement stones in the courtyard of Teşvikiye Mosque, The oldest belonging to Selim III, 1790-91, II. The second, which belongs to Mahmud, bears the date of 1811. Another stone dated 1811 remained in the front garden of an apartment building on Nişantaşı-Ihlamur Road in Topağacı today.

There is information that Selim III had a small mosque built in 1794-95, on the site of today’s Teşvikiye Mosque, after the first engagement stone was erected. This masjid must have been built for daytime prayers on the days when the sultan went on engagement practice in large groups.

Interest in this district increased even more when Abdulmedid moved to the Dolmabahçe Palace, and in 1857 he ordered the weddings of his princes to take place in Nişantaşı. The following year, the weddings of their daughters Cemile and Munire Sultan were again held in Nişantaşı. A decade later, the records show that Nişantaşı was opened for development and that the construction of the first villas began. Starting in the 1860s and 70s, Nişantaşı would develop as a neighborhood of villas and palaces, and apartments would be added to it from the 1910s.

The development of Nişantaşı is in complete accordance with the development of Istanbul in the second half of the 19th century. Two main developments affected Nisantası on two main axes. First, the palace was moved to Dolmabahce, and then to Yildiz. This phenomenon attracted members of the dynasty and high state officials to this quarter. Second, Nişantaşı is close to Pera (Beyoglu), the most modern part of the city. Living near Pera in Istanbul, on the road to westernization and modernization, was also an opportunity to mix with the lifestyle there. The two main axes that express this are Macka-Osmanbei and Taksim-Nisantaşı.

Nişantaşı developed around these two axes from the beginning of settlement, but this development continued in the form of village-town intertwining until the 1950s. Topagacı and the end of today’s Vali Konagi street, that is, the valley of the Fulya stream, preserved its rural appearance until the 1970s.

Development after the 1930s went towards housing, as in all of Istanbul, and it became one of the fastest growing residential districts in Istanbul, along with districts around Nişantaşı such as Taksim, Harbiie, Osmanbey and Sisli. However, this residential area continued as an elite neighborhood, the district preserved its identity as a neighborhood preferred by the upper income group, and the shops lining the main streets also supported this identity. In the 1970s, the fact that Istiklal Street began to lose its old quality attracted famous shops to Nişantaşi.

Another important and striking event in the same period is that clothing and textile factories began to settle in this district (especially in Meshrutiet district). This development, which began in the 1970s, continues today. This development, which undermined the distinctiveness of the district, also affected the society in Istanbul.

Today, Nişantaşı is still a vibrant, overpopulated area of Istanbul with heavy traffic and an elite neighborhood with its luxury shops, galleries and restaurants. Nişantaşı is known to many as an area where more than one activity can be done in the same day and a quality time spent is almost guaranteed. Abdi Ipekci, Tesvikiie and Vali Konagı streets are among the streets with the highest rental property prices in Istanbul. Abdi Ipekci Street, which is the most famous street where world-famous brands that appeal to high-income fashionistas first look for a place when they start their activities in Turkey, is the 25th most expensive street in the world in terms of issuing prices per square meter as of 2009.

Nişantaşı, which until the 2000s was widely known as a shopping district, has recently been mentioned with entertainment facilities, and since 2002 it has become one of the centers of New Year’s celebrations in Istanbul. In Nişantaşı, where shopping takes on a new dimension with the lighting of the streets, liveliness reigns not only on New Year’s Eve, but throughout all four seasons. It is an undeniable fact that Nişantaşı, where many street activities, fashion shows, fashion and shopping festivals are held, especially during summer and spring, is a very important and valuable district for Istanbul.

In one of the main streets of Abdi Ipekci there is also the famous Turkish fur and leather brand that you had the opportunity to meet in January of this year on the Mr.M blog – PUNTO.

PUNTO is a well-known Turkish brand founded in 1994 as a manufacturer of clothing and fashion accessories made of leather and fur. Punto is today a leader in its sector both in Turkey and on the world market.

Over the past years, Punto Group has risen to an eminent position in the luxury fashion industry. Through unique collections, this unusual Turkish fashion house always tries to follow all the current world trends, as well as to set new tasks for entering new avant-garde fashion territories. In Abdi Ipekci they have two PUNTO stores where you can find clothing and accessories for women, while a few meters down the street is their fashion paradise for men PUNTO UOMO. If you want to know more about this famous Turkish brand, read my previous fashion story in the following link.

Vakko is a Turkish company that manufactures and sells luxury ready-to-wear products. It was founded in 1934 under the name Sen Hat in Sultanhamm on the initiative of Vitaly Hako. After the 1940s, it continued its production under the name Vakko and opened its first large store in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district in 1962.

In 1981, the show “Anatolian Sun” was held, which combined Anatolian cultures and Western fashion concepts. The exhibition, which was exhibited in Rome, Vienna, Brussels, Paris and London, presented Vakko in Europe as a representative of contemporary Turkish fashion. In 1982, Vakkorama, Turkey’s first youth store, opened in Istanbul. In order to bring New York fashion to Istanbul, Vakkorama introduced a new team called V2K Designers in 2000 with the slogan “Two cities, one brand”. Over time, V2K Designers, which has also become a designer and brand of other fashion cities like Paris, London and Milan besides New York, is today the first concept store in Turkey where different world brands meet under the same roof. Above you can see how the New Year’s colorful window display on Nisantashi looks like.

CENGIZ AKTURK has been playing a role in the fashion industry for more than 20 years and has adopted an approach as a strategy of continuous customer satisfaction and a sustainable vision leading a retail store where it designs and manufactures its fashion products. Exceptional design, I believe that the dear lady readers of the Mr.M blog will be delighted with this recommendation. In addition to its stores in Turkey, CENGIZ AKTURK also has boutiques in London, Dubai and Paris, so my dear ladies, if you go to some of these destinations, see for yourself the beauty of the creations of this Turkish designer.

GIZIA is a special brand that is appreciated in our home because my dear mom loves this Turkish brand. They had a store in Belgrade for a while and it closed soon, which was hard for my mom because she really loves this brand and likes to wear their stuff. Gizia, as one of the pioneers of the concept of affordable luxury both in Turkey and in the world, continues to expand its customer base in the fashion and retail sector day by day thanks to its sophisticated and elegant collection, special cooperation with designers, successful merchandising. networks and online sales services.

GIZIA creates collections that offer timeless style and embrace the vision of haute couture thanks to its strong, striking, sophisticated and feminine approach to design. There are several brands in the Gizia group: Gizia, Gizia Gate (a fashion line and also the name of a special concept store), Kiwe, 4G Classic and Mani Mani. Gizia Gate is the first exclusive multi-brand concept store in Turkey, it gathers a selection of the most innovative Turkish women’s fashion designers under one roof. A two-story store featuring collections from local designers, including Erkan Demiroglu and Deniz Berdan, as well as brands from the Gizia Group.

Mani Mani took its first step in the world of fashion in 2021. Launched for the needs of the Spring Summer 2021 collection, with its first collection, the brand attracts attention with its experimental, innovative and flawless designs. Mani Mani brand from GIZIA Group, which opened its first store on Nisantası Abdi İpekci street, reflects the integrity of many styles and its collections contain intriguing and new designs. The choice of textures and materials, the colors used and the carefully crafted handicrafts symbolize an unexplored planet. Integrating with different styles, Mani Mani begins its journey with the aim of creating trends.

BEYMEN – a fashion paradise for shopaholics in Turkey. Beymen is a chain of luxury department stores in Istanbul, Turkey with its flagship store in the Nisantasi district. It has department stores in Istanbul in Akasia, Akua Floria, Atakoi Plus, Istinie Park and Zorlu Center malls, as well as two stores along Bagdat Avenue on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Beymen also has stores in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, Izmir and Bodrum. In Beymen you can find the world’s most famous luxury brands, but there is good news for fashion lovers who are not on a high budget, which is that Beymen has several outlet stores in Istanbul where you can buy the collections of famous world brands from previous seasons at significantly more affordable prices. Beymen outlets really have a great offer and I have seen it many times because every time I go to Istanbul I visit their outlet stores, my favorite is in the Optimum outlet center.

OUTFIT

Jacket: Marco Pescarolo

T-Shirt: Loro Piana

Trousers: Marco Pescarolo

Backpack: Bric’s

Sneakers: Jacob Cohen

Now I have a recommendation for a fashion brand for men that comes from Italy. Stefano Ricci is a private family Italian brand that fosters a luxury lifestyle. This exceptional brand produces men’s clothing and fashion accessories and has several lines, including a line for the youngest “SR Junior”, a home improvement program “SR HOME” and lifestyle products. This luxury Italian brand also offers bespoke services and interior design for yachts and residences.

Tacettan Seker, who started his journey in a humble tailor shop in Istanbul in 1998, created one of Turkey’s leading tailor-made brands under the name “Taji Giyim” in the following years and became a pioneer in menswear with innovative steps. Taji, who stands out not for temporary fashion trends, but for personalized design, launched the merchandising sector with the Nisantası store in 2002, then in New York in 2006. Today, Taji stands out for its unique merchandising model that combines special tailoring with leading world brands. This is a real fashion paradise for men who love extremely high quality custom clothing.

John Paul Ataker prides himself on creating impeccable, high quality clothing. Each garment is overseen by a single tailor and sent through three rounds of quality control before the collection is ready for the customer. A luxurious experience that includes structured dresses, intricate details and modern shapes for the most discerning customers. The John Paul Ataker collection exudes confidence, elegance and a feminine identity that is known around the world.

For customers who dare to be different, the John Paul Ataker atelier offers a haute couture experience by creating unique clothes. This fashion journey begins with a detailed sketch that is sent to pattern making, creating a simple moulage and combining the customer’s personal concept with the signature John Paul Ataker design process. The results of the collaboration give the customer a sense of old-world luxury and exclusivity. The name John Paul Attaker was chosen for the lavish eveningwear and ready-to-wear brand to pay tribute to Attaker’s roots, and is also the name of Numan’s son.

Numan Ataker is a native of Turkey and the designer behind the John Paul Ataker collection. The luxury evening collection is based on his childhood and experience growing up in the family fashion business. His family worked on all aspects of the creation from tailoring, fabric development and patterns. Creating unique shapes for a significant clientele seeking unique silhouettes. These formative years honed his flair for design as he developed a love for textiles, precise cuts and the draping of the female body.

These are some of my recommendations from the shops I noticed in the Nişantaşı district, of course there are many more brands and designers that have found their place under the sun of Turkish luxury called Nişantaşı. In addition to Nişantaşı, there are several other fashion destinations for luxury shopping in Istanbul.

Istinye Park is a shopping center in the district of the same name – Istinye in Istanbul with almost 300 shops of numerous international luxury brands and designers. In addition to the numerous luxury brands in Istinye Park, you can also find everyday street fashion brands, so there is a balance of low-budget street brands, through mid-range brands to luxury brands. This shopping center has indoor and outdoor parts, the open part of the center is reserved for luxury brands and has a green central park.

Mall of Istanbul is Turkey’s largest shopping, entertainment and lifestyle center, chosen as the ‘Best Mall in the World’ by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), located in Başakşehir, one of Istanbul’s new developing areas. It is home to 350 stores and thousands of brands operate in the Mall of Istanbul, which was established on May 23, 2014 by Torunlar REIC, Turkey’s largest domestic real estate investor.

Offering shopping, culture, art and entertainment under the same roof, Mall of Istanbul, where Turkish and global brands are exhibited, Europe’s largest indoor amusement park MOIPARK, Turkey’s largest cinema complex Cinetech adds value to the understanding of shopping across Europe, especially in Turkey.

Emaar Square Mall is the largest shopping center in Turkey with 415 stores, 52 restaurants and parking for 4,200 vehicles. Within the shopping center on 6 floors you can find shops that will appeal to all tastes, enjoy fun areas for yourself and your child while enjoying a meal and drinking coffee. Emaar Square Mall has plenty of fun for kids and adults alike! Emaar Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Emaar Skyview viewing terrace with the longest glass terrace in Europe at 27 meters, Museum of Illusions, Museum of Entertainment, revolutionary entertainment The Jump, 4DX cinemas, VR ROOM that takes your breath away with its games, PlayBowling, which will make you experience team spirit with your friends and increase the excitement of the competition…

As I promised at the very beginning of this post, I will also share with you some shopping destinations where you can buy a number of luxury and premium brands at much cheaper prices in Istanbul outlets. Outlets in Istanbul are in the form of outlet malls not so much as outlet villages which you can find in Europe.

Outlet malls in Istanbul:

Optimum Outlet Center (my favorite) – one of the most visited outlet centers in Istanbul and Turkey in general. You can easily reach this outlet mall directly from Taksim Square by bus 129T. This line connects Taksim to Bagdat Caddesi, another luxury shopping destination, considered by many to be Turkey’s version of Rodeo Drive. Returning from Bagdat Caddesi to Taksim, you can get off at Yenisahra station. The outlet is great, it has a lot of well-known brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Diesel, but you also have luxury brands that are part of multi-brand stores like Beymen, which I wrote about in this post. Be prepared to take your time as Istanbul is a big city and expect traffic jams, on one occasion I traveled one way from Taksim Square to Optimum outlet for an hour and a half, but it was really worth it!

Viaport Asia outlet center has become one of the most visited outlet centers in Turkey today. Viaport Asia has become the heart of social life thanks to its 250 shops, parking for 4000 vehicles, entertainment centers, cinemas and other facilities that cater to all other needs. Designed in a street concept with its open-air architecture, Viaport Asia offers quality to its customers at affordable prices in its stores designed in an “outlet” concept. Offering an atmosphere in touch with nature in restaurants located by the lake far from the hustle and bustle of the city, Viaport Asia opens the door to natural life in contact with peacocks, rabbits, dogs and cats.

Olivium Outlet Center opened its doors to visitors on April 1, 2000 and was the first and only outlet center in Istanbul for a long time. Since its opening, it has been offering trendy brands and quality at an affordable price. Appealing not only to Zeitinburn, but also to the whole city for 20 years with its concept to continue as a real outlet center, Olivium Outlet now promises its visitors a much more modern, simpler, more spacious and brighter environment with its renovated premises. Housing 132 stores of Turkish and international brands, Olivium Outlet offers customers an affordable shopping experience seven days a week.

Kale Outlet Center quality, affordable shopping in a modern outlet center with 127 stores of well-known world brands. Kale Outlet is located in a very convenient location with close proximity to major traffic routes and extremely easy access to public transportation. Kale Outlet Center, located in the most populated districts of Istanbul, attracts attention as the only shopping center on the Kabatas-Bagcılar tram line.

There are many outlet malls in Istanbul and I believe you will find the perfect place to shop! All you have to do is book your ticket to Istanbul and enjoy the charms of shopping in the imperial city on two continents.

My dear travelers and fashionistas, we have come to the end of this first special guide for shopping in Istanbul where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of luxury shopping in the imperial city on two continents. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the national Serbian airline – Air Serbia and Divan Istanbul Hotel in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, which enabled me to feel the spirit and beauty of Turkish culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey my impressions about this unusual experience from Turkey.

I would like to give special thanks to the staff of Divan Istanbul Hotel for their warm welcome and for hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of home!

How did you like my Istanbul shopping guide and introduction to the Divan Istanbul Hotel that graces the heart of Istanbul? Have you had the chance to visit magical Istanbul yet?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from Istanbul,

Mr. M

This post is sponsored by the national airline Air Serbia, Ministry of Tourism of Republic of Türkiye and Divan Istanbul Hotel as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Fashion Postcard from Istanbul: A Stylish Walk on the Turkish Cobbled Streets of Sultanahmet…

Fashion Outfit Post Turkey in my eyes 3 Comments

My dear fashionistas and travelers, today I am taking you again to Istanbul. In today’s fashion story, you will enjoy a stylish walk along the Turkish cobbled streets of the old part of Istanbul – Sultanahmet. This is the last fashion story from Istanbul, next week a shopping guide awaits you, I will try my best to give you the beauty of shopping in this imperial city on two continents.

Sultanahmet Square, once known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, is today a square in Istanbul, in the immediate vicinity of which are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Previously, it was a circus that was the sports and social center of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (ippos) – horse and dromos – road. For this reason, it is sometimes called Atmeidanı (“Horse Square”) in Turkish. Horse and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world, and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

From Taksim Square to Sultanahmet Square, it is very easy to get there with the help of the tram, and in a few stops you will be in the center of the old city.

The Blue Mosque of Istanbul, also known by its official formal name, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a historic Ottoman-era imperial mosque located in the center of the old part of the city. A functional mosque, it also attracts a large number of tourists. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I.

Its Kulije contains Ahmed’s grave, a madrasa and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the interior walls of the mosque, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight side domes. It is located next to Hagia Sophia, the main mosque in Istanbul until the construction of the Blue Mosque and another popular tourist spot. In 1985, the Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Historic Areas of Istanbul”.

Hagia Sophia (literal translation ‘Holy Wisdom’), officially the Great Mosque Hagia Sophia is a mosque and the main cultural and historical site in the old part of the city. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Orthodox church that lasted from 360 AD until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. It served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. Two years ago, in 2020 to be exact, Hagia Sophia became a mosque again.

The current building was built by the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as a Christian cathedral in Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, and was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralus. The official name of the church was the Church of the Holy Wisdom. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is considered to have “changed the history of architecture”.

The current Justinian building was the third church of the same name to occupy the site, since the previous one was destroyed in the riots in Nicaea. As the episcopal seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, it remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years, until the Cathedral of Seville was completed in 1520. Beginning with later Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia became the paradigmatic form of the Orthodox Church and its architectural style modeled on Ottoman mosques a thousand years later. It has been described as “occupying a unique position in the Christian world” and as an architectural and cultural icon of Byzantine and Orthodox civilization.

Since we got acquainted with the history of this old part of the Istanbul, it’s time to write a few words about my outfit. Today we are again meeting with the famous Italian fashion house Roberto Cavalli.

Roberto Cavalli is a famous Italian luxury fashion company founded by designer Roberto Cavalli in Osmannore, Florence, during the 1970s. This brand has become famous in the fashion world for its colorful animal prints on leather and textiles. Roberto Cavalli produces and sells haute couture – a first runway line consisting of limited runway models, ready-to-wear products that are divided into several fashion lines, as well as fashion accessories, including handbags, glasses, watches, shoes, perfumes and jewelry. The company also develops an interior design program for high-end buildings and hotels.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary in 2010, Roberto Cavalli fashion house presented an exclusive show collection in Paris, which included most of its iconic dresses for which the brand has become recognizable. In recent years, under the leadership of Roberto Cavalli, the new interior design division Roberto Cavalli Home debuted at the 2012 Salone del Mobile.

The shearling leather jacket you have the opportunity to see in today’s fashion story is a rebellious fashion response to current fashion trends. This show piece, masterpiece is crafted from the finest reindeer leather with an arctic fox collar from the latest Autumn/Winter 2022/23 collection.

The Roberto Cavalli Group’s fashion world includes the following brand lines:

  • Roberto Cavalli: a historic collection of evening dresses. This is the first line of the brand and the new era has introduced everyday clothing and accessories, including shoes, handbags, leather goods and jewelry.
  • Just Cavalli: brand launched in 1998, this is a more affordable line compared to haute couture lines.
  • Cavalli Class: a line of clothing and fashion accessories for women and men.
  • Roberto Cavalli Junior: the brand’s line for boys and girls.
  • Roberto Cavalli Home: officially presented in 2012 at the Salone del Mobile di Milano, the interior collections were developed in collaboration with Made in Italy partners. Home furnishing line: a line of furniture, wallpaper, tiles, home textiles, lamps and accessories made of Made in Murano glasses.

If you want to stay updated and find out what the Roberto Cavalli brand has in store for the new fashion season, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

There is no person in the world who can hide the joy when feels the smell of new Italian leather. Today we reunite with the Italian family-owned glove workshop Restelli, a place where art, tradition and the beauty of handicrafts meet every day, which is the true definition of Italian style and way of life. Making gloves is not only a job but also a true art. After 100 years, passion, emotions, tradition and knowledge have been passed on to the third generation! Rafaela Restelli has fully embraced the challenges of a new fashion era where the market and way of selling has changed with a deep respect and belief in tradition and love for masterpieces that last!

In today’s post, you had the opportunity to see Restelli gloves made of special peccary leather. These luxurious leather gloves are made of the highest quality leather. The lining of these gloves is made of cashmere. It got a little cold during my visit to Istanbul, so I decided to better protect my hands and walk around in my unusual cognac-colored gloves, which were extremely warm and the right fashion accessory for this unexpected cold in the imperial city on two continents.

Restelli gloves are not valued by money but by tradition and history full of love and patience that have no price.

As a person for whom traveling has become something more than a passionate hobby, I must admit that a backpack is my best friend. I believe you all recognized Bric’s backpack from the Life Pelle collection, which this time came back to Istanbul with me. Bric’s is a prestigious Italian brand of travel goods with which you can feel the ease of traveling with unique and elegant suitcases and fashion accessories. The Life Pelle collection nurtures the beauty of leather pieces that you can travel the world with.

Using only the finest materials such as all-weather micro-suede and plant-tanned leather, Bric’s luggage is built to withstand anything and give you a sense of security and the beauty of travel.

With several flagship stores around the world, Bric’s continues to develop Mario Bricolla dream and become a world-renowned travel brand. Bric’s is a story about family, hard work, craftsmanship and a company where dreams really do come true.

Loro Piana is an Italian company specializing in clothing and textile products. This fashion house is considered the largest producer of cashmere and also the world’s largest artisanal company processing the luxury fiber.

The Loro Piana company has three divisions (textile divisions): a division that deals with the production of high-quality materials using precious fibers such as cashmere and baby cashmere, vicuna, linen and merino wool, a division that deals with the creation of luxury fashion items (production and distribution of men’s, women’s clothing, footwear and fashion accessories) and the interior design department – production and distribution of interior design products.

In today’s post you have the opportunity to see two special pieces (turtleneck sweater and trousers) from the latest men’s Loro Piana Fall-Winter 2022/23 collection, which are just a small part of my favorites this season due to their signature elegance and my love for neutrals and shades of brown. Crafted from 100% of the finest cashmere, this turtleneck is perfect for the man who pays attention to detail and leaves nothing to chance. This turtleneck in a soft beige shade, a color that is perfect for all occasions and can be combined with other colors extremely easily. Classic trousers are always the best travel ally and I’m not separated from my new Loro Piana classic trousers which are made of baby cashmere.

If you want to stay updated and find out what pieces the Loro Piana brand has in its offer, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

OUTFIT

Shearling Leather Jacket: Roberto Cavalli

Turtleneck Sweater: Loro Piana

Trousers: Loro Piana

Backpack: Bric’s

Gloves: Restelli Guanti

Sneakers: Valentino via MYTHERESA Men

Everyone who follows the Mr.M blog knows that I am a big fan of quality and interesting shoes, regardless of whether they are sneakers or elegant shoes, I always try to pay maximum attention to fashion details such as footwear. Today we are hanging out with a famous Italian fashion house whose creations are adored all over the world.

Today’s fashion story is special because I have the opportunity to show you a re-edition collection of certain VALENTINO shoes that marked the work of this famous Italian maestro whose masterpieces adorn the shoe cabinets of many celebrities from the world of music, film and entertainment, and even politics! There is no person who has not resisted wearing this designer, regardless of whether it is a person of female or male gender, Valentino Garavani shoes are loved by the whole planet.

If it wasn’t for my friends from MYTHERESA, a shopping platform that is a real fashion treasure trove for all men and women fashion lovers, these shoes wouldn’t be in this blog post on the Mr.M blog today. I am very grateful to the MYTHERESA platform for their trust and wonderful cooperation, and I would like to publicly thank them once again from the bottom of my heart for my Valentino Rockrunner sneakers from the limited collection, which are made of a combination of leather and pony hair.

My dear fashionistas, we have come to the end of this second special fashion story from Istanbul, where together we discovered the beauty and splendor of the rebellious elegance of the Italian elegance of the Roberto Cavalli brand, the prestigious Italian brand Loro Piana, the beauty of winter with the Restelli Guanti brand and the famous Italian footwear brand that is a symbol of timeless elegance and has become a real classic – Valentino Garavani, as well as the prestigious Italian travel accessories brand Bric’s, partners with whom fashion stories are a real adventure. I sincerely hope you got some inspiration for your ideal winter outfit! See you soon and continue our adventures on the Mr.M blog! How did you like my outfit today? I really tried my best to prepare today’s post with lots of love and I hope you like it!

I would like to give special thanks to the staff of Divan Istanbul Hotel for their warm welcome and for hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of home!

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or any message for me, you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. I’ll see you soon!

With love from Istanbul,
Mr. M

This post is sponsored by the Roberto Cavalli, Loro Piana, MYTHERESA Men, Restelli Guanti and Bric’s brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.

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Roberto Cavalli: Rebel Spirit on the Shores of the Bosphorus…

Fashion Outfit Post Turkey in my eyes 5 Comments

My dear fashionistas, welcome to the first post on the Mr.M blog in 2023! Before I start today’s fashion story, I would like to wish you all the best in the new year. Health first of all, but happiness and love are never enough, and we will manage the rest!

Today’s fashion story is dedicated to an unusual Italian brand at the very top of the fashion industry that you have had the opportunity to work with in previous years on the Mr.M blog – Roberto Cavalli.

Roberto Cavalli is a famous Italian luxury fashion company founded by designer Roberto Cavalli in Osmannore, Florence, during the 1970s. This brand has become famous in the fashion world for its colorful animal prints on leather and textiles. Roberto Cavalli produces and sells haute couture – a first line consisting of limited runway models, ready-to-wear products that are divided into several fashion lines, as well as fashion accessories, including handbags, glasses, watches, shoes, perfumes and jewelry. The company also develops an interior design program for high-end buildings and hotels.

Mr. Roberto Cavalli studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. His grandfather was a prominent painter of the Macchiaioli group. His fashion career began in the 1960s. Working in his own silk printing press, he began to apply a new painting technique to fully made garments, which later resulted in garment dyeing techniques. During the 1970s, he continued to experiment with other materials, mainly leather.

Mr. Cavali’s debut collection was held in Paris in 1970, where he proudly displayed his leather patchwork designs, created in collaboration with Mario Valentino. In 1972, he presented his patchwork designs applied to jeans at the first Roberto Cavalli women’s collection show at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, the main pret-a-porter event in Italy at the time. His work has attracted many global fashion houses, including Hermès, Pierre Cardin, Krizia and Emilio Pucci.

You must be wondering what the Patchwork technique is? Patchwork is a very interesting technique that has been known since ancient times. The oldest found patchwork works date back to the ancient Chinese civilization, and traces of such works were found in the famous Egyptian tombs.

Fans of this technique also call it “painting with rags”, and the word itself is of English origin and is composed of two words, patch-rag, and work-rad. Patchwork is a special technique of creative sewing, where different fabrics are combined with certain patterns and create decorative units. By combining materials of different geometric shapes, textures, colors, patterns and joining them together, you can make things for the home like bedspreads, cushions, rugs, refresh your furniture, make or refresh old fashion pieces and the like.

The basic way of working with patchwork is to cut and join different shapes and wholes. However, what should be emphasized is that with this technique, precision in work is very important. Each piece of patchwork fabric that is cut must be precisely measured and cut so that there are no mistakes and omissions in the further work.

The 1994 collection at Milan Fashion Week staged a new vision of the Cavalli woman: playful tiger and wild animal motifs applied to jeans, printed clothing, embroidered fur and long, sumptuous dresses that elegantly revealed the woman’s body. Animal print has become a recognizable element of the Italian fashion house Cavalli. Later, sandblasted denim came out and the fashion house was the first to show lycra stretch jeans.

New clothing lines were launched on the market: Just Cavalli, Angels & Devils (renamed Roberto Cavalli Junior) and Class Cavalli. The first Roberto Cavalli mono-brand boutique was opened in Venice in 1996. At the end of 2001, the brand was distributed in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Asia and Russia.

The Marcolin Group began to develop and distribute Roberto Cavalli and Just Cavalli sunglasses and optical frames in 2002 alongside the Sector company, the Cavalli fashion house designs 6 Cavalli watch lines, which themselves achieved incredible success and contributed to the development of this fashion house. In addition to the world of fashion, the fashion house opened the Just Cavalli club in Milan in the same year. A few years later, in 2007 to be precise, Roberto Cavalli became the first Italian luxury fashion brand to create a limited collection for the everyday street fashion brand H&M.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary in 2010, Roberto Cavalli fashion house presented an exclusive show collection in Paris, which included most of its iconic dresses for which the brand has become recognizable. In recent years, under the leadership of Roberto Cavalli, the new interior design division Roberto Cavalli Home debuted at the 2012 Salone del Mobile.

The Monton you have the opportunity to see in today’s fashion story is a rebellious fashion response to current fashion trends. This show piece, masterpiece is crafted from the finest reindeer leather with an arctic fox collar from the latest Autumn/Winter 2022/23 collection.

The Roberto Cavalli Group’s fashion world includes the following brand lines:

  • Roberto Cavalli: a historic collection of evening dresses. This is the first line of the brand and the new era has introduced everyday clothing and accessories, including shoes, handbags, leather goods and jewelry.
  • Just Cavalli: brand launched in 1998, this is a more affordable line compared to haute couture lines.
  • Cavalli Class: a line of clothing and fashion accessories for women and men.
  • Roberto Cavalli Junior: the brand’s line for boys and girls.
  • Roberto Cavalli Home: officially presented in 2012 at the Salone del Mobile di Milano, the interior collections were developed in collaboration with Made in Italy partners. Home furnishing line: a line of furniture, wallpaper, tiles, home textiles, lamps and accessories made of Made in Murano glasses.

If you want to stay updated and find out what the Roberto Cavalli brand has in store for the new fashion season, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

There is no person in the world who cannot hide his joy when he smells the smell of new Italian leather. Today, we reunite with the Italian family-owned glove workshop Restelli, a place where art, tradition and the beauty of handicrafts meet every day, which is the true definition of Italian style and lifestyle in general.

Making gloves is not only a job but also a true art. After 100 years, passion, emotions, tradition and knowledge have been passed on to the third generation! Rafaela Restelli has fully embraced the challenges of a new fashion era where the market and way of selling has changed with a deep respect and belief in tradition and love for masterpieces that last!

Restelli gloves are not valued by money but by tradition and history full of love and patience that have no price.

OUTFIT

Shearling Bomber Jacket: Roberto Cavalli

Turtleneck: Loro Piana

Jeans: Loro Piana

Gloves: Restelli Guanti

Sneakers: Jacob Cohen

My dear fashionistas, we have come to the end of this first special fashion story in 2023, where together we discovered the beauty and splendor of the rebellious elegance of the Italian elegance of the Roberto Cavalli brand, the prestigious Italian brand Loro Piano, the beauty of winter with the Restelli Guanti brand and the famous Italian brand footwear that is a symbol of timeless elegance and has become a real classic – Jacob Cohen, partners with whom fashion stories are a real adventure. I sincerely hope you got some inspiration for your ideal winter outfit! See you soon and continue our adventures on the Mr.M blog! How did you like my outfit today?

I really tried my best to prepare today’s post with lots of love and I hope you like it!

If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or any message for me, you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social media channels, which you can find on the CONTACT page. I’ll see you soon!

With love from Istanbul,
Mr. M

This post is sponsored by the Roberto Cavalli, Loro Piana, Jacob Cohen and Restelli Guanti brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.

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Letter from Istanbul: New Year’s Euphoria in the Imperial City on Two Continents!

Adventure Travel Turkey in my eyes 4 Comments

My dear travelers, welcome to the Mr.M blog! I sincerely hope that you are well and that the festive euphoria has overtaken you and that you welcome the New Year and Christmas holidays with great joy. Today’s travelogue will be dedicated to a destination that you have had the opportunity to see several times on the Mr.M blog, a city located at the crossroads of East and West – Istanbul.

Everyone who follows the Mr.M blog knows that I am a person who presents travel to readers in a completely different way and that I try to provide inspiration for your new unusual adventure. Istanbul is a city that brings back many wonderful memories in me, and I am always happy to return to this magical city.

This time I returned to my favorite city, as befits – in style! Air Serbia is the Serbian national airline of the Republic of Serbia, the successor of the first national company Aeroput, founded in Belgrade in 1927. Air Serbia has been operating under its current name since October 2013.

Air Serbia flies and plans to introduce flights to more than 70 regular, seasonal and charter destinations throughout Europe, the Mediterranean, North America, Asia and Africa, both in passenger and cargo traffic. In cooperation with partner airlines, Air Serbia can also offer flights to international destinations in Asia, Australia, North America and Africa.

In addition to the home airport “Nikola Tesla” in Belgrade, Air Serbia also flies from the airport “Konstantin Veliki” in Niš, as well as the international airport “Morava” near Kraljevo. Air Serbia is a proud member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This is ideal opportunity for all tourists to get to know the capital of Serbia during their transfer to their final destination. Belgrade is a beautiful city with a rich history and an interesting story, so take advantage of your break with Air Serbia flights and enjoy the sights of the capital Belgrade, you will have a lot to tell your friends!

Before my flight to Istanbul, I had the opportunity to experience the premium beauty of traveling with Air Serbia with an amazing experience in their Premium Lounge.

The Air Serbia Premium Lounge, located in the transit zone between exits A4 and A5 on Nikola Tesla Aiport in Belgrade is divided into several units and equipped with a number of amenities that will provide every visitor with maximum comfort and an incredible experience that you can find your oasis of peace at Nikola Tesla Airport every day from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Who can access the Air Serbia Premium Lounge free of charge? The following passenger categories:

  • Business class passengers on flights operated by Air Serbia
  • Selected membership levels of the Air Serbia Etihad Guest program
  • Promotional offer: Economy Comfort fare passengers

If you do not belong to the group of passengers who qualify for free access to the Premium Lounge, you can purchase a lounge pass at affordable prices. For more information about the Premium Lounge, visit the link.

The time in the Premium Lounge flew by and it was time to board my flight to Istanbul. You know that I travel a lot, both because of my work, and also because of my life, which takes place between Germany and Serbia.

Air Serbia is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year with a special emblem that will be on all planes of the Serbian national airline. Under the slogan “95 Years of Flying”, the emblem is designed to combine tradition and modernity, paying tribute to the rich history of the Serbian national airline. Air Serbia decided to celebrate its birthday with us and gift us some new destinations where we will be able to create some of our memorable moments!

What are the new destinations that Air Serbia is preparing for us? Let me share some with you! I believe that we are all looking forward to the summer, that’s why Air Serbia has prepared some new routes to Greece. Visit magical Heraklion, the seaside paradise of Chania, sunny Rhodes, or take a journey through history and visit Corfu. The offer will include flights to new destinations such as Krakow, Ohrid, Varna, Budapest, Ankara, Izmir, Hamburg, Gothenburg, Cologne, Marseille, Naples, Florence, Palermo and many others!

The flight to Istanbul was fantastic and I arrived on time to my favorite city. The in-flight service was at a high level with pleasant and friendly staff and beautiful scenery. Maybe I don’t live in the clouds, but I’m often happy to meet them because they mark the beginning of some new interesting adventure.

If you want to stay updated and find out the latest news and what gifts Air Serbia is preparing for us, visit their official website where you can book your next trip and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Istanbul, the imperial city that has remained known throughout history as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populated city in the Republic of Turkey. This city is also the economic, cultural and historical center of the country. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, located on the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The commercial and historical center of the city is located in the European part, while about a third of the city’s population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, which has more than 15 million inhabitants. Istanbul is one of the most populated cities in the world, the seventh largest city in the world and the largest city in Europe. Istanbul is considered a bridge between East and West.

I will try to list the parts (districts) of the city for you, so that you can find your way around when you come to this magical city. Istanbul is divided into the following city districts:

  • Sultanahmet – the old part of the city
  • Galata – Beyoglu area, where Taksim Square and the famous Istikal Street are located
  • New City – The main business district of the city with many modern shopping centers and districts such as Elmadag, Nisantası and Etiler.
  • Bosphorus area – The European shore of the Bosphorus dotted with numerous palaces, parks, waterside villas and bohemian districts such as Beşiktaş and Ortakoy.
  • Golden Horn area – The banks of the Golden Horn, the estuary that separates the European side into characteristic areas. Here is Eyüpsultan, with an Ottoman ambience.
  • Prince’s Islands – A convenient place for a perfect break from the city, consisting of an archipelago of nine car-free islands – some of them small, some of them large – with beautiful wooden villas, green pine gardens and beautiful landscapes.
  • The Asian part of Istanbul – The eastern half of Istanbul, with beautiful neighborhoods on the banks of the Marmara and the Bosphorus.
  • The Western part of Istanbul, the western suburbs – are a collection of Istanbul districts, which lie west of the city walls of the old city. Bakırköy is the main center of this part of the city.

During this trip I thought about the number of visits to this Turkish metropolis so far and I think that in all these years I have been to Istanbul 23 times, which is really impressive. This city is dear to me and has a special place in my heart and I am always happy to return to it. Beyoglu is my favorite part of the city because for me it is the heart and the main hub from where you can easily move around the city with the help of public transport, taxis, and even on foot to some nearby tourist attractions.

Taksim Square located in the Beyoglu area in the European part of Istanbul is a major tourist and recreational area known for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network. Of course, there is also the famous Divan Istanbul hotel where I stayed during this visit to Istanbul.

By staying at the Divan Istanbul hotel, a visit to Istanbul takes on a new dimension and definition of travel, relaxation and an idyllic vacation. Hotel Divan Istanbul offers its visitors a complete travel experience that will exceed all their expectations.

Hotel Divan Istanbul, thanks to its extraordinary location, dominates the different rhythms of Istanbul. Just a few steps away from the iconic Taksim Square, the hotel is intertwined with the vibrancy of the city and is conveniently located to be inspired by Istanbul with all its historical and cultural texture. Don’t forget to listen to the legendary story of the Galata Tower located in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, mingle with the colors of the Grand Bazaar, open the doors of history in Topkapi Palace and visit important places that reflect the spirit of the city in order to make new discoveries or rediscover them again.

Another factor that makes Divan Istanbul Hotel indispensable when it comes to travel is the easy access to important business, cultural and tourist centers. Being close to institutions such as the Istanbul Convention Center and the Halic Convention Center, the hotel offers the privilege of making efficient use of time without feeling tired during business trips.

There are many reasons to relax at the Divan Istanbul Hotel, which puts comfort first. Divan Istanbul Spa, a beauty and wellness center, Divan Bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink alternatives to help relieve stress during the day, Divan Lokanta with its outstanding and innovative world cuisine menu and Maromi by Divan Istanbul restaurant make up the soul of Divan Istanbul Hotel, enjoy new experiences!

Hotel Divan Istanbul provides first-class service for gathering people. Meet your colleagues, friends or family in different parts of the world or country with the comfort of Divan. Moreover, with the magnificent services of Divan Bar, Divan Pub and Divan Patisserie, it is worth making the taste of these special days of your vacation ‘unforgettable’ on the palate…

All the rooms at Divan Istanbul Hotel are known in the hotel world because they have traces of a magical formula that combines comfort, elegant design and luxury. Divan Istanbul hotel rooms that offer generous areas to use; It creates the perfect decor for relaxing, working and enjoying the moment during your visit to Istanbul.

There are few types of rooms which are available in Divan Istanbul Hotel: Divan İstanbul Hotel Superior Room, Divan İstanbul Hotel Deluxe Room, Divan İstanbul Hotel One Bedroom Suite, Divan İstanbul Hotel Presidential Suite.

Hotel Divan Istanbul provides a relaxing trip with an unparalleled experience. Plan your day the way you want to feel good and refreshed. The Spa and Fitness center of the Divan Istanbul hotel is open every day from 07:00 to 22:00. Equipped with high technology, the center has everything from a Pilates studio to a steam pool, a semi-Olympic indoor pool to facial treatment options.

Feel the magic of the Turkish bath to relieve the stress of the day with the help of water, soap bubbles and steam. Divan Istanbul Hotel Spa offers an authentic hammam/private hammam concept, a magnificent combination of luxury and tranquility. Step into the fairytale world of massage therapy, you just need to close your eyes and immerse yourself in the charm of massage therapy! From Thai to Swedish massage, from the invigorating effect of hot stones to Indian head massage with relaxing music, aromatic scents, touches of experienced therapists, it’s the right time to free your soul and body…

Maromi by Divan brings the best flavors of Japanese cuisine to the heart of Istanbul. Although these magnificent flavors, inspired by the Far East, are made using classic methods, they take on a unique character with the modern touches of Japanese chefs. Within the concept of Japanese cuisine, there are many distinctive flavors that can satisfy everyone. This was an unforgettable experience for me and the gourmet dinners at the Maromi restaurant brought back some good memories from my numerous trips to Asia…

I will remember my stay at Divan Istanbul Hotel for the extremely pleasant staff and the perfect service that can be expected in a 5* hotel in the heart of a metropolis like Istanbul. At every moment, all the needs of the guests are thought of, and regularly every day the friendly staff comes to the room and checks if everything is in order and if anything is needed to make your stay more pleasant and complete. Special attention was drawn to the current holiday decoration and you can simply feel that holiday joy and euphoria at every step in the Divan Istanbul Hotel.

As I previously mentioned, the Divan Istanbul Hotel is located in an extraordinary place in the very heart of Istanbul, in the immediate vicinity of Taksim Square. Do you perhaps know where the word Taksim comes from? The word Taksim means “division” or “distribution” in Arabic. Taksim Square was originally where the main waters from the north of Istanbul collected and branched off to other parts of the city (hence the name.) This use was established for the area by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from an Ottoman-era stone reservoir that located on one side of the square.

Today, Taksim is a cultural center with numerous places for entertainment and relaxation, that part of Istanbul never sleeps!

Sultanahmet Square, once known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, is today a square in Istanbul, in the immediate vicinity of which are the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Previously, it was a circus that was the sports and social center of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (ippos) – horse and dromos – road. For this reason, it is sometimes called Atmeidanı (“Horse Square”) in Turkish. Horse and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world, and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.

From Taksim Square to Sultanahmet Square, it is very easy to get there with the help of the tram, and in a few stops you will be in the center of the old city.

The Blue Mosque of Istanbul, also known by its official formal name, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a historic Ottoman-era imperial mosque located in the center of the old part of the city. A functional mosque, it also attracts a large number of tourists. It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmed I.

Its Kulije contains Ahmed’s grave, a madrasa and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the interior walls of the mosque, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight side domes. It is located next to Hagia Sophia, the main mosque in Istanbul until the construction of the Blue Mosque and another popular tourist spot. In 1985, the Blue Mosque was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name “Historic Areas of Istanbul”.

Hagia Sophia (literal translation ‘Holy Wisdom’), officially the Great Mosque Hagia Sophia is a mosque and the main cultural and historical site in the old part of the city. The cathedral was originally built as a Greek Orthodox church that lasted from 360 AD until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. It served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. Two years ago, in 2020 to be exact, Hagia Sophia became a mosque again.

The current building was built by the Eastern Roman emperor Justinian I as a Christian cathedral in Constantinople for the state church of the Roman Empire between 532 and 537, and was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralus. The official name of the church was the Church of the Holy Wisdom. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is considered to have “changed the history of architecture”.

The current Justinian building was the third church of the same name to occupy the site, since the previous one was destroyed in the riots in Nicaea. As the episcopal seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, it remained the largest cathedral in the world for almost a thousand years, until the Cathedral of Seville was completed in 1520. Beginning with later Byzantine architecture, the Hagia Sophia became the paradigmatic form of the Orthodox Church and its architectural style modeled on Ottoman mosques a thousand years later. It has been described as “occupying a unique position in the Christian world” and as an architectural and cultural icon of Byzantine and Orthodox civilization.

When you’re done seeing the cultural heritage and historical sights, the best vacation for the soul is a nice shopping therapy! Near the Divan Istanbul Hotel is the most famous shopping district where there are many famous international fashion and other brands that you can find on Nisantasi.

Nişantaşı is an upscale, mostly secular residential neighborhood in the Şişli neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul. From Osmanbey and Pangalti in the west to the bustling Halaskargazi Caddesi, it is a popular shopping district, full of boutiques, department stores, cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. Many of the streets are still lined with beautiful apartment blocks from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Directly to the south is the large and green park Mačka, and to the east is the city district of Besiktas.

After a successful shopping therapy, you can go down to Macka Park and enjoy the view of the beautiful Bosphorus! Yes, it is that famous landscape that we can see in many famous Turkish soap-operas! Istanbul is full of wonders and believe me, every time I go there I always discover and learn something new, so I always get excited and fall in love with this imperial city on two continents!

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this first special travelogue in the winter season about Istanbul where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this imperial city on two continents. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the national Serbian airline – Air Serbia and Divan Istanbul Hotel in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Turkish culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey my impressions about this unusual experience from Turkey.

I would like to give special thanks to the staff of Divan Istanbul Hotel for their warm welcome and for hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of holidays like at home!

Time always flies when a person is having a good time! A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way during this global health crisis of COVID-19.

I am honored to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top in the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to feel the beauty of this unusual imperial city on two continents in a completely different way.

How did you like this story of mine about Istanbul and the presentation of Divan Istanbul Hotel, which adorns the heart of Istanbul? Have you had the chance to visit magical Istanbul yet?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via email or social media, all links can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story from Istanbul!

With Love from Istanbul,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the national airline Air Serbia and Divan Istanbul Hotel as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letter from Türkiye: Alanya, Place where is Fun in the Sun!

Adventure Travel Turkey in my eyes 4 Comments

My dear travelers, I hope you are well and ready for a new adventure on the Mr.M blog! Today I decided to delight you with a real summer travelogue about Alanya, a Mediterranean Turkish city where it is sunny almost during all four seasons and where the fun never stops! I am sure that this post will refresh you, so that all of us will start this June with only good moments!

How did I get to Alanya? While writing a blog post in May, I decided to take a break, because you know how creative work can sometimes make a person tired. During the break, I always try to check if there are any new messages or emails and I noticed an email from the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation – ALTAV. A kind invitation to feel all the beauties and charms of the Mediterranean coastal city in Turkey. Without thinking, I accepted the invitation and already in my mind I was in sunny Alanya!

Today I will share with you my impressions of this unusual city and I would like to thank the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation – ALTAV for the invitation and incredible experience to get to know better the culture and customs in this part of Turkey.

People say that red evokes happiness and attracts positive energy, which is why I decided to take my FPM Milano Bank Spinner 53 red cabin suitcase on my Turkish adventure, which brought me luck on my travels this year. Not only is it practical, light, but it is also a photogenic suitcase that many people asked me about at the airport where I bought it. So my little red suitcase and I heroically prepared and embarked on our new adventure together! I will write something more about this brand later, and now let’s start with the story of Alanya!

For the beginning, it would be helpful to tell you a few basic information about Alanya that will surely benefit you! Alanya is a Mediterranean coastal city in Turkey located near Antalya. Scientists have found writings proving that Alanya as a city was first inhabited since the 4th century BC, due to this incredible historical fact, one of the most important things in Alanya – a fortress built as the main witness of history in the heart of the city. , surrounded by walls, built on a peninsula that stretches towards the Mediterranean Sea.

The Alanya we know today developed in the area between the Taurus Mountains and the coast over 100 kilometers long. Yes, you read that right, the length of the coast is over 100 kilometers and that is why the locals and tourists have the opportunity to enjoy the numerous clean and spacious beaches that are natural and decorated according to international standards. Alanya is a city that, in addition to its rich cultural heritage, also has incredible natural charms and beauties.

What is the climate like in Alanya? Alanya has a typical Mediterranean climate to be desired, with refreshing winters as well as warm and dry summers. The average winter temperature is around 15 degrees Celsius, while the summer temperatures are around 30 degrees Celsius, while the average water temperature in winter is around 20 degrees, while in summer it is between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. If you plan to visit Alanya during the winter, be sure that winter is beautiful in Alanya and that snow is considered a scientific phenomenon.

If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of Alanya, you can visit the plateaus, which have a rich flora and fauna that are ideal for safaris and trekking. It is interesting that there are no industrial zones in Alanya and that is why all economic life depends on tourism and agriculture. If you have ever wondered what Alanya is best at, know that she is known for growing bananas and citrus fruits, which is why Alanya occupies an important place in Turkey.

Alanya is a city with extremely rich cultural and tourist content offer, so I am sure that even the most demanding tourists with refined taste will return with unforgettable impressions and recommend to their friends to spend their vacation in Alanya.

Holiday in Alanya can be relaxing, peaceful for body and soul, but it can also be active with numerous water sports and other kind of activities. In the previous pictures you can see the amazing landscapes from the Cable Car in Alanya which is located within the Alanya Fortress and provides an exit to the part known as Ehmedek. The cable car started operating in 2017 and in a short time it has become an unavoidable local attraction for all tourists who come to see the beauty of Alanya! Passing over the famous Damlataş Cave and Cleopatra Beach, the cable car takes you in a short period of time to the historic fortress of Alanya, a place where there is a spectacular and magnificent view with a special opportunity to see one history.

As I just mentioned, Alanya Fortress is a witness to the long and rich history of Alanya and it proudly occupies a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also, the Alanya Fortress has been declared a state-protected area of ​​protected cultural property by the Turkish government. This medieval fortress is located on a peninsula about 250 meters above sea level. The interesting thing about this fortress are the layers within the walls that hide many secrets and traces of numerous cultures and customs that have lined up. There are certain historical writings that prove that the fortress of Alanya has been inhabited since the Hellenistic era, where people lived continuously.

Today’s appearance of the fortress can be attributed to the great reconstruction that was carried out during the 13th century by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Kejkubat. In addition to the great renovation of the Alanya Fortress, buildings of exceptional importance were built during this period, such as the Red Tower (Kizilkule) and the shipyard (Tersane). The walls that surround the peninsula are about 6 kilometers long, and on the walls there are numerous fortifications, towers, as well as 6 gates and there are two inner fortresses.

ALTAV (Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation) really tried to get to know Alanya from different angles through this trip, and even today, while the impressions of this city are slowly fading in my head, I can’t describe the uniqueness and beauty of this Mediterranean Turkish city.

The Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation made an effort to made me feel the cuisine of this area and come back with a few extra pounds, but as people in Alanya like to say: “When you are in Alanya, do not think about kilograms, just enjoy on your vacation, and when you return home, start exercising ”. In collaboration with Mutfak Mirasi Alanya, the ALTAV has organised gastronomy workshop for my colleagues and me.

I have to admit how many countries I have visited and met different world cuisines, Alanya can boast of amazing specialties and the most famous world cuisines. You can start your day in Alanya with a light breakfast with a slice of white cheese, fresh vegetables and whole grain bread, while for lunch you can eat fresh fish just brought by fishermen from the deep waters of the Mediterranean… Dinner can be light with exotic types of “Shish kebabs ” and other traditional dishes of Alanya.

In addition to the opportunity to enjoy the sumptuous dishes of Alanya, ALTAV made an effort to organize for my fellow influencers and me a gastronomy workshop, small cooking school where we had the opportunity to learn to cook some local specialties! Since you all know my great love for Turkish delights, I of course immediately focused on making the famous helva, but according to an old recipe in Alanya, which is significantly different from the classic helva we have the opportunity to see on store shelves.

I have to admit that I enjoyed it and that I had a unique opportunity to learn how to prepare some of the most famous Turkish savory and sweet dishes. I will remember this cooking school, as well as the smiling women who shared with us their precious cooking skills with great patience.

Another activity that was unusual on this trip was a special Jeep Safari experience tour of the Sapadera Canyon with Race Tour Alanya. This charming green paradise of the Mediterranean region, you can complete a visit to Sapadere village, which is located about 40 km from Alanya.

Sapadere is an area where you can see all shades of greenery and is one of the most pristine places with the richest flora and fauna in the region. The area of the Alanya Sapadera Canyon gives great pleasure to the human eye to constantly admire this exceptional green landscape, as well as the Taurus mountain range with snow on the tops that go like steps towards the sky.

Sapadere Canyon is 360 meters long and is located 3 km from the village of Sapadere. Sapadera Canyon was created by erosion of water, ice and wind. Layers of rock have formed for thousands of years. Wooden paths provide easy access to all visitors. Believe me, you will be amazed by the speed of water gushing over a series of rocks, numerous waterfalls, rare plants and different species of animals and birds as you walk through this natural habitat. Clean, fresh air and cascading turquoise water above the rocks are therapeutic and refreshing for the human spirit…

At the end of the trail, 300 meters inside the entrance to the Sapadere canyon, there is a main attraction: an amazing waterfall. This is a popular place for photographing visitors, there is also the possibility of swimming in a natural pool at the bottom of the waterfall. Here, one can really refresh oneself because the water temperature barely reaches 12 degrees Celsius during the hottest summer season.

Sapadere Canyon is a karst canyon located in the village of Sapadere in Alanya County. The length of the canyon that formed Sapadere, after which the village got its name, is 600 m, and its height is 400 m. Chemical wear of limestone blocks was efficient in the formation of this canyon. At the point where the Sapadere emerges from the canyon, the bottom of the canyon is covered by a stream. In order to move inland, a 600 m long wooden bridge with iron bars on the side walls was built.

The waterfall is located at the end of the canyon after crossing the water flowing at the bottom of the canyon. A giant cauldron (natural pool) with very cold water was formed at the place where the waterfall overflowed. During the summer, people can swim in the cold waters of this natural pool.

Until recently, the canyon, which was known only to the locals, began to attract tourists through promotional activities of local governments. At the entrance to the canyon there are places to eat and drink where you can refresh yourself.

During my stay in Alanya, I had the opportunity to stay in one of the best hotels in the city – SunPrime C-lounge Hotel. This modern five-star luxury hotel for adults is housed in a newly built building across the beach from the Mediterranean Sea, just 8 km from Alanya Fortress.

The spacious and modern rooms have a balcony, sofa, Wi-Fi and flat TVs new generation, as well as a minibar and tea/coffee maker, which I had to try. Many rooms have sea views. The deluxe suits have a separate living room.

Within the hotel there are two restaurants (one is self-service) and bars. Other facilities of this hotel include a gym, spa and two swimming pools (one indoor and one outdoor), a hammam, a hot tub and a pool bar. There is a private area on the beach where guests can sunbathe. During your stay you can enjoy live music. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the hotel management for their hospitality and dedication during my visit to Alanya.

In today’s post we are meeting up again with my friends from the FPM Milano brand and I present you a backpack from the Bank on the Road collection, as well as Bank Spinner 53 cabin suitcase from the Bank collection, both collections are made entirely in Italy, ideal for business people world and so for those who want to enjoy their vacation and free time to maximum, made to meet every practical, functional or aesthetic need.

The convenient internal pocket allows you to charge your tablet and smartphone anytime, anywhere. Modern, elegant line of backpacks, made of high quality and waterproof nylon with special attention to leather and metal details. The aluminum personalization is reminiscent of the innovative creativity of the FPM Bank collection.

FPM Milano luggage and accessories offers travelers convenience and style, all in one suitcase and backpack. Designed by Marc Sadler, these lightweight, aluminum-reinforced suitcases are inspired by antique suitcases, specifically designed to give you the endurance you need when traveling. The combination of Avante-Garde materials and motifs of Italian design, give these FPM suitcases a robust and safe look.

If you want to be updated and find out which models of suitcases and travel accessories the FPM Milano brand has in its offer, visit their official online store and follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this special post about the Turkish jewel of the Mediterranean – Alanya, which would not have been possible without the selfless help of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation – ALTAV in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Turkish culture and traditions. Of course, as always, I tried to share my impressions of this unusual experience from Turkey.

Time always flies when a person has a good time! A man is rich at heart if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad to always be able to find partners for my projects that help me discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way during this global health crisis COVID-19.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with companies that are at the top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this magical Mediterranean region of Turkey in a completely different way.

How did you like this story of mine about my experience in Alanya? Have you maybe had the opportunity to visit this part of Turkey before? Share with me your experiences, I would be glad to hear!

If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write to me below in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you in the same place in a couple of days, with a new story!

Warm greetings from Alanya,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the ALTAV, SunPrime C-lounge Hotel and other local partners. This post presents my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Arpanu Medical: My experience with cosmetic nose surgery in Turkey…

Lifestyle Mrs. Mom Tips Travel Turkey in my eyes 5 Comments

Dear readers, welcome to another new post on Mr.M blog. After 6 years of Mr.M blog existence, I know that people who visit my blog are divided into two groups: hedonists who are fans of more interesting travels and fashion lovers who are looking for interesting fashion inspirations.

Today’s post will be a little different, but I’m sure it will benefit all of you who are thinking about cosmetic surgery. The previous post was a kind of guide through Istanbul and partially explained the principle of medical tourism in Turkey. Today’s post will be dedicated to our personal experience with plastic and cosmetic surgery in Istanbul.

My mother had an unsuccessful nose intervention more than 15 years ago, she did rhinoplasty with nasal septal deviation surgery – septoplasty in Serbia. My mother was very disappointed with the results and out of fear she decided not to do this type of intervention anymore. The years passed, my mother expressed increasing dissatisfaction and I decided to help her fulfill her dream – to finally breathe and get a better look of her nose.

On the other hand, I was not satisfied with the appearance of my nose either and I had a problem with the deviation of the nasal septum. Honestly, my desire to have a more beautiful nose prevailed and along the way I decided to improve my quality of life, if I allow myself to breathe better.

When was I aware of the moment that I would change myself? The moment I bought plane tickets for my mom and me through the Air Montenegro website, it was only then that I realized that I would finally do something nice and useful for my mom and myself.

Arpanu Medical Travel is a travel agent, certified as a medical tourism assistance agent by the Turkish Ministry of Health and has been an active member of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies since 2011.

Arpanu Medical aims to be your reliable partner during your medical experience in Turkey. Each patient has their own unique customized program with health services provided by esteemed hospitals and private clinics in Turkey. The basic task is to combine health with comfort and safety while performing the selected medical program.

Through its close and intensive cooperation with renowned local health care providers, the company enables it to continuously expand the range of services, formulate unique programs and offer cost-effective solutions for patients.

All operations are performed by highly qualified doctors and medical staff in modern, fully sterilized operating rooms with sophisticated state-of-the-art medical equipment.

Arpanu Medical offers a large number of medical services in the field of: Hair transplantation, Aesthetics , Dentistry, Bariatric surgery – obesity, ophthalmic services, in vitro fertilization – IVF, Oncology, as well as regular Health Check-Up.

What does medical tourism in Turkey look like with the Arpanu Medical and how does the process go from the beginning to the end of the chosen program? All information about the process you can find on this link.

In this post, I will describe our experience with Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic, which belongs to the Arpan Medical travel group of medical institutions. Dr. Serkan Aygin founded the Dr. Serkan Aygin Medical Centre, which brings together highly qualified medical specialists, who provide the best medical services to patients with their experience.

Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic together with hair transplant services offered by Dr. Serkan Aygin also provides health services in the field of esthetics and cosmetic surgery.

The look of the clinic itself is modernist and you just don’t have the feeling that you are in a medical institution, but that you are in a museum of modern art. Dr. Aygin wanted to pass on his love of art and medicine to his patients, where in addition to exceptional service, patients can enjoy the beauty of modern art.

Before the first consultation with the chosen doctor, you get to fill out one type of questionnaire with basic personal information and about your health.

After the consultation with our surgeon, my mother and I realized that we had come to the right place. Mom and I were thrilled by the kindness of our chosen surgeon and Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic staff. The doctor listened to all our wishes and pointed out to us the possibilities, as well as potential solutions to our problems. My mother was offered a secondary rhinoplasty with a complete reconstruction of the nose and a cartilage transplant.

My mother’s operation was generally more difficult because of her condition, while my wishes were quite demanding because I had a specific vision of the look of my nose and face. The doctor was extremely patient, cheerful and smiling at the same time with a great deal of optimism, which gave my mother and me confidence that everything would be just perfect.

The next step was to schedule an intervention and wait for it! Excitement that is sometimes difficult to understand, but it is human nature to hope and strive for the best.

OPERATION DAY

As with any cosmetic surgery, a certain type of preparation is required, you receive all the necessary instructions from the chosen surgeon during the first consultation, so you know exactly what you can and cannot do before the intervention.

Before the operation, blood tests and diagnostics (heart and lungs) are performed in preparation for the intervention itself and general anesthesia. Our tests were done on the day of the intervention. My operation was scheduled for 9 am, my mother’s between 1 and 2 p.m.

It is important to note that the local transport between the hotel and the clinic is regulated so that you do not have to worry about coming to the clinic for the first consultation, going to the operation and examinations that follow after the operation.

After the preparations, our surgeon came to visit us before the operation to go through the list of our wishes once again and to confirm all the requests. Because of the great excitement, I can only remember the quick change into hospital pajamas and the smiling nurses who greeted me during my “journey” through the hallways to the operating room.

The picture was taken 3 hours after the operation

Most of people are afraid of general anesthesia because each organism reacts differently to surgery and general anesthesia. Since I had various types of surgery (perforated appendix surgery, jaw surgery, etc.), I had experiences with general anesthesia several times, sometimes I was conscious, sometimes I only remember the details of waking up from anesthesia through the dream.

This time I really had a wonderful experience because from the first moment of waking up from anesthesia I was cheerful and in the mood for conversation with people. Anyone who remembers my Instagram stories, you know that I filmed the moments after waking up with an ice mask on my face.

Before and after my nose job – rhinoplasty

The operation went great, I got a meal after a couple of hours where I had an appetite and I ate well and talked to the clinic staff. After a few hours, the anesthesia subsides and mild pain begins, which can be regulated with painkillers and sedatives, but if you believe me, I didn’t take it. My pain was mild and I felt more like a kind of discomfort due to the swelling present, nothing more…

Mother’s makeover: before and after secondary rhinoplasty with total reconstruction and cartilage transplantation

My mom on the other hand had a slightly harder night due to more demanding surgery, but after receiving two doses of painkillers and tranquilizers the night passed relatively calmly and we were both curious to see what we looked like, the difference was that I had a phone so I could look at “the mirror” while my mom was quite impatient because she had nothing on hand to allow her to look herself.

My mother had a more difficult recovery because her operation was demanding, since a secondary rhinoplasty was performed with a complete reconstruction of the nose and a graft transplant in the form of a graft. 7 cartilage grafts were transplanted.

Since I had surgery in the morning, the nurses came to me in the evening to let me know that it was time for a little walk. I admit, I was scared because I felt mild pain and discomfort due to the swollen face, but with the advice of the nurses, little Marko left the Instagram and the recordings and went for a walk around the corridors of the clinic.

I am one of those patients who are extremely obedient and have a few questions and a thousand sub-questions. I took seriously the task of not looking at the ground, but keeping my head straight all the time, and that first walk went in the best possible way.

My mom later went for a walk, in the early morning hours, she had a feeling of nausea, but the medication helped her get through it all!

4 days after surgery

RECOVERY TIME

How is the recovery period after rhinoplasty? Recovery is an individual matter and depends on the severity of the procedure, I can only share my experience with you. We spent one night in the hospital and headed back to the hotel. We wore a nose mask for 7 days. My mom had extra patches for her nose reconstruction which I helped her to take off after 7 days.

While wearing the mask on your nose, until you take it off, you receive instructions and certain medications that help you reduce the pain, swelling, antibiotics and other drugs.

Day 7: Removing the nose mask and it’s for shooting the first post-op results

Swelling and bruising, how to deal with these “visitors”? Swelling and bruising are the most common guests after nose surgery that you will hang out with for a while. There are various tips and tricks that can help alleviate swelling and bruising with the help of medications and ice packs. In time, everything comes into its place, you just need to be patient. Time heals everything…

One picture with our surgeon

Nose surgery is a very delicate surgical intervention that has great health and aesthetic significance. Deviation of the nasal septum can be a major health problem and difficulty breathing can reduce quality of life. On the other hand, the aesthetic aspect of rhinoplasty is important because it restores self-confidence and a person feels better when he sees a better version of himself in the mirror.

When you decide on this type of intervention, it is very important to find the right doctor who will understand your wishes and needs.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Arpanu Medical Group and Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic for this exceptional experience and it was a great pleasure to visit Istanbul and change myself. Also, special thanks to Air Montenegro, which made my adventure unforgettable, and I hope to pack my bags again for some new adventures and memories that I will remember!

Dear readers, we have come to the end of this special post from Turkey, which would not have been possible without the selfless help of Air Montenegro and Arpanu Medical Group, partners who made it possible for me to share my impressions of medical tourism in Turkey.

The picture was taken 8 days after the nose surgery

Time always flies when a person has a good time! A man is rich at heart if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad to always be able to find suitable partners for my projects that allow me to discover some new and unusual destinations in a completely different way during this global health crisis COVID-19.

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with companies that are at the very top in the each industry and I would like to thank them for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience the charms of Istanbul in a completely different way.

How did you like this story of mine today? Have you ever considered changing something about yourself and doing something special for yourself? Cosmetic surgery is not a taboo topic and people should talk a little more about this type of intervention and you should be careful and watch who you trust and take care of your body.

If you decide to do something for yourself and help yourself, feel free to contact Arpanu Medical team which will help you to fulfill your wishes and feel a unique experience and see why Turkish doctors are the best in Europe and in the world as well!

5 weeks after nose surgery – frontal view
5 weeks after nose surgery – nose profile view

If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write to me below in the comments. Of course, you can always contact me via email or social networks and you can find it on the CONTACT page. See you in the same place in a couple of days, with a new story!

With Love from Belgrade,

Mr.M

6 weeks after nose surgery

This post is sponsored by national airline carrier Air Montenegro and Arpanu Medical Group which represents my personal and honest review of their services.

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Letters from Turkey: Istanbul, City of Two Continents…

Adventure Life Lifestyle Tips Travel Turkey in my eyes 4 Comments

My dear travellers, I hope you are well and ready for a new adventure! After a long break after tsarist Russia, a magical adventure that we all experienced together at the beginning of this year in St. Petersburg, it’s time for a new destination!

Today’s post will be dedicated to the city that I truly love because of its oriental charm and cordial mentality of the people. As a person whose travel has become more than a passionate hobby, I must admit that I missed some little things like the loudspeaker at the airport, travelers who are excited to look for their passports and flight tickets, especially the youngest adventurers who see special edition of M&M sweets in the airport shop.

This time I had the opportunity to experience the ease of travel with the unique and elegant suitcases and travel accessories of the Italian house Bric’s. The Bellagio collection allows all travel hedonists to travel in style with appropriate travel pieces that captivate with true elegance, while on the other hand, the Life Pelle collection nurtures the beauty of leather travel pieces with which you can travel around the world.

Italian fashion house Bric’s is the best ally for any trip with style: the Bellagio Trolley Organizer and the backpack from the Life Pelle collection.

Bric’s story begins with Mr. Mario Briccola’s dreams of quality luggage and leather goods in 1952 in the Como region. The brand has become internationally known for its handmade luggage made of the finest Tuscan leather and the most modern, durable nylon. Although Bric’s has now outgrown the original workshop, love and a personal stamp for every piece made are still present in every piece today.

Now the second generation of the Briccola family is providing its heritage of quality, style and attention to detail which Mr. Mario Briccola started. Known as the best Italian brand for luggage quality, Bric’s continued to justify its reputation. From luggage over handbags to spacious cosmetic bags and accessories quality workmanship is easily noticeable.

Using only the finest materials such as micro antelope skin that is resistant to all weather conditions and leather tanned in plants, Bric’s luggage is made to withstand everything and give you a sense of security and the beauty of travel in style.

With several leading stores around the world, Bric’s continues to develop Mario Briccola’s dream and becomes a world-renowned brand in the field of travel. Bric’s is a story about family, hard work, crafts and a company where dreams really come true.

This adventure would not have been possible without the cordial support of my friends from Air Montenegro who allowed me to feel the beauty and security of traveling during the pandemic.

Air Montenegro is a new airline founded by the Government of Montenegro at the beginning of 2021. The first flight of this company was made in June this year. Air Montenegro’s vision is to be one of the key pillars of tourism, to support the national economy and the economy as a sustainable company that will create a large number of jobs and reduce unemployment in Montenegro.

Responsible and sustainable business positively affect long-term relationships with society, resources and the environment. Air Montenegro also takes care of the safety and health of passengers and employees. It is important to note that Air Montenegro has received the international Safe Travels badge.

“Safe Travel” is a special tourist label that allows travelers to identify destinations and companies around the world, which in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have adopted global standards of health and hygiene.

Air Montenegro joined the European Association of Airlines of the Region (ERA) in October this year. One of the main goals of the Association, which has over 55 airlines, is to represent the interests of all members before major European regulators, governments and legislators in order to encourage and develop awareness of long-term and sustainable growth for the sector and the airline industry.

The first commercial flight of this company was on the route Podgorica – Sarajevo on June 1, 2021, as part of the Montenegrin national football team that traveled to Sarajevo. Regular commercial traffic of Air Montenegro was launched on June 10 with the route Podgorica – Belgrade. The fleet of this young airline consists of Embraer 195 medium-range passenger planes.

For all fans of the Montenegrin coast, the airline Air Montenegro has special offers for flights Frankfurt – Podgorica and Ljubljana – Podgorica and Tivat as well. These flights are performed throughout the year, so you have the opportunity to enjoy the natural wild beauty of Montenegro throughout the year. Also, one of the destinations in the region that you can visit with Air Montenegro is Banja Luka, which proudly bears the title of “Green Valley” as a symbol of beauty and greenery.

In today’s post, I will share my adventure and what a trip with Air Montenegro to Oriental Istanbul looks like! If you are ready to feel the magic of traveling during the New Year holidays, visit the Air Montenegro website and book your seat by the window so you can enjoy the enchanting view!

To get to magical Istanbul, the first thing you need to do is head to beautiful Tivat where you have two options: take a break and enjoy the beauties of Tivat and its surroundings or continue your journey to Istanbul and maybe during the return to experience the charms of wonderful Montenegro.

The flight to Tivat is maybe short, but the picturesque landscapes that you will have the opportunity to see will be worth as a new life experience that will not be forgotten. My sincere advice is to prepare your phones and capture these moments when you fly over the mountain ranges and suddenly see the beauty of the Montenegrin coast, these contrasts are just amazing!

Since I had the opportunity to visit Podgorica a few years ago, it was a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to see what the Mediterranean part looks like and to feel the beauty of the coastal landscapes.

Just landing at the airport in Tivat was a fantastic experience because you have the opportunity to see the Bay of Kotor. I have always been fascinated by airports located by the water. As it was cold and changeable in Belgrade, the weather in Tivat was unusually warm and sunny for this time of year!

Do you remember the possibilities I mentioned a moment ago? I decided that due to the terms of the consultation with the doctors and procedures that awaited me in Turkey, it was best to continue my journey to Istanbul, so I had at least 2 hours to enjoy the beauty and smell of water in the Mediterranean.

The time at the airport passed quickly, while I picked up my suitcase and performed all the necessary procedures, it was time to board the second flight to my final destination – Istanbul.

The flight Tivat – Istanbul lasts about an hour and a half, maybe about 1 hour and 45 minutes, just enough to enjoy “life in the clouds”. Istanbul has more airports, it is important to know that Air Montenegro planes land at the new international airport in Istanbul. Refreshment and in-flight snacks are available on all Air Montenegro flights.

ISTANBUL

Are there words that can describe this picturesque metropolis that today has over 15 million inhabitants, yes you read well over 15 million people live in Istanbul! Some sources unofficially claim that about 20 million people live in Istanbul, but that is unconfirmed information. Honestly, I believe that about 18 million people live in Istanbul, so maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Why do all roads lead to Istanbul today? Istanbul is considered the economic, social and cultural center of the Republic of Turkey. In addition, Istanbul is one of the most populous cities in the world, the seventh largest city in the world and the largest city in Europe. Istanbul is considered a bridge between East and West.

I admit that I have been to Istanbul more times than I have years and this city is one of my favorites because it has that unusual oriental charm and it is a city that never sleeps! There are many reasons why tourists come to Istanbul today, many come for good shopping, some for visiting cultural heritage, while some like me come this time for the famous medical tourism.

Taksim Square, located in the Beyoglu district in the European part of Istanbul, is a major tourist and recreational district known for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul with the central station of the Istanbul metro network. Taksim Square is also famous for the monument of the Republic, which you can see better in my picture with a simit (bagel).

Don’t miss the opportunity to catch the famous red tram number two and ride along the entire Istikal Street. It is a unique experience and will be remembered for a lifetime!

When you come to Istanbul, on the streets of the city you will notice the curled heads of men who have had hair transplants, masks on the noses of men and women who have solved their health and aesthetic problem, of course there are women in their golden age who proudly show that have regained their youth.

Since I came to Istanbul this time with the intention of helping myself, I did something beautiful and useful for myself in order to improve my health and beautify myself, I counted in myself how many people on the street really did something for themselves.

I admit that at first I was amazed while pulling the suitcase, I was not very active in counting, but I think I met at least 30 people who had some aesthetic procedure, mostly nose surgery or hair transplantation.

Turkish plastic surgeons are considered one of the best in Europe, perhaps even in the world. Also, other branches of medicine have been developed, especially oncology, which unfortunately has an increasing number of cases and patients come to Turkey to find a cure and their salvation.

In addition to aesthetic and plastic surgery, dental services are represented in Turkey, as well as services related to gastric surgery, procedures that enable significant and permanent weight loss.

Since many of you contacted me about obesity surgery while I was in Istanbul, I inquired a little about these interventions. Gastric surgery as part of obesity surgery is drastically cheaper in Turkey than in other countries in Europe and the world as well. Due to the large number of patients coming from Europe and the world, Turkish doctors have gained experience. Since there are several types of procedures related to obesity surgery, I am not competent to talk about it in more detail, but I can tell you that the prices are quite cheaper than in Germany.

Many people from Europe and the world went to Istanbul to solve this health problem and really managed to lose weight, but I note that it is necessary to be careful and choose the right clinic for any type of intervention. Obesity is a serious health problem and surgery to reduce the weight is serious and you need to find the right doctor to help you.

Most people who followed my experience on social media were interested in how medical tourism works in Turkey. Is it really based on the principle “you come in, go out and it’s over” and after a few days you just fly back home or is it just a fairy tale.

When it comes to plastic surgery, everything is extremely simple. The most important thing is not to make a mistake in the initial selection of the clinic and the doctor, and everything else goes according to plan. The second step is arranging an arrival in Turkey and the first consultation with a selected plastic surgeon.

At the first consultation, you meet the doctor and try to explain all your wishes in more detail so that the doctor understands the reason for your visit, as I explained in detail what bothers me on my nose and face in general. When it comes to communicating with the staff at the clinic, a large number of clinics have staff who speak some of the languages from your country or hire an interpreter who spends time with you at the clinic, as well as afterwards during the operation.

When you have finished the first consultation with your chosen doctor, his assistant will schedule an intervention. Sometimes the clinic immediately offers you the date of the operation, but in most cases the clinic schedules a consultation with the patient in the period when it can perform the intervention, so that enough time is left for the patient to decide after the first consultation.

Local transport around Istanbul, hotel – clinic – hotel is free in most cases so you don’t have to worry about how to get to the clinic and back to the hotel, everything is already organized. As for accommodation (hotels) when you go to Istanbul on this occasion, clinics mostly offer packages where hotels + transport around Istanbul and airport transportation and interventions are included in the price, but it is necessary to agree with the clinic in advance.

My mom and I were given an appointment for surgery which was two days after the first consultation so everything was very fast. You can use your free time to explore Istanbul.

Also a question which was repeated many times was the time which you need to spent in Istanbul during the visit. Depending on the type of intervention, the period that needs to be spent in Istanbul also depends. Calculate that plastic surgery takes between 10 and 15 days, depending on the procedure you are performing.

These were just introductory information about medical tourism, you will get all the more detailed information in my next blog post which will be dedicated to the operations that my mom and I did in Istanbul.

This post will be interesting to you as a kind of tourist guide that you can visit and see in Istanbul before and after the procedure. The operations did not slow me down too much, maybe I rested for 2-3 days and after that I went out on the street to see people and try various Turkish delights!

Everyone who goes to Istanbul for the first time is eager to explore this city and that is why they first head to Fatih, the part of the city where Hagia Sophia is located, the Blue Mosque and other sights for which Istanbul is famous. Of course, there is also the Capali Carsi in the neighborhood (the famous Grand Bazaar) where you can shop for interesting leather goods, sweets and souvenirs. When going to the Grand Bazaar, prepare your negotiating skills because Turks are known as skilled traders and bargaining is an integral part of negotiations. Take 1 to 2 days to tour this part of the city, depending on how interested you are about this kind of sights and shopping.

When you are done with the cultural uplift so that you can brag to your neighbors and friends about seeing some important sights in Istanbul, you can choose whether you are more for a shopping marathon (shopping without borders) or a cruise.

Istanbul is a promised paradise for all shopaholics, without false promises Istanbul is a place where there is a price range from the cheapest brands you can imagine, affordable jewelry and interesting things to extremely expensive things. No one was left empty-handed in this city, everyone found something for themselves and bought it, whether it was a small thing or an expensive thing.

If you are a fan of luxury fashion, and honestly your budget can’t afford it, there are more than 10 outlet shopping malls that are bigger than usual shopping centres in Germany and Europe so you can find everything your heart desires from the most famous brands from previous seasons.

The most famous outlet shopping malls are: Optimum Outlet, Viaport Outlet, Starcity Outlet.

Of course there are others, but these are with a better offer of brands. These shopping malls are located on the outskirts of the city, so get ready for an adventure in local transport. It can be an interesting and unforgettable adventure!

My hotel was close to Nisantasi, a paradise for luxury shopping where you can find all the world famous luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Berlutti, Max Mara, Gucci and others.

Currently, the choice of brands on Nisantashi has been reduced as all the big fashion houses have moved to big malls like Istinye Park, Emaar Square Mall (new mall), Kanyon Mall and Zorlu Mall.

During my last visit to Istanbul, I visited all the mentioned shopping malls, but as soon as I took out my professional camera, security guards came to warn me that photography is not allowed, so unfortunately you will be abridged the modernist beauties of luxury shopping malls in Istanbul, so you will need to feel it by yourself especially now when seasonal sales starts.

Nisantasi is a meeting place for Turkish designers, so if you happen to pay attention, you will notice numerous fashion ateliers that simply entice customers with their creations to look at their latest collections. Diamonds on the dress, no problem! Everything can be found in this city which is located at the crossroads of East and West.

Due to that fact, Istanbul has become a paradise for shopaholics from the Far and Middle East who come to Istanbul to feel the European version of the Oriental East.

Nisantasi is a popular district of Sisli district on the European side of Istanbul. It consists of settlements such as Tesvikije, Mačka, Osmanbey and Pangalti. A popular shopping and residential district, it is one of the most exclusive districts of Istanbul.

Here, as I just mentioned, you can find stores of the most famous fashion brands, department stores, cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. Abdi Ipekci Street, the most expensive shopping street in Turkey in terms of rental prices, stretches from the Macka and Tesvikiye districts to the center of Nisantasi.

The Nisantasi district is unrivaled in terms of entertainment and cultural content. High class restaurants, cafes and pubs with various additional activities. In the neighboring areas there are large shopping malls such as Cevahir Mall which can be easily reached by public transport or a short walk.

Pangalti, which connects Nisantashi with Mecidiyeköy, is full of local shops and brands. In other words, Nisantasi can give you the opportunity to enjoy prestige and luxury with the ability to have everything at your fingertips.

When I’m on Nisantasi, I always like to go down to the neighboring district of Besiktas, the area where the famous stadium of the famous Turkish club is located and the part that goes out on the Bosphorus. The water always relaxes me and I like to watch the boats and seagulls that adorn this idyllic picture of Istanbul.

Besiktas is located on the European shores of the Bosphorus. The district encompasses important landmarks along the European shores of the Bosphorus, from the Dolmabahçe Palace in the south to the Bebek area in the north.

This area is home to lesser-known neighborhoods overlooking the Bosphorus where you have the opportunity to see expensive villas in Turkish series that we love to watch. I sincerely love this district because of the opportunity to go ashore and see the boats and to enjoy the beauty of the Dolmabahçe Palace, which I sincerely advise everyone to visit when they come to Istanbul.

Although this is a relatively small district of Istanbul, both in terms of population and area, Besiktas is one of the most important areas of the city due to its business and trade zones, historical institutions, universities and of course the fabulous view of the Bosphorus and waterways.

The photo was taken 7 days after the aesthetic procedure

OUTFIT

Jacket: Paul & Shark

Backpack: Bric’s

Jeans: Brunello Cucinelli

Bric’s backpack from the Life Pelle special collection

Here on the coast you can see locals resting and fishing, all the way to those curious tourists like me who came to admire Istanbul and experience this view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus, which we only have the opportunity to see every day in favorite Turkish soap operas.

In addition to shopping, Istanbul is ideal for gourmets because Turkish cuisine is rich and their specialties are unique. If you are more of a street food lover then only three words are allowed: Doner, Börek and Simit. Doner is like Greek gyros that is made exclusively in Turkey with chicken and veal meat with various side dishes, the price of one doner portion varies from 12 to 35 lira depending on the portion size and additives.

Börek is known to everyone, pastry that you will not forget, the price of one serving of Borek is around 15 to 20 lira and finally Simit who never let me down on the street because on every corner in Istanbul you can see an interesting red stroller with bagels that currently cost 2.50 Turkish lira , about 23-25 euro cents. To understand the ratio currency, 1 euro is worth between 11 and 12 Turkish lira.

Istanbul is a city that you just have to love because it gets under your skin. It is a city that awakens a special kind of emotion in everyone. Istanbul is a city with many faces and I am sure that each of you will find at least one that you will adore. This is a city that will delight you every time you visit.

Some people say that it is necessary to come to Istanbul at least until you find at least one answer to the famous question: “Why do you love Istanbul?“.

Every good adventure has its beginning and end, so after less than 3 weeks in beautiful Istanbul it’s time to go home… This adventure was special for me because I fulfilled my greatest wishes and thank you to everyone who took the time to send quick message and to give me words of support. In a few days I will share with you my experience and what my makeover process looked like.

At the very end of this post, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my friends from Air Montenegro who made it possible for my adventure to be just perfect. I sincerely hope that we will meet soon be again and discover the world together.

I invite all travel lovers to visit the official website of the new airline Air Montenegro and book your ticket to Montenegro or some European metropolis! They say that the New Year in Montenegro is magical, it’s worth checking out!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bric’s for their trust and look forward to being a member of the Bric’s family and I am confident that together we will embark on new adventures early next year and write some new travel pages of the Mr.M online diary!

My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this first special post from Turkey which would not have been possible without the selfless help of Air Montenegro and Arpanu Medical Group, partners who made it possible for me to share my impressions of medical tourism in Turkey.

Doku Clinic is a member of the Arpanu Medical Group

Time always flies when a person has a good time! A man is rich at heart if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad to always be able to find suitable partners for my projects that allow me to discover some destinations in a completely different way during this global health crisis COVID-19.

I am honored to have the opportunity to work with companies that are at the very top in each industry and I would like to thank them for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to experience the charms of Istanbul in a completely different way.

How did you like this story of mine about Istanbul? Have you had the opportunity to visit this magical city so far?

If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write to me below in the comments. Of course, you can always contact me via email or social networks and you can find it on the CONTACT page. See you in the same place in a couple of days, with a new story!

Blogger greetings from Istanbul,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by national airline carrier Air Montenegro, brands Bric’s, Brunello Cucinelli, Paul & Shark, and Arpanu Medical Group which represents my personal and honest review of their products and services.

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