Posts tagged travel

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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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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Letters from Moldova: Castel Mimi and Bender Fortress, Pearls of a Small Country with a Big Heart!

Adventure Travel 7 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual trips, I hope you are well and ready to continue our adventure in Moldova. Today’s post will be dedicated to interesting tourist attractions that you should definitely visit if your way leads you to the Republic of Moldova.

At the very beginning of today’s post, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova for the kind invitation and the amazing experience to get to know the Moldovan culture and customs better. It is a great honor and pleasure to have had the opportunity to visit Chisinau and other famous tourist attractions in this wonderful small country with a big heart in Eastern Europe!

For all my dear adventurers and fashion lovers who didn’t have time to read my previous travelogues and fashion stories from Moldova on the Mr.M blog or want to remind yourself of some details, take a few minutes of your time and visit the post on the following links:

  1. The story of Chisinau (travelogue): LINK
  2. JETSET, the Swiss pioneer of luxury ski outerwear is back! (fashion story): LINK
  3. André Maurice, Italian fashion story on the streets of Chisinau (fashion story): LINK
  4. Letters from Moldova: In vino veritas! (travelogue): LINK
  5. Fratelli Rossetti: Italian fashion meets Moldovan wine (fashion story): LINK

Castel Mimi is one of the best and most visited tourist attractions in Moldova. Included in the top 15 most beautiful wineries in the world, which represents an unusual combination of history and tradition on the one hand and modern architecture for tens of thousands of visitors who come every year from over 80 countries around the world. Visitors can enjoy a tour of the only castle in Moldova, learn about the unique role of the Castel Mimi winery in the history of Moldovan winemaking, learn how they maintain Moldovan traditions through their food and exceptional wines. Visitors also have the opportunity to explore the many interesting terraces and picturesque gardens of the Castel Mimi complex.

It was a great honor and pleasure to meet the man behind this great project, Mr. Adrian Trofim, general director and founder of the “Constantin Mimi” foundation. During the conversation with him, I learned that the history of winemaking in Moldova began long before Constantine Mimi created Castel Mimi, almost 3000 years ago. The wine industry has come a long way since then and has undergone many evolutions. The official winemaking history of the Castel Mimi winery begins with Constantine Mimi, the last governor of Bessarabia and one of the best winemakers and politicians of the 20th century.

Mr. Trofim believes that legends are created by great people who achieve great things, driven by their passion and dreams and not afraid of hard work and dedication. One of these men is Constantine Mimi, a pioneer, passionate winemaker and significant public figure of the 20th century. He dedicated his life to wine and politics. Applying the knowledge he acquired in Western Europe, Constantine Mimi managed to build the first castle in Moldavia. This led him to produce excellent wines and raise standards by applying new technologies. Thanks to his actions, the country’s wine industry was saved a couple of times, so today Moldova can be one of the leading wine producers in the world. Impressive, right?!

The legacy of Constantine Mimi, as well as the making of wine with great love, continues. The castle, along with its secret recipes and valuable approach, passed it on to future generations of winemakers who do justice to its memory by continuing to produce high-quality wines, suitable for every occasion. So, every time you raise a glass of quality Moldovan wine, remember this extraordinary person who supported the development of Moldovan winemaking culture – Konstantin Mimi!

This winery is considered to be the first real castle in Bessarabia. Since it was built of reinforced concrete with two floors, it was considered a modern building, not only in the Bender district, but also in the entire governorate. The cellar had the capacity to store around 300,000 liters of wine in barrels. A few years ago, more precisely in 2011, the renovation of the winery began, which has become a major tourist attraction. When the castle was rebuilt, it was named “Castel Mimi” in honor of its founder. The works lasted 5 years and the winery was reopened in September 2016.

The renovation of the Castel Mimi tourist complex included: a museum, an art gallery for young artists, a conference hall, a small boutique hotel, a spa, a restaurant, folk art and culinary studios, as well as several entertainment halls. The castle itself has four large halls for 100 to 120 guests, two wine tasting rooms and six rooms in the basement. The plan is to open a hotel with a larger capacity in 2023, and work is currently underway to expand this complex, so that from next year we can expect novelties in the Castel Mimi complex that will attract a large number of tourists.

Fine dining restaurant “The White Owl” and bars in the Castel Mimi complex are the perfect locations for hedonists who want to enjoy excellent Moldovan gourmet cuisine in a relaxing and luxurious environment. All dishes are prepared from the highest quality, fresh ingredients from the garden located in the complex itself, and the whole concept is designed to preserve the environment. You can feel a special pleasure in every bite, which can only be enhanced in the company of top Moldovan wines from the rich Castel Mimi collection.

“The White Owl” is the first fine dining restaurant in Moldova where visitors can enjoy excellent dishes inspired by traditional Moldavian gastronomy with special influences from the cuisine of Provence. You can enjoy the best food and wine that Moldova has to offer at the incredible location of Castel Mimi Winery. The exceptional A La Carte menu will delight you with a rich selection of delicacies, all of which are prepared by the chef according to the best recipes.

The tour of the wine cellars of the Castel Mimi winery was special because I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the way of wine production and to learn something new about this precious and refined alcoholic beverage. Did you know that the wood from which wine barrels are made can affect the taste of wine? Do you know that the same wine can have a different taste if it is kept in barrels made of different types of wood? Mr. Trofim took the time to demonstrate and show me some interesting things from the world of winemaking and how his team takes care of the wines in the barrels every day. Of course, I also had the opportunity to look at some of the special wines that are kept as treasures.

If you want to stay updated and find out news from Castel Mimi Winery or you want to book a tour of the tourist complex, have the option to choose between several types of tours, you can visit their official website or you can follow them on the social networks Facebook and Instagram.

After finishing the Castel Mimi winery tour I headed to the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic, sound familiar? Transnistria is an unrecognized independent state that separated (separated) from the Republic of Moldova. This independent state was created on September 2, 1990. due to its unusual shape, geographical position along the Dniester River and due to the border length of 816 km and the area of slightly more than 4,000 km2, this country has the shape of an elongated island.

Why did I decide to go to Transnistria? The reason is very interesting – Tighina Fortress (Bender). Tighina Fortress (renamed Bender by the Turks) is a 15th-century fortress on the right bank of the Dniester River in Bender, Moldova. This fortress was originally built of earth and wood during the reign of Prince Stephen the Great. Back in 1538, this fortress was conquered by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who ordered it to be rebuilt in stone and expanded.

According to historians, the first mention of Tighina, as a settlement and customs warehouse, can be found in the trade privilege given on October 6, 1408 by the Moldavian prince Alexander the Good to merchants from Lviv. Later, during the 15th and 16th centuries, the name Tighina is often recorded in medieval documents. In the Moldavian documents that mention the locality, in Tighina, along with the imperial customs and the crossing, a guard is also mentioned.

As for the fortress of Tighina, according to the information that circulated in the previous centuries, they accredited the idea that it was built by the Genoese in the 12th century, as well as the fortresses of Hotin and Cetatea Alba. The military historian Aleksandar Zaščuk saw an accentuated western character in the architecture of the inner citadel. The first and only definitive mention of the existence of the Moldavian fortification itself, a fortress which is assumed to have been made of wood and earth, is found in the Moldavian-Polish Chronicle from the mid-16th century. It states, referring to the Ottoman conquests of 1538, that the Turkish Sultan Suleiman “took possession of the Moldavian fortress of Tighina.”

Archaeological research, which was limited in scope and character, carried out by researcher Jon Hinz in 1969, enabled the discovery of residential complexes and a defensive moat dating from the 15th-16th centuries. century. Archaeological investigations have led to the identification of a fortification, probably of wood and earth, which preceded the later stone construction. The surface of the circular or egg-shaped fortress courtyard was covered with a layer of ash. Ceramic and metal objects have traces of fire.

The fortress, which was restored by Petru Rares and conquered by the Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538, became the residence of the Turkish paradise. Its old name was replaced by a new one, Bender, which means “river port, berth”. During this period, Suleiman I ordered the fortress to be rebuilt in stone and enlarged according to the project of the architect Sinan, and the reconstruction work was completed only in 1541. Using local resources and the labor of local peasants, the Ottomans turned the fortress into a well-fortified fighting facility. At that time, the stone fortress was quadrangular in shape, surrounded on three sides by a very deep moat.

Until the end of the 16th century, Moldavian detachments repeatedly attacked the Bender fortress, but without success. In the summer of 1574, John the Brave besieged it with his army. Then, in 1595 and 1600, Mihail the Brave made two attempts, but neither of the two rulers was successful. Around the same time, Bender was attacked by the Zaporozhian Cossacks. In the years 1705-1707. Prince Antioch Kantemir continued the work on strengthening this fortification of special military importance for the Turks. In this last variant, the fortress consisted of an ensemble of 10 bastions and 11 towers surrounded by the same traditional defensive moat.

The bitter fate of the fortress ruled by the Turks made the chronicler Myron Kostin write that “Tighina fortress has darkened”. As a result of three Russian-Turkish wars, the fortress fell under the rule of the Russian Empire, and the imperial generals considered it very suitable for military barracks. From 1812, that is, from the second half of the 19th century, the Bender fortress gradually began to lose its former strategic importance.

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this third and also the last special travelogue in the autumn season about Moldova where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of wine and the history of this small unusual country with a big heart. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Moldovan culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Moldova.

I would like to especially thank the staff of BERD’S Chisinau MGallery Hotel for their warm welcome and having me in their wonderful hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of my own 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 of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Eastern Europe in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Moldovan wine, culture and history? Have you had the chance to visit the magical Republic of Moldova 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!

With Love from Moldova,

Mr. M

This post is sponsored by the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Moldova: In Vino Veritas!

Adventure Travel 4 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual trips, today we continue our adventure in Moldova. In the previous post, you had the opportunity to get acquainted with the beauties of the capital of the Republic of Moldova – Chisinau. If by some chance you didn’t have time to read the post or you want to remind yourself with some interesting information, take the opportunity and read the post at the following link.

What have we learned so far about Moldova? We know that it is a country of good wines and exceptional food, and that is why many say that Moldova is the new great destination for wine and food tourism in Eastern Europe. Today we will prove it and I will take you along with me along the wine roads of Moldova where we will get to know some of the famous wineries in this unusual country of Eastern Europe.

At the very beginning of this post, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Invest Moldova Invest Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova for the kind invitation and the incredible experience to get to know the Moldovan culture and customs better.

Sparkling wine has a special place in Moldovan cuisine. The country produces large quantities of classic white and rosé sparkling wines, as well as red sparkling wines that were originally introduced in Moldova. The most famous sparkling wines are those produced in the Cricova winery. Famous brands of Moldovan sparkling wines are Negru de Purcari, Moldova, Chisinau, Cricova, Muscat spumant, National, Nisporeni, etc. They are made from a wide range of European grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Menu, Sauvignon, Aligot, Traminac Rosé, Muscat Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The local variety Feteasca Alba, which is also used in sparkling wines, has been cultivated in Moldavia since the time of ancient Dacia.

During my visit to Moldova, I visited the 3 most famous wineries: Cricova, Castel Mimi and Chateau Vartely, today we will visit the wine cellars together and learn more about Chateau Vartely and Cricova wineries, while we will spend a small break in an interesting rural environment with beautiful landscapes – Butuceni.

Chateau Vartely winery officially appeared on the market in 1996 and established itself as a leader on the national wine scene. A few years later, in 2004, the company Chateau Vartely was founded, which has already gained numerous international awards, and in 2008, a tourist complex was opened, equipped with all the latest world standards for the needs of visitors to the Chateau Vartely winery.

The winery is located only 50 kilometers from Chisinau. The total area of ​​the Chateau Vartely vineyard is 550 hectares, and it is located in the Codru and Bugeac zone. It is believed that the vintage grown in this area is bottled in more than 4.5 million bottles annually.

Where does the name Chateau Vartely winery come from? The name Vartely itself comes from the name of the city of Orhei, which in Hungarian means “place for a fortress”. The Chateau Vartely brand was developed and launched in 2004. The slogan of this winery is “Wine with love for you”, because every noble wine that is produced in the Chateau Vartely winery has a part of the heart and dedication of the people who work here.

As a person who loves wine, I can only say that this trip was an extremely new experience for me, especially because I saw an unusual blend of modern and traditional at Chateau Vartely winery. My observation was confirmed by eminent winemakers who also consider Chateau Vartely to be an unusual winery that combines the latest innovations in grape growing and processing technology with a passion for producing top quality wines.

The excellence and outstanding quality of Chateau Vartelly wines has been recognized through numerous medals and recognitions awarded at the most prestigious international competitions such as: Mondial de Bruxelles, Mundus Vini, Vinalies Internationales, Decanter, International Wine & Spirits Competition, Sakura, Citta del Vino, International Wine Challenge and others.

After this exciting tour of the Chateau Vartely winery, which was a combination of a classic tourist tour with the use of modern technology and a picturesque presentation of the unusual story of this winery, the team from the Invest Moldova Agency decided that it would be best to take a break in one of the most beautiful rural areas in Moldova – Butuceni .

One of the most popular places in Moldova is the tourist area called Old Orhei, which is located on the Raut River. It is a national heritage of the Republic of Moldova, located approximately 60 km from the capital Chisinau, this zone includes three villages: Butuceni, Morovaja and Trebujeni. Orhei Vechi is an archaeological and historical complex consisting of the newly opened Arheological Museum, an ancient rock church, a new church and several private old-fashioned hotels – inns in a very rural traditional style, located in the villages of Butuceni and Trebujeni. Old Orhei is a beautiful quiet and wonderful place with beautiful landscapes and rich history that brings tourists to discover the ancient roots of Moldova.

Butuceni is a very small and lovely village that is located next to the rocks and belongs to the Old Orhei complex. Of the three villages, Butuceni is the closest to Old Orhei. That is why today it is the most visited tourist destination. This quiet and interesting village attracts tourists because it preserves the true Moldavian tradition with its striking colorful houses, narrow streets and amazing nature. There is no household in Butuceni that does not engage in agriculture and animal husbandry because tourism is only a part of their income.

I had a great experience with the Butuceni Eco Resort Restaurant and Museum, where I learned a lot of interesting information about this picturesque place and had the opportunity to peek into the authentic Moldovan tradition, culture and history with an amazing gourmet trip with wonderful meals and the famous warm Moldovan hospitality. The exterior appearance of all the houses in Batuceni looks very charming because they remind you of your grandparents’ house in the countryside.

If you come to this part of Moldova, don’t forget to stop at Butuceni Eco Resort where you can really relax after a long hiking tour. I’m sure you will be delighted by the taste of traditional Moldovan zama soup, mamaliga with meat and a glass of good wine. Once you try the local Moldovan cuisine, be sure that you will fall in love at the first bite. In this place you are provided with a wireless WiFi internet network, so you will be able to share the experience with your family and friends through the many applications that make our life modern.

In Old Orhei, you feel as if you have left the modern city life and stepped into a rural idyll, a real nirvana isolated from the influence of the outside modern world. Staying in the middle of monumental stone constructions, cave monasteries and all other archaeological reserves, you will have the opportunity to peer into history to the ancient roots of Moldovan culture and national identity. Visit Orheiul Vechi and discover its significance and incredible history.

Finally, I left you one of the most famous tourist attractions for lovers of refined alcoholic beverages – wine. The wine cellars of Cricova Winery are the second largest wine cellar in Moldova, after Milestii Mici (the largest in the world). This amazing winery boasts 120 kilometers of labyrinthine roads located at levels from 30 to 100 meters underground. Tunnels have existed under Cricova since the 15th century, when limestone was quarried for the construction of Chisinau. In the 1950s, they were turned into a wine cellar.

Half of the tunnel is used for wine storage. The roads in the Cricova winery are named after the wines they store. This “wine city” has its own special warehouses, wine tasting rooms and other facilities underground. It descends as much as 100 meters below ground level and contains over a million bottles of rare wine. The oldest wine dates back to 1902 (see the picture below). The temperature stays at around 12 °C all year round, which is the perfect temperature for wine, but I was always bundled up with my winter jacket, which I didn’t part with during my entire trip through Moldova.

The largest importer of wine from Cricova is Kazakhstan. It used to be Russia, but that changed in 2014 when Russia imposed an embargo on Moldovan wine in retaliation for Moldova taking steps towards joining the European Union.

Cricova winery produces sparkling wines according to the classic French method, which was supposedly invented several centuries ago by the monk Dom Pierre Pérignon – “Methode Champenoise”. Cricova makes a unique sparkling red wine, kodrinskoie-sparkling, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and marketed as having a “rich velvety texture and flavors of blackcurrant and cherry.”

The “Grand Cellars of Cricova” house a varied collection of wines, The National Oenotec. The unique exhibits (“Jerusalem of Easter” vintage 1902, the liqueur “Jan Becher” vintage 1902) together with other 158 brands from Burgundy, Moselle, Tokay, the Rhine, are in the collection of the establishment as well as of Moldova in general, comprising nowadays a total of about 1.3 million bottles.

However, the pride of the Oenotec are, first of all, the wines bearing the name “Cricova”, which brought the winery a collection of national and international tasting awards. As of 2008, the collection consists of over 70 silver, gold, and Grand Prix awards.

However, the pride of the Oenotec are, first of all, the wines bearing the name “Cricova”, which brought the winery a collection of national and international tasting awards. As of 2008, the collection consists of over 70 silver, gold, and Grand Prix awards.

My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this second special travelogue in the autumn season about Moldova where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the wine of this small unusual country with a big heart. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Moldovan culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Moldova.

I would like to especially thank the staff of BERD’S Chisinau MGallery Hotel for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of my own 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 of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Eastern Europe in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Moldovan wine, culture and heritage? Have you had the chance to visit the magical Republic of Moldova 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 ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from Moldova,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Moldova: Chisinau, a Small Metropolis with a Big Heart…

Adventure Travel 4 Comments

My dear travelers, I hope you are well and ready for a new season of adventures on the Mr.M blog! This autumn I had the opportunity to visit an unusual small country with a big heart in Eastern Europe – the Republic of Moldova. I am very proud of the fact that I am the first blogger in the world who was invited to visit and feel the Moldovan hospitality and to check some facts that I read in numerous magazines that this small country is the new big destination for lovers of good wines and food in the Eastern Europe.

At the very beginning of this post, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova for the kind invitation and the incredible experience to get to know the Moldovan culture and customs better.

What do we know about Moldova? The Republic of Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It borders Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south. The capital and also the largest city of the Republic of Moldova is Chisinau. Most of the Moldavian territory was part of the Principality of Moldavia from the 14th century until 1812, when the Ottoman Empire ceded it to the Russian Empire, to which Moldavia was a vassal state and became recognized as Bessarabia.

Southern Bessarabia was returned to Moldavia in 1856, which united with Wallachia three years later to form Romania, but Russian rule was restored over the entire region in 1878. During the Russian Revolution in 1917, Bessarabia briefly became an autonomous state within the Russian Federation. During February 1918, the Moldavian Democratic Republic declared independence and then integrated into Romania later that year after a vote in its assembly. The decision was contested by Soviet Russia, which in 1924 established, within the Ukrainian SSR, the so-called Moldavian Autonomous Republic (MASSR) on the territories partially inhabited by Moldavia east of Bessarabia.

Today, Moldova is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. It is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and the Trio of Associations . This year, Moldova became an official candidate for membership in the European Union.

How did Moldova get its name? The name Moldavia is derived from the river Moldavia, whose valley served as a political center at the time of the founding of the Principality of Moldavia in 1359. The origin of the river’s name remains unclear to this day. According to the legend transmitted by Moldavian chroniclers Dimitrije Kantemir and Grigore Ureča, Prince Dragoš named the river after hunting aurochs: after the chase, the prince’s exhausted hound Molda drowned in the river. The name of the dog, given to the river, spread to the Principality and then to the Republic of Moldova.

The cultural tradition of Moldova was primarily influenced by the Romanian origin of its majority population, whose roots go back to the second century AD, the period of Roman colonization in Dacia. Due to its unusual geographical location at the crossroads of Latin, Slavic and other cultures, Moldova has enriched its own culture by adopting and maintaining the traditions of neighboring regions and other influential powerful states. The largest ethnic group, which by the 14th century had become widely identified as the “Moldavian” league, played a significant role in shaping classical Romanian culture. Moldavian culture was also influenced by Byzantine culture, the neighboring Hungarian and Slavic populations, and later the Ottoman Turks. The strong Western European influence in Moldovan literature and art experienced a golden revival in the 19th century. During the period 1812-1917. and 1944-1989. , Moldovans were under the influence of Russian and Soviet administrative control, as well as immigration of ethnic Russians.

The cultural heritage of Moldavia was marked by numerous churches and monasteries built by the Moldavian ruler Stefan the Great in the 15th century, the works of later Renaissance metropolitans Varlaam and Dosoftei, as well as the works of scientists such as Grigore Ureche, Miron Kostin, Nikolae Milescu. In the 19th century, Moldavians from the territory of the medieval Principality of Moldavia, divided into Bessarabia, Bukovina and Western Moldavia (after 1859, Romania), made a significant contribution to the formation of modern Romanian culture. Among them there were many Bessarabians, such as Alexander Donica, Alexander Heide, Bogdan Petricic Hasde, Konstantin Stamati, Konstantin Stamati-Chiurea, Kostache Negruci, Alek Rousseau, Konstantin Stere.

Mihai Eminescu, a late romantic poet, and Ion Creanga, a writer, are the most influential artists in the Romanian language, considered national writers in both Romania and Moldova.

We come to the interesting part that interests us all – the food! Moldovan cuisine is specific and the style of cooking is a matter of tradition that is extremely important for Moldovans. It consists mainly of ingredients such as various types of meat, potatoes, cabbage and various grains. The local cuisine is very similar to Romanian, and also draws inspiration and elements from other cuisines in the region, including Greek, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian, with a strong influence from Ottoman cuisine.

Due to its excellent geographical position, the fertile soil of Moldova provides an abundance of grapes, fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat and dairy products, all of which have found their application in the national cuisine. The fertile black soil combined with the use of traditional agricultural methods allows the cultivation of a wide range of food in Moldova. Moldovan cuisine is rich and with good food you can always find a suitable wine!

The most famous Moldovan dish is mamaliga (porridge or porridge made from corn flour). This is a polenta-like staple on the Moldovan table, served as a side dish to stews and meat dishes or garnished with fresh cheese, sour cream or pork rind. Regional delicacies include branza (brine cheese) and friptura (lamb or goat stew). Do not forget that every good Moldovan dish must be accompanied by a suitable wine because it is a matter of tradition and way of life that Moldovans have cherished for centuries!

Traditional for Moldovan cuisine are dishes that combine a variety of vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, beans, onions, garlic and leeks. Vegetables are used in salads and sauces, and are baked, steamed, pickled (muraturi), salted or marinated.

Different types of borscht (stew) include a wide range of soups with a characteristic sour taste. These can be meat and vegetable soups, or fish soups, all of which are pickled with borscht (traditionally made from bran) or lemon juice. Chicken soup with meat, known as zeama, is very popular.

Meat products occupy a special place in traditional Moldovan cuisine, especially as an appetizer or main course. Roasted and roasted pork, beef meatballs and steamed lamb are common. Meat and fish are often marinated and then grilled. Traditional holiday dishes include stuffed cabbage with minced meat, pilaf (rice dish), pork jelly, noodles, chicken and many others.

In certain areas, the cuisine of different ethnic minorities prevails. In the eastern regions, Ukrainians eat borscht, while in the south, Bessarabian Bulgarians serve traditional mange (chicken with sauce), while Gagauz prepare shorpa, a very spicy mutton soup. Pelmeni (dumplings filled with meat) are popular in Russian communities. The various dishes served at the New Year’s table include mostly Russian-influenced dishes such as shuba and salade de boeuf.

Other very popular dishes include a variety of pierogi called coltunasi, filled with fresh white cheese (coltunasi cu brinza), meat (coltunasi cu carne) or cherries.

Soft drinks include stewed fruit compote and fruit juice. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin (Moldavian brandy), beer and, of course, the famous Moldovan wine. European grapes are used in wine production. Popular grapes include Sauvignon, Cabernet and Muscat. The main domestic Moldovan varieties include Feteasca, Rara neagra and Busuioaca alba.

Sparkling wine has a special place in Moldovan cuisine. The country produces large quantities of classic white and rosé sparkling wines, as well as red sparkling wines that were originally introduced in Moldova. The most famous sparkling wines are those produced in the Krikova winery. Famous brands of Moldovan sparkling wines are Negru de Purcari, Moldova, Chisinau, Cricova, Muscat spumant, National, Nisporeni, etc. They are made from a wide range of European grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Menu, Sauvignon, Aligot, Traminac Rosé, Muscat Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The local variety Feteasca Alba, which is also used in sparkling wines, has been cultivated in Moldavia since the time of ancient Dacia.

During my visit to Moldova, I visited 3 of the most famous wineries: Cricova, Castel Mimi and Chateau Vartely, about which I will write more in the next post and I am sure you will enjoy the unique content!

After I introduced you to the history of Moldova and introduced you to the Moldovan culture, heritage, as well as their cuisine, it’s time to write something about the capital of this unusual small country with a big heart that forms the heart of Eastern Europe – Chisinau!

Chisinau is the main industrial and commercial center of Moldova, and it is located in the very heart of the country, on the Bach River, a tributary of the Dniester. According to some recent data, over 600,000 inhabitants live in the city itself, while the municipality of Chisinau, which includes the city itself and other nearby communities, has almost 800,000 inhabitants. Chisinau is the most economically prosperous center in Moldova and the largest traffic hub. Almost a third of the population of Moldova lives in the metro area, which is really impressive!

How did the capital of Moldova get its name? The origin of the city’s name is still unclear. There are numerous legends and theories that indicate that the name could come from the archaic Romanian words chisla (meaning “spring”, “source of water”) and noua (“new”), because it was built around a small spring, at the corner of Pushkin and Albisvara streets that form the heart of today’s Chisinau!

There is one official version of history, formulated by Stefan Čobanu, a Romanian historian and academic, who believes that the name was formed in the same way as the name of Chișinău (alternatively spelled: Chişinău) in western Romania, near the border with Hungary. Her Hungarian name is Kisjeno, which is where her Romanian name comes from. Kisjeno comes from kis “small” and Jeno, one of the seven Hungarian tribes that entered the Carpathian Basin in 896. At least 24 other settlements are named after the Jeno tribe.

Chisinau is known as Kishinev in Russian, while Moldova’s Russian-language media call it Chisinau. It was also written as Chisineu in the Romanian language before the 20th century and as Chisineu in the Moldavian Cyrillic script. Historically, the city’s English-language name, Chisinau, was based on a modified Russian because it entered the English language via Russian when Chisinau was part of the Russian Empire.

How was Chisinau created? Founded in 1436 as a monastery village, the town was part of the Principality of Moldavia, which became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century, but still retained its autonomy. At the beginning of the 19th century, Chisinau was a small town with 7,000 inhabitants.

Historically speaking, Chisinau was home to fourteen factories in 1919. Chisinau is the financial and business capital of Moldova. Chisinau has the largest and most developed mass media sector in Moldova and is home to several affiliated companies, from leading television networks and radio stations to major newspapers. All national and international banks have their headquarters in Chisinau. Notable locations around Chisinau include the Patria cinema, new malls Malldova, Megapolis Mall and the most famous shops. While many locals continue to shop at the bazaars, many upper-class residents and tourists shop at retail outlets in Maldova as well.

Elat, an older shopping center in the Botanica district, and Sun City, in the center, are more popular with locals. There are several amusement parks in the city. One from the Soviet era is located in the Botanica district, along the three lakes of the large park, which extends to the outskirts of the city center. The second, modern park Aventura, is located further from the center.

The urban plan of Chisinau was developed in the 19th century. As far back as 1836, the construction of the Chisinau Cathedral and its bell tower was completed. The bell tower was demolished during the Soviet era and was rebuilt in 1997. Chisinau also displays a huge number of Orthodox churches and 19th-century buildings throughout the city, such as the Ćuflea Monastery or the Church of the Transfiguration. Most of the town is made of limestone quarried from Krikova, leaving the famous wine cellar there.

Many buildings of modern architectural style were built in the city after 1991. There are many office and retail complexes that are modern, renovated or newly built, including Kentford, SkyTower and the headquarters of Union Fenos. However, old clusters of Soviet-style apartment blocks are still an extensive feature of the cityscape.

There are several important museums in Chisinau. The three national museums are the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History, the National Museum of Art and the National Archaeological and Historical Museum. Chisinau, like all of Moldova, still shows significant signs of ethnic culture. Signs reading “Patria Mea” (My Homeland) can be found all over the capital. Although few people still wear traditional Moldovan clothing, large public events often attract people to wear national costumes.

Moldova’s National Wine Day and Wine Festival are held every year on the first weekend of October in Chisinau. The events celebrate the fall harvest and recognize the country’s long history of winemaking, dating back some 500 years. It is the tradition and culture of this country and it is the strong roots that make this country original and beautiful!

During my first day in Chisinau, I had the opportunity to attend a big fashion event UNZIP which is important both for famous Moldovan fashion designers and for some new young rising fashion designers who are considered to become important names in the fashion world. My first impression when I entered the magnificent building where the shows were held was incredible because you can see how much the Moldovans actually take care of all the details, so I had the impression that I was at some gala event as part of the Milan fashion week that I attended, so I have only words of praise for the organization of this wonderful event.

My first day in Chisinau was exciting and full of surprises. I enjoyed numerous Moldovan specialties and rode local trolleybuses, since the people from the organization thought that I had no idea what it’s like to be a tourist in a city where you can feel the positive energy while cruising through the city on one of the numerous trolleybus lines…

I would like to use this unique opportunity to thank the team of the Invest Moldova Agency of the Republic of Moldova for the sincere and kind invitation to visit their country and to feel the Moldovan hospitality and at least for a short glimpse into the centuries-old culture and traditions of an unusual and beautiful country in Eastern Europe. This was an unusual and beautiful trip where I recorded numerous photos, beautiful memories and brought home the most beautiful Moldovan wines and cheeses. Travel is the best form of informal education, where a person gets to know the world and new cultures and thus has the opportunity to connect with the world and expand his horizons and cultural limits. This time Invest Moldova Agency with its partners made my trip exceptional and I am glad that I was the first blogger in the world to visit their country and I sincerely hope that in the near future there will be more bloggers, influencers and media persons who will show Moldova and prove that it is a beautiful small country with a big heart that is always ready to welcome everyone and find yourself!

Of course, my visit to Moldova was exceptional because I had the opportunity to stay in one of the best hotels in the city – BERD’S Chisinau MGallery Hotel Collection, which is the first and only designer hotel in Moldova. It is located in the heart of the social and cultural life of Chisinau and it was very easy and simple to move around the city, which is the most important thing for any traveler, right?

The hotel offers 33 rooms and apartments full of local tradition combined with modern, contemporary architecture and aesthetics with top comfort. The Italian restaurant MEZZO presents a new fresh look at Italian tradition, delicious cuisine and an elegant interior that remains true to the spirit of minimalism. BERD’S Chisinau MGallery promises an authentic journey into Moldovan culture.

I would like to thank the friendly and professional staff who made my stay unforgettable and it was a great pleasure to be their dear guest in the special Signature suite, which represents a true and deep understanding of luxury and design. This elegant two-bedroom apartment with a spacious living room is equipped with soft leather furniture, an amazing bedroom with a leather desk, an open bathroom with a jacuzzi and a shower. The interior is decorated with hand-woven carpets originating from Tibet and conceptualized by Lucca Scacchetti to convey traditional local motifs. The unique collection of ceramics by the famous Moldavian sculptor – Yuri Platon also contributes to the experience.

My dear travelers, we have reached the end of this first special travelogue in the autumn season about Moldova where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the capital of this small unusual country with a big heart – Chisinau. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Moldovan culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Moldova.

I would like to once again give special thanks to the staff of BERD’S Chisinau MGallery 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 my own 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 of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Eastern Europe in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Chisinau and Moldovan culture? Have you had the chance to visit the magical Republic of Moldova 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 ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With Love from Chisinau,

Mr.M

In the next post, we will go together on the wine roads of Moldova and visit some of the most Moldovan famous wineries…

This post is sponsored by the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Jordan: Aqaba and Dead Sea, Pearls from the South!

Adventure Travel 7 Comments

My dear travellers and lovers of unusual trips, I hope you are well and ready to continue our adventure in Jordan! Today’s post is special and a bit sentimental as this is the last travelogue in the series of posts Letters from Jordan. This post will wrap up my Jordan adventure and I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful messages and numerous questions about the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. I sincerely hope that I managed to solve all your doubts and that your next destination will be this unusual country!

For all my dear travellers and fashionistas who didn’t get to read my previous travelogues and fashion stories from Jordan on the Mr.M blog or want to remind yourself of some details, take a few minutes of your time and visit the post on the following links:

  1. The story about Amman and Jerash (travelogue)
  2. The story of Petra (travelogue)
  3. The story from Wadi Rum with Fratelli Rossetti (fashion story)
  4. The Fashionable Royal Blue adventure in Aqaba (fashion story)
  5. The story of Wadi Rum, the Moon Desert Princess (travelogue)
  6. The story of Petra with Loro Piana (fashion story)

Today I will share with you my experience in Aqaba and Dead Sea and I would like to thank the Visit Jordan for the kind invitation and the amazing experience to get to know Jordanian culture and customs.

Aqaba is the only seaport in the Kingdom of Jordan, as well as the largest and most populated city in the Gulf of Aqaba. Located in the southernmost part of Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative center of Aqaba Governorate. Today, over 150,000 people live in the city. Aqaba plays a major role in the development of the Jordanian economy, through vibrant trade and tourism sectors. The port of Aqaba also serves other countries in the region. Aqaba’s ideal strategic location on the northeastern part of the Red Sea between the continents of Asia and Africa has made its port important for thousands of years.

The ancient city that was located in the area of today’s Aqaba was called Elat, adopted in Latin as Aela and in Arabic as Aila. Its strategic location and proximity to copper mines made it a regional hub for copper production and trade in the Chalcolithic period. Aela became a diocese under Byzantine rule and later became a Latin Catholic titular see after the Islamic conquest around 650 AD, when it became known as Ayla. The name Akaba appears in the Middle Ages. The Battle of Aqaba in the Great Arab Revolt, depicted in the film Lawrence of Arabia, resulted in a victory for the Arab forces over the Ottoman defenders.

Aqaba, next to Wadi Rum and Petra, is located in the famous golden Jordanian tourist triangle, which strengthened the location of the city on the world map and made it one of the main tourist attractions of the Kingdom of Jordan. The city is governed by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, which has turned Aqaba into a low-tax, duty-free city, attracting several mega projects such as Aila Oasis, Saraya Aqaba, Marsa Zayed and the expansion of Aqaba Port. It is expected to turn the city into a major tourist center in the region. However, industrial and commercial activities remain important, due to the city’s strategic position as the only seaport in the country. The city is located just across the border from Eilat, also Israel’s only port on the Red Sea. After the 1994 Israeli-Jordanian peace accord, there were plans and hopes for the establishment of a cross-border tourism and economic zone, but few of these plans came to fruition.

Since I know how much you love to read interesting historical facts, I made sure to find out how the only seaport in Jordan got its name. The name of the city was anciently Elat, Ailat. The name is probably derived from the Semitic name of a tree from the genus Pistacia. Modern Eilat (founded in 1947), located about 5 km northwest of Aqaba, is also named after an ancient settlement. In the Hellenistic period it was renamed Berenice, but the original name survived, and under Roman rule it was reintroduced in the forms Aila, Aela or Haila, adopted in Byzantine Greek as Aila Aila and in Arabic as Ayla, while the Crusaders called the city Elin.

The current name of Aqaba is shortened from ʿakabat Ailah – “mountain pass of Ailah”, which was first mentioned by Idrisi in the 12th century, at a time when the settlement was mainly reduced to a military stronghold, exactly referring to the pass northeast of the settlement.

Aqaba has a number of luxury hotels, including Tala Bay Resort, that cater to those who come to have fun on the beaches as well as to dive. It also offers activities that take advantage of its desert location. Its many cafes offer mansaf and knafeh and baklava desserts. Another very popular place is the Turkish bath (Hamam) built in 306 AD, where locals and visitors come to relax after a hot and tiring day.

Aqaba has been chosen as the site of a new waterfront construction project that would renovate Aqaba with new artificial water features, new high-rise residential and commercial buildings, and more tourism services to put Aqaba on the investment map and challenge other centers of waterfront development throughout the region. Aqaba was chosen as the best Arab tourist city in 2011.

During the five-day holiday at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, Jordanian and Western expatriates flock to the city with numbers reaching up to 50,000 visitors. During that time, the occupancy rate of most hotels there reaches as high as 90% and they are often fully booked.

The fact that Aqaba is the only coastal city in Jordan has successfully created a distinctive cuisine compared to other Jordanian cities. Main dishes include Saiadeiah, a combination of rice, fish and spices, a dish common in Arabian coastal cities. Kishnah is a famous dish that includes fish, tomatoes and onions cooked together. Bukhari dish consists of rice, meat, hummus beans, ghee and spices popular in wedding ceremonies. Treats in Aqaba include Al-Hooh, which consists of layers of pastry filled with nuts or dates that are then fried in ghee and dipped in sugar syrup. Dates and ghee, which consists of fresh dates dipped in ghee, is a simple dessert that is also commonly presented to all tourists.

The Dead Sea, also known by other names, is a salt lake bordered by Jordan on the east and Israel and the West Bank. It lies in the valley of the Jordan River, and at the same time its main tributary is the Jordan River.

The lake is located about 430 meters below sea level, which makes the shores of the Dead Sea the lowest altitude on Earth. It is 304 meters deep and is the deepest hyper-saline lake in the world. With a salinity of 342 g/kg, or 34.2%, it is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, almost 10 times saltier than the ocean and has a density of 1.24 kg/l, making swimming akin to floating. This salinity creates a harsh environment where plants and animals cannot flourish, hence its name. The main, northern basin of the Dead Sea is 50 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide at its widest point.

Since you know that I can’t swim, you must be wondering how I dared to enter the lake, since we know that lakes can be quite deep… After reading numerous articles in which scientists claimed that it was simply impossible that due to the salinity of the lake itself a man drowns, I decided to see for myself.

There are rules that you must follow if you want to feel the beauty and healing of this lake in a healthy way. Staying in the water is limited due to salinity.

What does it actually look like to have a Spa relaxing day on the Dead Sea? When you get to the lake you can stay in it for between 10 and 15 minutes, don’t get the area around your eyes and mouth wet because of the salt! After that, you can apply a layer of healing mud from the Dead Sea, which has many positive properties that can help people who have problems with some skin diseases. It is recommended to leave the mud on the body to dry for up to 20 minutes and after that period you can re-enter the Dead Sea to remove the mud more easily with the help of salt from the lake and take a good shower with plain water. It is recommended to do this once, maximum twice a day. If you have sensitive skin like me, my honest recommendation is to do this once a day or once every 2/3 days due to the salinity.

The interesting thing is that it was the Dead Sea that attracted visitors from the entire Mediterranean basin for thousands of years. It was one of the world’s first spas and supplied a wide range of products, from asphalt for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizer. Today, tourists visit the lake on its shores in Israel, Jordan and the West Bank.

The Dead Sea area has become a location for numerous health researches and a place for potential treatment of some diseases. The mineral content of the water, the low content of pollen and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth can have specific health effects. For example, people who have reduced respiratory function due to diseases such as cystic fibrosis benefit from increased atmospheric pressure.

The climate and low altitude of the region have made it a popular center for certain therapies:

Climatotherapy: A treatment that uses local climatic characteristics such as temperature, humidity, sunshine, barometric pressure and special atmospheric constituents
Heliotherapy: A treatment that uses the biological effects of solar radiation
Thalassotherapy: A treatment that uses bathing in the water of the Dead Sea

Climatotherapy at the Dead Sea can be a therapy for psoriasis by prolonged sunbathing in the area due to its location below sea level and the subsequent result that UV rays are partially blocked by the increased thickness of the atmosphere.

Patients with rhinosinusitis who received nasal irrigation with Dead Sea saline showed improved symptom relief compared to standard hypertonic saline spray in one study.

Dead Sea mud therapy has been suggested to temporarily relieve pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. According to researchers at Ben Gurion University, treatment with mineral-enriched mud packs can be used to augment conventional medical therapy.

What does relaxation and rest look like when you apply mud from the Dead Sea. The picture was taken with the permission of all family members.

In the picture above, you can see a family enjoying their vacation at the Dead Sea and what the drying period of the mud looks like when applied to the skin. Today, the Dead Sea has become an ideal tourist destination for generations because everyone wants to experience the healing properties of the Dead Sea.

A clock located at the entrance to the lake where you can track your time in the water.
This is the area for swimming in the Dead Sea at the Kempinski Ishtar Hotel Resort

My dear travellers, we have come to the end of the last special fourth travelogue about the Kingdom of Jordan where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the only sea port of Aqaba and the lowest point on Earth – the Dead Sea. This series of travelogues would not be possible without the selfless help of the Jordan Tourism Board – Visit Jordan in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Jordanian culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Jordan.

I would like to especially thank the staff of the Kempinski Aqaba and Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea hotels for their warm welcome and having me in their incredible hotels. The stay in their hotels was exceptional, where I felt the warmth of my own home! Top full service that can be expected in 5* star hotels, pleasant staff, exceptional food, I have to put a special emphasis on the sweets! 🙂

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 honoured to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Western Asia in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Aqaba and the Dead Sea? Have you had the chance to visit Jordan 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 ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With love from Jordan,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the Visit Jordan, as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Jordan: Wadi Rum, The Moon Desert Princess…

Adventure Travel 7 Comments

My dear travellers and lovers of unique trips, I hope you are well and ready to continue our adventure in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Today I have a special story about Wadi Rum, Jordan’s famous thee moon desert princess.

For all my dear travellers and fashionistas who didn’t get to read my previous travelogues and fashion stories from Jordan on the Mr.M blog or want to remind yourself of some details, take a few minutes of your time and visit the post on the following links:

  1. The story about Amman and Jerash (travelogue)
  2. The story of Petra (travelogue)
  3. The story from Wadi Rum with Fratelli Rossetti (fashion story)
  4. The Fashionable Royal Blue adventure in Aqaba (fashion story)

Today I will share with you my adventure in Wadi Rum and I would like to thank the Visit Jordan for the kind invitation and the amazing experience to get to know Jordanian culture and customs.

Wadi Rum is a natural tourist attraction, a valley located in southern Jordan. Why did it get the famous nickname Moon Valley? This epithet derives from the similarity of the Wadi Rum relief terrain to that of the Moon. In 2011, UNESCO included the Wadi Rum Protectorate in the World Natural Heritage List, and in 2019, the International Astronomical Union announced at a global press conference the naming of the star (VASP-80) as “Petra” and the name of the planet orbiting it as Wadi Rum.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is a desert of varied terrain with a desert climate and is located within the boundaries of the Hismi Desert, one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. Its rocky mountains are characterised by white, yellow, red and brown colours, as well as characteristic geographical formations. Wadi Rum contains a group of narrow valleys, natural arches, steep cliffs and steep roads, as well as large piles of collapsed rocks, numerous caves and thousands of carvings and inscriptions. It also includes the highest mountain peaks of the southern Levant, namely: Jabal Umm al-Dami and Jabal Rum.

The Wadi Rum desert is home to some desert plants and an exotic group of small birds such as the desert lark, in addition to reptiles and numerous small mammals. Also here you can see numerous migratory birds that travel between Africa and Eastern Europe, especially birds of prey, which can be seen in large numbers in just one day.

One of the interesting things is that many films were shot in Wadi Rum, such as “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Al-Muraikhi”, because the valley attracted filmmakers, especially science fiction films that take place on Mars due to the great similarity between the terrain of Wadi Rum Ruma and the planet Mars. Today, Wadi Rum is one of the most visited tourist areas in Jordan.

Tourism has supported the development of agriculture and urban life in the region, and tourists can engage in many activities such as hiking, hot air balloon rides, horse and camel excursions or four-wheel drive, and a camel race is held every year, which is the first event of its kind in Jordan. In addition, Wadi Rum is considered one of the best places in Jordan for star and galaxy gazing, as well as meteor shower viewing.

The mystery about the name of this desert, as well as the real reason why Wadi Rum was called by this name is still unknown. There is a belief that the name “Rum” was taken from the Koran. Many today believe from an old legend that Wadi Rum was called “Aram” or “Iram” in ancient times, which means shapes and designs on stones (such as inscriptions). While some historians have mentioned that the region got its name from the leader of the Assyrians, who invaded the southern region of the Levant in the eighth century BC.

By examining certain writings, scientists have come to the knowledge that Wadi Rum was inhabited several thousand years ago and that these people struggled to survive in the harsh environment. These people were hunters, shepherds, farmers and traders. The Nabateans also once inhabited the area of Wadi Rum, leaving behind many monuments and inscriptions, including a temple known today as the “Nabatean Temple”.

Research and found inscriptions indicate that the first human settlement in Wadi Rum dates back to the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, and that the area was full of springs, a temperate climate and abundant groundwater. Many civilizations and nations have thrived in Wadi Rum due to its prominent geographical location between the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, such as the Edomites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Nabateans and others.

Perhaps the Roman historian Ptolemy first mentioned Wadi Rum, which he named (Aramoa) in his list of cities located in Arabia Felix, indicating that the valley was part of a regional trade network. Archaeologists have largely considered the isolated site to be connected to the Nabatean economic centers of Petra and Isla. In the 1990s, two scientists from the University of Victoria led a project to survey the valley and restore its antiquities, and studies revealed the existence of a palace complex and a bath complex belonging to the Nabateans located on a small hill next to the eastern side of Jebel Rum. Scientists have hypothesized that the complex complex of villas built in this arid environment was built to impress travellers passing through the area.

The inhabitants of the valley joined the forces of the Great Arab Revolt led by King Faisal and fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia during the Great Arab Revolt of 1916 against the Turkish and German armies. Perhaps the credit for the fame of Wadi Rum belongs to Lawrence of Arabia, who crossed it several times during the war and then settled there. The Mountain of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom is located in Wadi Rum.

All the inhabitants living in and around Wadi Rum today are Bedouin, and until recently they lived a Bedouin life, relying on raising their own goats and camels. Although some of them live in modern cement houses today, they still maintain Bedouin customs and Arab dress traditions. Knitting goat hair tents all summer. They are hospitable people and are largely responsible for the development of Wadi Rum as a tourist destination, and many tourists find that sharing food or drinking coffee with the Bedouins is one of the best memories of their lives.

Visitors to Wadi Rum usually have the opportunity to see very few animals as most desert creatures are active at night and avoid sunlight during the day. The number of these animals has decreased dramatically over time, but there are still a large number of interesting birds, insects, reptiles and some desert plants.

Trees are rare in Wadi Rum, except for the acacia trees, which are characterized by flat tops and scattered thorny branches. A small number of low, woody shrubs spread across the desert. These plants are an important source of food for goats and camels, especially in the summer months when all other succulent desert plants are drying up. In Wadi Rum, certain types of plants grow in nature that are adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the desert areas, such as al-Mughira, al-Rumm, al-Ghadi, al-Tarfa and al-Baitran trees.

Tourism activity in Wadi Rum began in 1984, when a British climbing team led by Tony Howard requested permission from the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism to explore the possibilities of hiking in Wadi Rum and its surroundings. The attempt succeeded with the help of the Bedouins and the support of the ministry. Since then, Bedouins belonging to the prominent Al-Huwaitat tribe in the area have collaborated to organize tourism, investing the proceeds in building houses and schools and buying buses to connect the area with the cities of Aqaba and Wadi Musa. In the mid-90s, there was a boom in tourism that is still active today.

Wadi Rum is full of tourist camps that replace hotels, because it is a nature reserve where hotels are not allowed. Tourism promotion of this area began in the late eighties, after a movie (Lawrence of Arabia) was shot there in the sixties. Today, tourism has become a source of income for many residents who work in it as guides or other jobs.

The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism counts Wadi Rum as part of the Golden Tourism Triangle, which includes Wadi Rum, Petra and Aqaba. Tourist activities in this area include camping and trips between the mountains on horses and camels or using four-wheel vehicles, and hiking is also practiced there. The visitor can spend the night in camps that provide food and other services. When you come to Wadi Rum, you have the opportunity to enjoy countless possibilities and to experience a different way of life at least for a moment.

Some of the activities: hiking, watching camel races, hot air balloon rides, star gazing, 4 wheel drive motorbikes, camel and horse riding and enjoying local Bedouin cuisine.

My dear travellers, we have come to the end of this third special travelogue from the Kingdom of Jordan about the moon desert princess Wadi Rum, which would not have been possible without help of the Jordan Tourism Board – Visit Jordan in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and the beauty of Jordanian culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Jordan.

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 honoured to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Western Asia in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Wadi Rum? Have you had the chance to visit Jordan 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 ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With love from Wadi Rum,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the Visit Jordan, as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Jordan: Petra, the Ancient City of Secrets…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

My dear travellers and lovers of unique journeys, I hope you are doing great and ready to continue our Jordanian adventure! Today we continue our adventure and together we visit one of the most mysterious ancient cities in the world that still keeps its secrets in stone – Petra.

If by any chance you didn’t get to read the first travelogue from Jordan on the Mr.M blog or you want to remember some details from magical Amman and Jerash, take a few minutes of your time and visit the post on the following link.

Today I will share with you my impressions of ancient Petra and I would like to thank the Jordan Tourism Board – Visit Jordan for the invitation and the amazing experience to get to know Jordanian culture and customs better.

Petra, originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu, is located near the mountains of Jabal Al-Madbah, in a basin surrounded by mountains that form the eastern part of the Arabah Valley that stretches from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Scientists have come to some knowledge that the area around today’s Petra has been inhabited since 7000 BC, and the Nabateans may have settled in what would become the capital of their kingdom as early as the 4th century BC. Archaeological work has revealed only evidence of the presence of the Nabateans dating back to the second century BC, when Petra became their capital.

Who were the Nabateans? The Nabateans were nomadic Arabs who contributed to the development of Peter through their investments. The convenient geographical location and proximity to the incense trade routes allowed Petra to become a major regional trade center.

The trading business provided the Nabataeans with an extraordinary income and Petra became the center of their wealth. The Nabateans were accustomed to living in barren deserts, unlike their enemies, and were able to repel attacks by taking advantage of the area’s mountainous terrain. They were especially skilled in rainwater harvesting, agriculture and stone-cutting. Petra saw its heyday in the 1st century AD, when its famous Al-Khazneh building – believed to be the mausoleum of the Nabataean king Areta IV – was built, a time when the population of Petra reached an incredible 20,000 inhabitants for that time.

Although the Nabatean Kingdom became a state under the administration of the Roman Empire in the first century BC, it did not lose its independence until 106 AD. Petra fell into the hands of the Romans, who annexed Nabatea and renamed it Arabia Petraea. The importance of Petra declined as sea trade routes appeared, and after an earthquake in 363 it destroyed many buildings. In the Byzantine era, several Christian churches were built, but the city continued to decline, and by the early Islamic era it was abandoned, but a small number of nomads were present. Petra was forgotten and unknown to the public until it was rediscovered by Johann Ludwig Burkhard in 1812.

To approach the Petra city, one must pass through a 1.2 kilometer long gorge called the Siq, which leads directly to Khazneh. Known for its stone-carved architecture and plumbing system, Petra is also called the “City of Roses” because of the color of the stone from which the entire city is carved. UNESCO described this world heritage in 1985 as “one of the most precious cultural assets of human cultural heritage”. At the beginning of the 21st century, more precisely in 2007, Al-Khazneh was declared one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Petra is a symbol of Jordan, as well as the most visited tourist attraction of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Statistics maintained by the Ministry of Tourism show that the number of tourists who visited Petra peaked in 2019, when there were over a million tourists. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, the number of tourists dropped, but again in 2021, Petra had almost 300,000 visitors, which is an impressive figure if we consider the problems in tourism caused by the pandemic itself.

As you walk to Petra, stop by the souvenir shop where you will have the opportunity to learn more about Petra from the locals and get to know the history and culture of this ancient city. Souvenirs are very interesting, so take a few minutes of your time when visiting Petra and experience this city in a completely different way. There is only one souvenir shop, so you are sure to find this interesting place!

One of the interesting things Petra is known for is its Hellenistic architecture. The facades of the tombs at Petra show this type of architecture and also provide information on the different types of cultures with which the Nabataeans traded. Most of them contain information about the type of burials in niches carved into the stone.

Perhaps the most significant resemblance to the Hellenistic style comes with its treasury, which is 24 meters wide and 37 meters high and recalls the architecture of Alexandria. The facade of the Treasury has a broken pediment with a central tholos inside, and two obelisks appear to be forming in the rock at the top. Near the bottom of the Treasury are the twin Greek gods Castor and Pollux, who protect travelers on their journeys. Near the top of the Treasury, symbols of two victories can be seen in the form of a female figure on a tholos. This female figure is believed to be Isis-Tyche, Isis being an Egyptian goddess and Tyche the Greek goddess of fortune.

Al-Khazneh means “Treasury” in Arabic, the name derives from the legend of an ornamental stone urn high up on the second level, which is in reality solid sandstone.

There are several legends associated with the Treasury, but one legend says that an Egyptian pharaoh and part of his army escaped the closing of the Red Sea, magically created Al-Khazneh as a safe place for their treasury, and continued their search for Moses. This led to the name Khazneh el-Far’oun, “Treasury of the Pharaoh”.

Swiss researcher Johann Ludwig Burkhardt wrote about another local legend that “ancient pharaonic treasures” were hidden in the urn. The urn shows significant bullet damage, which the Jordanian government attributes to the Bedouins who believed in the legend.

Al-Khazneh was originally built as a mausoleum and crypt in the early 1st century AD during the reign of Areta IV Philopatris. Many of the building’s architectural details have eroded over the two thousand years since it was carved and sculpted from the cliff. The sculptures are believed to be of various mythological figures associated with the afterlife. At the top are the figures of four eagles that would take away souls. The figures on the upper level are dancing Amazons with double axes. The entrance is surrounded by statues of the twins Castor and Pollux who lived partly on Olympus and partly in the underworld.

Another excellent example of Hellenistic architecture presented in Petra is the monastery, which is the largest monument of Petra and another building carved into the rocks of Petra. The monastery shows more Nabataean touches while at the same time incorporating elements of Greek architecture. Its only source of light is the entrance, which is 8 meters high. Outside the monastery is a large area, which was specially leveled for religious purposes. Earlier, in the Byzantine period, this was a place for Christian worship, but now it is a holy place for pilgrims.

At the end of a narrow gorge, the Siq, is the most complex ruin of Petra, popularly known as Al-Khazneh (“the treasury”), carved into the sandstone cliff. Although it remains in a remarkably well-preserved state, the face of the structure is pockmarked with hundreds of bullet holes made by local Bedouin tribes who hoped to dislodge the riches rumored to have once been hidden within. Not far from the Treasury, at the foot of the mountain called En-Nair, is a huge theatre, placed so that the greatest number of tombs can be seen. At the point where the valley opens into the plain, the site of the city is revealed with striking effect.

During construction, the theater was cut into the hillside and into several tombs. The rectangular gaps in the seats are still visible. It is surrounded on almost three sides by pink mountain walls, divided into groups by deep cracks and covered with mounds cut into the rock in the form of towers. It is believed that the theater can host around 8,500 people. Performances that the audience could attend here were poetry and drama readings. Gladiator fights were also held here and are thought to have attracted the largest crowds, although no gladiator was able to gain momentum or fame due to the high death rate that came with it. The theater was one of many buildings in Petra that suffered significant damage in the Galilee earthquake of 363 AD.

The Petra swimming pool and garden complex is a series of buildings in the city center. It was originally said to be a market area, but detailed excavations at the site have allowed scientists to come to the conclusion that it was actually a complex Nabatean garden, which included a large pool, an island pavilion and a complex hydraulic system.

In front of the Petra pool and garden complex is a colonnaded street, which is among the few artifacts of Petra that are constructed rather than natural. This street once held a semicircular nymphaeum, now in ruins due to flash floods, and once held a single Petra tree. This was meant to be a symbol of the peaceful atmosphere that the Nabateans were able to build in Petra. When the Romans took control of the city, the colonnaded street was narrowed to make a side walk.

Petra is a place at the crossroads of natural and cultural heritage that forms a unique cultural landscape. Since the rediscovery of Petra by Johann Ludwig Burkhard aka Sheikh Ibrahim in 1812, the cultural heritage has attracted a large number of interested people who share an interest in the ancient history and culture of the Nabataeans, such as travelers, pilgrims, painters and scientists.

However, it was not until the end of the 19th century that archaeological researchers systematically approached the ruins. Since then, regular archaeological excavations and research into the Nabatean culture are part of today’s UNESCO world cultural heritage. Through excavations in the Archaeological Park of Petra, an increasing number of Nabataean cultural heritage is exposed to environmental impact. The large number of discoveries and the exposure of structures require numerous conservation measures respecting the interrelationship between the natural landscape and the cultural heritage, as this connection in particular is a central challenge at the UNECSO World Heritage Site.

My dear travellers, we have come to the end of this second special travelogue about the ancient city of Petra, which would not have been possible without the help of the Jordan Tourism Board – Visit Jordan in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Jordanian culture and traditions. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Jordan.

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 honoured to have the opportunity to cooperate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank them for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual country in Western Asia in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about an ancient Petra? Have you had the chance to visit Jordan 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 ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

With love from Petra,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the Visit Jordan, as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Jordan: Amman and Jerash, Jewels of the Middle East you will love!

Adventure Travel 10 Comments

My dear travellers and lovers of unique trips, welcome to another new adventure on the Mr.M blog. Today we officially start a new series of travelogues about an exotic oriental country that is not known much about and therefore represents an unexplored gem of Western Asia – Jordan.

In today’s post, we will enjoy the beauty of two cities together: Amman, the capital of Jordan, and Jerash, an ancient city. Before starting today’s post, I would like to thank the National Tourism Board of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – Visit Jordan for the warm invitation and the amazing experience to get to know the Jordanian culture and customs.

The view from my hotel room

As you are used to, I will first introduce you to some basic information about the country we are visiting. Jordan, the official name of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a country in Western Asia. It is located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe in the Levant region, on the east bank of the Jordan River. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and east, Iraq to the northeast, Syria to the north and the Palestinian West Bank, Israel and the Dead Sea to the west. It has a coastline of less than 30 kilometers on the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea in the southwest. The Gulf of Aqaba separates Jordan from Egypt. Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan, as well as its economic, political and cultural center.

Today’s Jordan has been inhabited by humans since the Paleolithic era. Three stable kingdoms appeared there at the end of the Bronze Age: Ammon, Moab and Edom. The later empires that arose were: the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Empire, the Nabatean Kingdom, the Persian Empire, the Roman Empire, the Rashidun, Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates and the Ottoman Empire.

After the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in 1916 during World War I, the Ottoman Empire was divided by Britain and France. The Emirate of Transjordan was founded in 1921 by Hashemite, then Emir Abdullah I, and the Emirate became a British protectorate. In the mid-20th century, Jordan became an independent state officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan, but was renamed the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1949. Jordan is one of the founders of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The sovereign state is a constitutional monarchy, but the king has broad executive and legislative powers.

Jordan is a semi-arid country, covering an area of 89,342 km2, with a population of 10 million, making it the eleventh most populous Arab country. The dominant majority, or about 95% of the country’s population, are Sunni Muslims, with a predominantly Arab Christian minority. Jordan has been repeatedly referred to as an “oasis of stability” in the turbulent Middle East region. The country remained largely unscathed by the violence that gripped the region after the 2010 Arab Spring. Interesting information that Jordan has accepted refugees from several neighboring countries in conflict since the middle of the 20th century. An estimated 2.1 million Palestinian and 1.4 million Syrian refugees are present in Jordan. The kingdom is also a haven for thousands of Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution by the Islamic State.

The graffiti you can see on the left represents the equality of men and women, this is considered a modern piece of Street Art.

Jordan has a high human development index, ranking 102nd, and is considered an upper-middle-income economy. Jordan’s economy, one of the smallest in the region, is attractive to foreign investors based on its skilled workforce. The country is a major tourist destination, which also attracts medical tourism due to its well-developed health sector.

Amman is the capital and at the same time the largest economic, political and cultural city of Jordan with slightly more than 4 million inhabitants. , Amman is the largest city in the Levant region, the fifth largest city in the Arab world and the ninth largest metropolitan area in the Middle East.

Some of the first official evidence of settlement in the area of present-day Amman dates back to the 8th millennium BC, at the Neolithic site known as Ain Ghazal, where the world’s oldest human-shaped statues were discovered. During the Iron Age, the city was known as Rabath Ammon and served as the capital of the Ammon Kingdom. In the 3rd century BC, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, rebuilt the city and renamed it “Philadelphia”, making it a regional center of Hellenistic culture. Under Roman rule, Philadelphia was one of the ten Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis before being ruled directly as part of the province of Arabia Petraea.

The Rashidun Caliphate conquered the city from the Byzantines in the 7th century AD, restored its ancient Semitic name and called it Amman. During the Middle Ages, the city alternated between periods of destruction and abandonment and periods of relative prosperity as the center of the Balka region. Amman was largely abandoned from the 15th century until the end of the 19th century, when the Ottoman authorities began to settle the Circassians.

The first municipal council of Amman was established at the beginning of the 20th century. Amman witnessed rapid growth after being declared the capital of Transjordan in 1921, receiving migrants from various Jordanian and Levantine cities, and after several successive waves of refugees: Palestinians in 1948 and 1967; Iraqis in 1990 and 2003 and Syrians in 2011. It was originally built on seven hills, but now extends over 19 hills combining 22 areas, administered by the Greater Amman Municipality. The areas of Amman are named after the hills (Jabal) or the valleys (Wadi) they occupy, such as Jabal Lwaybde and Wadi Abdun. Eastern Amman is predominantly filled with historical sites that often host cultural activities, while western Amman is more modern and serves as the economic center of the city.

Over a million tourists visited Amman in 2018, officially making it the 89th most visited city in the world and the 12th most visited Arab city. Amman has a relatively fast growing economy and is ranked as a Beta-Global City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Moreover, it has been declared one of the best cities in the Middle East and North Africa according to economic, labor, environmental and socio-cultural factors. The city is among the most popular locations in the Arab world for multinational corporations to open their regional offices, alongside Doha and Dubai.

Roman Forum and Theater

Amman is considered one of the most liberal cities in the Arab world. The city has become one of the most popular destinations for expats and students who want to live, study or work in the Middle East or the Arab world in general. The city’s culinary scene has changed from shawarma and falafel stands to include many popular international restaurants and fast food joints such as Asian restaurants, French bistros and Italian trattorias. The city has become famous for its fine dining scene among Western expats and tourists from the Persian Gulf.

The famous market located very close to the center of Amman

Souk Jara is one of the most famous outdoor markets managed by the Jabal Amman Residents Association (JARA). Large shopping malls were built during the 2000s in Amman, including Mecca Mall, Abdoun Mall, City Mall, Al-Baraka Mall, Taj Mall, Zara Mall, Avenue Mall and Abdali Mall in Al Abdali. Wakalat Street is the first pedestrian zone in Amman and famous fashion brands can be found here. The Sweifieh area is considered the main shopping district of Amman.

Nightclubs, music bars and shisha lounges are present all over Amman, changing the old image of the city as the conservative capital of the kingdom. This burgeoning new nightlife scene has been shaped by Jordan’s younger generations. In addition to a wide range of places to party, drink and dance in the company of the city’s rich entertainment, Amman hosts numerous cultural entertainment events, including the annual Amman Summer Festival. Souk Yara is Jordan’s weekly flea market event that takes place every Friday during the summer.

Local cuisine is considered a fusion of several cuisines in the region. It is known as the food of the Levant – an ancient word for the area bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula. But the food here is not just the sum of its calories. However, the real street food scene in the city makes Amman cuisine recognizable in the world.

Central streets of Amman

Many events take place in Amman, including events sponsored by Red Bull Soundclash and the Soapbox Race, the second part of the Jerash Festival, the Al-Balad Music Festival, the Amman Marathon, the Made in Jordan Festival, the Amman Book Festival and the New Think Festival. Venues for such cultural events often include the Roman Theater and Odeon Theater in the city center, Ras al Ain Hangar, King Hussein Business Park, Rainbow Theater and Shams Theatre, Royal Film Commission, Shoman Libraries and Darat al Funun, and the Royal Cultural Center in City Sports . In addition to major events and institutional planning, scholars highlight tactical urbanism as a key element of the city’s cultural fabric.

Downtown Amman

What is important to visit in Amman? When you came to the capital of Jordan, I think you should visit the Roman amphitheater that was built in the second century BC. Also, the Roman Theater is located in a place that is still the heart of the old part of Amman. A large part of the theater has been renovated, so many events are held there. In the immediate vicinity on the hill is the Citadel, from which you can enjoy the view of the city and the old part of the city.