Posts tagged Turkey

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

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 PianaMYTHERESA MenRestelli Guanti and Bric’s brands. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OUTFIT

Shearling Bomber Jacket: Roberto Cavalli

Turtleneck: Loro Piana

Jeans: Loro Piana

Gloves: Restelli Guanti

Sneakers: Jacob Cohen

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

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

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

With love from Istanbul,
Mr. M

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With Love from Istanbul,

Mr.M

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Warm greetings from Alanya,

Mr.M

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPERATION DAY

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

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

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

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

The picture was taken 3 hours after the operation

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

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

Before and after my nose job – rhinoplasty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 days after surgery

RECOVERY TIME

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

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

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

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

One picture with our surgeon

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

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

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

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

The picture was taken 8 days after the nose surgery

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

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

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

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

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

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

With Love from Belgrade,

Mr.M

6 weeks after nose surgery

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

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Letters from Turkey: Istanbul, City of Two Continents…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ISTANBUL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The photo was taken 7 days after the aesthetic procedure

OUTFIT

Jacket: Paul & Shark

Backpack: Bric’s

Jeans: Brunello Cucinelli

Bric’s backpack from the Life Pelle special collection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blogger greetings from Istanbul,

Mr.M

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

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Turkey in my Eyes: Let The Distance Keep us Together

My dear travellers, how are today? I hope you’re doing just fine because it’s time to continue our adventure in Eastern Turkey! At the very beginning, I would like to thank everyone on the wonderful messages you sent me through social networks and via e-mail. Your support and your comments really mean a lot to me, because they help me to write the right content for my blog which will fulfill all your needs and wishes.

Today we are continuing our adventure and in our previous story we came to Kars… Dogu Express helped us get to Kars, and from Kars we had to unfortunately to continue our journey on foot… Of course, it’s a joke!

Who has not been able to read my previous post from Turkey or someone just wants to remind a little, you can read the post on this link. According to the plan and program which Turkish Airlines had made for us the next important sights were the ruins of Ani.

Ani city was formerly a symbol of luxury and wealth, famous for its large number of imposing buildings and luxurious architecture, a city inhabited by famous merchants, rich people – crème de la crème kind of people… What happened? As in every story, there is always a word BUT, so in this case I can only say that it is the place where only ruins are left, which are also the only witnesses of the golden era of one of the largest and richest cities in the world.

Today, instead of splendid city, there are still ruins in the area of ​​the former city of Ani, and for this reason it received the nickname “the City of Ghosts.” The ruins are located at the border of Turkey and Armenia. I sincerely hope that with the help of archaeologists, little luck, careful and dedicated work Ani city will slightly regain its old glory and shine, it really deserves and just awaits the perfect moment to shine again!

Ani was also known as the city of the 1001 churches, and it is assumed that during the golden age in the city lived over 100,000 inhabitants. The nickname “the city of 1001 churches” may have been more than overly, but historians and archaeologists have so far found little less than 100 religious objects, so this evidence suggests that the Armenian monarchists were very religious and were dedicated to the construction of the sanctuaries (holy objects).

Today, at this site you can find the Cathedral of Ani, more precisely its ruins. Built from red brick, a religious building located on a special hill and today attracts the attention of visitors. The Cathedral’s dome was largely destroyed during a major earthquake in the 14th century, which was not unfortunately an end because after that, the other part of the cathedral was destroyed, but there remained a ruin that could still show the real beauty of this incredible temple.

According to some books, the Cathedral of Ani was built in the period when the city of Ani was at the golden age of its rise, during the 11th Century. There is also the church of St. George, which is still in the ravine on the border between Turkey and Armenia today. St. George’s Church is considered one of the best preserved objects in the area of ​​the former city of Ani. Everyone thinks buildings, are just empty, have no soul, but they are witness of various great same things that have changed the course of history.

After a good hiking, believe me that I was a bit ill and that this walk through Ani was pleasant, maybe the temperature was below zero, but the mood and beauty of the landscape made me feel cold at all, but the feeling of unusual happiness and pride because I had the opportunity to visit such an unusual place as the city of Ani.

Slowly, our small blogging group was gathering and it was time to move on… We were a bit hungry, which is normal after a couple of hours of walking and exploring sites like Ruins of Ani. Before entering the bus, I turned around again, for the last time to greet the city of Ani, because I truly enjoyed the story of a golden city: “Bye Ani, maybe we’ll see another way, See you!”

Bloggers continued their journey, with a great excitement we showed pictures to each other, everyone in his own way showed the old glory of Ani and our friends from Turkish Airlines took us to Lake Cildir, where was organized lunch.

The scene was like a fairy tale, many bloggers went with fishermen to see how they are fishing in a frozen lake, but my fear of water, and that the ice will break under my feet, so I was a bit brave and went to some parts of the lake that I considered it will be safe for me. This time luck was not enough to provoke my courage! 🙂

The time for lunch was just flied so fast, so we had to hurry up to the mountains, so little Marko step suddenly on the snowboard on this journey… It’s good that I still stayed in a good shape… and also in one piece! 😀

Sarikamis! The Mountain Heaven for real lovers of winter sports, if I remember well the price of a ski pass for a lift for an entire day is about 5 euros, if in any case you also rent ski and snowboard equipment, I think that together with the ski pass the pass is less than 20 euros, which is extremely cheap compared to some European ski resorts.

We were stayed in Sarikamis Kayi Hotel, I would like to share with you one interesting fact about this lovely hotel. Hotel has got a cute epithet from its guests as the “Snow Palace of Sarikamis Mountain” because of perfect location. We had time to rest a bit, so the next day we began with our activities much later than usual.

After breakfast, just as I have planned to the room to pack my things, our friends from Turkish Airlines told us that if by any chance in the group there are winter sports lovers, they have a real treat for us and that we have 5,6 hours free to enjoy a little on the snow.

I was lucky enough to forget the keys of the room and the phone so my colleagues searched for me in the hotel because I was faster than wind when it comes to winter magic! When I finished dressing for snow, a guy who was renting equipment asked me: “Do you want skis or snowboard? “. I thought, life goes on and on this mountain are not sharp paths, I could ski on Divcibare mountain, but my father is always scared when he sees me on the snowboard…

I just pointed with my finger on the snowboard and after a few minutes little Marko found himself on the ski lift after a long time! First of all, I thought I was crazy, but I’m going to do this! So in that moment I just thought about the landscape, it’s a beautiful and sunny day that’s not going to go anything wrong today!

It was great, I must admit that I spent less time on the snow than I know it when I go to Divcibare mountain, maybe I was tired because of the trip, who knows… After a few hours, the bloggers get together again and we were ready to go for Erzurum, also the last city that was planned to visit during our adventure in Eastern Turkey.

Erzurum is one of the largest cities in this part of Turkey, the largest university center and city that is considered the “cradle of” good kebab. I tried their kebab, I can not tell you how much I have eaten… I’m embarrassed when I remember those beautiful buns, my heart is playing, the pressure is growing! 😀

I’m just saying that all myths are true! Kebab is really fantastic! There are numerous ski resorts around the city and also winter Olympic Games are organized there, so what you are waiting for?

These fantastic 7 days have passed sooo fast, it’s time for us to go back… We caught the evening flight to Istanbul and on the plane we shared our impressions from this trip with a smile on our face. We asked Turkish Airlines team few times about some new adventures, their response were positive so who knows maybe we will see again soon!

Tired, but satisfied I was on my flight to Belgrade, I managed to get a little nap, but also to read the Turkish Airlines magazine where I saw the photo of the Cathedral of Ani and below which was written “Visit Kars!”. I smiled and thought: “Marko, you were there, you will go there again!”. Stewardess brought me breakfast and you know how that classical story goes on the plane.

My dear travellers once again we have come to the end of our travel adventure. Time just flies so fast when you are having a good time! This post is last one from our Turkish adventure with Turkish Airlines. At the end of the post, I would like to thank my friends from Turkish Airlines for this incredible adventure and the friendly staff from Crown Plaza Harbiye and Sarikamis Kayi Otel hotels that made our stay pleasant and we felt like we were at home.

How do you like this post about Eastern Turkey? Have you ever visited Turkey? Did you have chance to enjoy in the magic of the Turkish culture and of course their cuisine? I would like to share with me your experience! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.

Best,

Mr.M

This post was sponsored by Turkish Airlines. I also thank my friends from Sony who made it possible to enjoy in these beautiful photos made with the camera Alpha 7r Mark II.
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Turkey in my Eyes: Dogu Ekspresi, Adventure of a Lifetime

Good morning, my dear travellers! How are you doing this morning?! I sincerely hope that you have slept well and that you are ready to start this weekend with me and I will take you to new exciting adventure in Eastern Turkey. Before I start, I would like to thank you for the wonderful messages you wrote to me in the past few days and I can not describe my happiness right now! In the previous post, I’ve described my short, but lovely adventure in London, but now it’s time to start a story from beginning!

At the end of March this year I received an interesting email from the Turkish Airlines representative office in Serbia where I received a invitation to feel the charm of Eastern Turkey. When I saw that I would be able to visit Cappadocia, which is otherwise the dream of every blogger to have some photos with legendary balloons, I did not wait for a second, but I replied briefly and clearly: YES!

Because of the excitement I did not know what to do next, in my mind I was already in Cappadocia imagined those beautiful, large, colorful balloons and my new adventure has already started. After a couple of hours, I decided to read the itinerary program for this trip, and then I realized that will be one hard, but very interesting adventure. My blogger’s eye was attracted by the word Dogu Ekspresi, I immediately realized that it was some train, so I dropped into a little research where I read that I was going on a journey by train that was otherwise so popular that people are waiting for months to get their tickets for a train that received a grand epithet of Turkish Orient Express.

Otherwise, before I started blogging and during my work on the blog, I often traveled with this airline and every time I was overwhelmed with the service and what the most important flights were always on time and for my hungry soul catering service was always excellent. I remember when I went to Helsinki last year, the stewardess was so nice that she saw that I’m dying hungry, so I got two portions of beef and I was the happiest person on this planet called Earth.

By the time for a flight (thank God and never check out all those details on tickets) I did not even know which class I fly. As always, I arrived 3 hours earlier on the flight. It was so crowded, so I waited my turn. The lady at the check-in counter says: “Sir, you are at the wrong counter now my colleague will help you!” I’m in shock, as I thought I’m on the wrong place, but I have Turkish Airlines tickets…

After her colleague ended up with a passenger, she asked me to go to her counter in order to check in on the flight. I take my suitcase and I get a little out of the way just to read the little boards to know where I am going to, when I read “business class” I was already in heaven. I got my ticket, there really says business class 4F seat, PERFECT! As an international blogger, I traveled several times with the first and the business class, but I never got something like a domestic blogger and I was proud of myself that someone on our Balkan market supported the work on my blog in such a sophisticated way.

The flight to Istanbul this time lasted in my head much shorter, as you see I had enough time to make nice photos and by the way I had fun with the new romance movie of my favorite Turkish actors, who watched the Turkish TV-show “Rented Love” (Turkish: Kiralik Ask) will understand what I’m talking about!

I landed in my beloved Istanbul, I think that Ataturk airport was wondering why I have not been there for so long, but here I’m in my beloved Istanbul – a city on two continents. After I finished all activities such as passport control and luggage, the hardest part came, which I loved less when I travel: searching for my name on one million boards, but well this time I found my hosts in a record-breaking short time! By the way, I met my colleagues bloggers and members of the media from the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Of course, little Marko is immediately started to talk and after five minutes I find the ideal chit-chat company.

The first day in Istanbul literally AMAZING, we were on lunch at Nusret. If there are people who are like me and did not know who Nusret is… He is a famous Turkish cook who has become a living legend and has restaurants all over the world. It is recognizable for its movements during cooking, I am sure that you have seen somewhere in the media a guy with sunglasses and in a very unusual way, spice, sew meat and make a show. Let’s not explain further and I’m not blaming myself anymore, here you can check out on this link. 😉

Food brings people together, so I managed to get to know my colleagues and a team from Turkish Airlines who made this dream come true. According to the plan, we had to go back to the hotel after lunch, but we changed a little so we included Taksim square in our program! Little Marko warmed up an initiative to go to Galata Tower and some bloggers were first in Istanbul and also they wanted to see some sights. What about me? I just supported them! 😀

People from the Turkish Airlines team have mentioned to us several times that we will our program starts tomorrow at at 4 am and they tried to explain this to us many times but, the next scene… Four bloggers and one member of the team of the THY team are going to Taksim, there’s really no time for sleeping anyway…

Thank God, so we came back to the hotel a little after midnight, I did not sleep, I watched the Turkish series that I usually follow up, so it came as a great way to fill the time while waiting to leave the hotel. It was 4 am in the morning, all the bloggers had gathered and so sleepy were ready for Cappadocia. This was my second time in life that I used local flights in Turkey and I was just thinking about balloons which are waiting for me in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia is a very unusual place, full of valleys and everything looks like a fairy tale. Whole Cappadocia is shaped by nature, and it only shows how nature can itself create the outstanding works of art without any impact of the human hand. Really amazing! My admiration was interrupted by the words of our guide who told us that due to the strong wind there will be no balloons in the valleys of Cappadocia…

You know those scenes in the Mexican series when the major actor finds out some shocking news, so they put the sound effect of broken glass… That’s how it was in my head at that moment! There was no balloons, that I was not ashamed of my 27 years I would start to cry like a little child… The plan was changed for us, so we went for breakfast, then on ATV Tour, and our day was more than fulfilled. Maybe I did not see the famous balloons in Cappadocia, but I met a new furry friend – Mert.

In Cappadocia we visited two important and very interesting museums: Goreme, open air museum and Gurey, the first underground museum of ceramics and pottery!

Gurey, an unusual newly opened museum of ceramics and pottery, is located in the cave below the Gurey ceramics showroom. This museum has exhibited a private collection of ceramic art that has been collecting for years, and the ancient ceramic hall contains pieces from the prehistoric age.

The open-air museum of Goreme resembles a huge monastery complex consisting of many smaller monasteries located next to each other. Usually tourists when they arrive in Cappadocia, this is the first “station” in Cappadocia. I had the opportunity to enjoy the incredible landscape, and my colleagues made great pictures on the stones. I did not have the courage to climb, but I helped them to make some amazing memories from this wonderful place. 🙂

The second day of this trip was approaching the end, we left Cappadocia and headed for Kayseri because it was our station for boarding the Dogu Ekspresi train. I thought to myself: “Marko, this will be another looong night!” But I managed somehow to sleep a little, it was quite interesting!

The program of our trip was detailed and the timetable was precisely stated, when I first read the program in Belgrade, I realized that we would be traveling by train for 18 hours in one direction and I was afraid that I would succeed, but only I remembered India and said to myself that I can do it. The reality was a bit different, we spent almost twenty hours in the train, we made incredible pictures, some new friendships were made on this train.

What should you need to know about this train? Dogu Ekspresi, known as the “Eastern Express”, is a nightly passenger train operated by the Turkish state railway. The length of the route is 1310 km long, from the railway station in Ankara to the railway station in Kars. The interesting fact is that this is the first night train running east of Ankara. If you want to feel the real adventure, you can buy tickets for this train on this link. I just want to warn you that you must to book the tickets for this train couple months in advance if you want to feel the beauty of this amazing landscape, because this train is very popular attraction in Turkey.

After a long train ride, we reached our goal: Kars! It was time for dinner, so our hosts take this hungry group to restaurant. I have to admit the one thing I love most in Turkish culture: food! In Turkey you will never be hungry and their portions are so big (at least for me) that they really need to be proud of and will use this opportunity to give them the title of the best hosts ever.

My dear travellers once again we have come to the end of our travel adventure. Time just flies so fast when you are having a good time! This post is just a start of our Turkish adventure with Turkish Airlines and next week we will continue our journey and you will find out something about Kars and Ani Ruins.

At the end of the post, I would like to thank my friends from Turkish Airlines for this incredible adventure and the friendly staff from Crown Plaza Harbiye and Radisson Blu Kayseri hotels that made our stay pleasant and we felt like we were at home.

How do you like this post about Eastern Tukey? Have you ever visited Turkey? Did you have chance to enjoy in the magic of the Turkish culture and of course their sweet Turkish delights like halva or my favourite baklava? I would like to share with me your experience! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.

 

Best,

Mr.M

This post was sponsored by Turkish Airlines and Dogu Ekspresi, with the unselfish support of other partners of this project, such as Hotel Crown Plaza Harbiye and Hotel Radisson Blu Kayseri. I also thank my friends from Sony who made it possible to enjoy in these beautiful photos made with the Alpha 7r Mark II.
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Istanbul: The City Where Two Continents Meet

Good morning my dear travelers! How are you today? I sincerely hope that you are good and that you are ready for a new adventure. Since you all know how much I love traveling and that this is my second biggest love in life (after fashion of course!) today you will have the opportunity to meet the city I really love – Istanbul. I’m sure that you have watched sometimes in your life some Turkish soap opera so far and that you have seen some scenes where Istanbul is presented like some heaven where you need to go and feel it!

That was me few years ago when I was watching some Turkish movie and almost every scene was in some part of Istanbul and i said to my mother: “Mom, we must go there!”. After 3 months my mother and I was on the flight to Istanbul… That was my first visit to Istanbul, ten years ago… At the beginning of this post, I would like to thank the Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau for hospitality and this fantastic adventure.

Istanbul is maybe not the main capital of Turkey, but has taken over time the role of the largest tourist center where people from all over the world come to get know with the city of hedonist and delights. In addition to this, Istanbul also has another great name – The City of Tulips. There are many names and each of us will always have the opportunity to give Istanbul its name depending on what this fascinating city will associate you the best. Istanbul is the only city in Europe that is located on two continents, Europe and Asia. The European part is new and modern while the Asian is traditional and where you have the opportunity to feel that old spirit of the Ottoman Empire.

Istanbul is a city that never sleeps. The European version of New York, which attracts an increasing number of tourists each year with its bright rhythm of life. Do you want something nice to eat? Istanbul is a city of kings food and delights, you can not stay hungry here, and prices are more than affordable.

Want something nice and interesting to buy? Istanbul is a city that can offer you everything your heart desires, the price range is from 1 euro to incredible luxury sky rocket prices, for everyone’s pocket and for everyone’s taste. I will only tell you that they have over 20 outlet shopping centers where you can buy really good and interesting things, and you will not spend a large amount of money. All you need is a card for transportation and a lot of time because Istanbul is a multi-million city where crowds can be very exhausting and you must be prepared to wait.

Now, let’s move on to my favorite topic – Turkish candies and delights. Baklava and other deacons are the reason why I do not have small money coins to buy a magnet for a fridge, but I spend everything on these treats. Of course, the prices of these treats vary depending on whether you are buying them in “famous” places reserved exclusively for tourists or you may go to some neighboring parallel streets and you can buy for the same value of money some kilo of those delicious delights.

Believe me, who did not try halva at night and did not pray in the late night hours on the reception desk for the knife, where the staff watches you as you’re probably planning to cut off the veins in the room, that person definitely doesn’t know the basic definition of hedonism in Istanbul. Yes, that’s my mom and I in the early morning at the reception desk when we have some strange tired eyes, but in the bag there is a packet wrapped in white glossy paper covers the main reason why we are looking for that knife. I know, it does not fit into that nutrition plan and nutrition program where you can not eat anything after 6 pm, but they never wrote that it’s forbidden if you come across a precious chocolate halva with pistachios in Istanbul.

The exact working hours of restaurants and shops in Istanbul are indefinable. On one occasion I came to Istanbul at 2 am and everything was open and the people were on the streets as if it was 8 or 9 in the evening. The second time I came about 11pm hours and the streets were so empty… You never know what you can expect in Istanbul, but you need just one thing to have on mind when you are in Istanbul. Whatever happens in Istanbul, stays in Istanbul… It will just a small secret between you and Istanbul, don’t worry Istanbul is a good friend it will hide your secret.

The real “life” in Istanbul is taking place in the small streets which you can see everywhere in the city. There you will notice the couples love who have some “serious” problems and they are arguing in Turkish, but in the end they end of story they make up as if there was nothing. The music which you hear from clubs has a some interesting pop – RnB sound with Arabic melody.

Since I’m not going to make you envy anymore with those photos of food, it’s not fair I know, but if for your consolation during this last visit to Istanbul I didn’t feel these deacons, but I just enjoyed taking photos of them. Okay, that’s it for today! Finally, I wanted to give you a warm recommendation where you can stay in Istabul if you want to spend more time in the central area of ​​Beyoglu – Taksim Square.

Konak Hotel is located not far from the Beyoglu center area, more precisely from the famous Taksim Square. It is the square from where famous red trams go through Istiklal street, the main street. In addition, Konak Hotel is close to Nisantasi area where it is a true paradise for shoppers with a “deeper” pocket. I sincerely love to go there just to enjoy in the beauty of shops windows and to enjoy the decoration of the showcase while I share the bagel with a cat and I’m pretty happy to say, the cat is also very happy and little fat, but at the end we have each other to share that moment.

Why I love Istanbul? I love Istanbul because it is a city of diversity and because it is a city of contrast. There are differences in which you can enjoy, maybe we have different religions, but we have a lot of similarities. We have problems and similar reactions to some life situations. I love to see reactions of mothers with the children on the street who can not get right with the endless play of their children. Those interesting cute argues on Turkish language you will smile and enjoy, maybe you will learn some new words! 🙂

My dear travelers once again we have come to the end of this post, time just flies so fast when you are having a good time! Don’t worry in a couple of days I will publish a new post where we will continue together to enjoy the charms of traveling and we will continue our adventure in Salzburg. I will try to leave you now for a moment just because you maybe would like more to enjoy in the beautiful view on the last photo of the post!

How do you like this story about Istanbul? I would like to hear your opinion! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.

As I promised we’ll see again in a couple of days, so if something new and interesting happens to me, I promise, I will write to you!

Best,

Mr.M

 

The post is sponsored by the Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau and Konak Hotel. For these beautiful photos I used the Sony Alpha 7r  and Sony RX100 Mark V camera.

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