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Travel Abroad: Istanbul, Turkey | Madame Noire | Black Women’s Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love

The latest news coming out of Turkey highlight the country’s ongoing tensions across the border with Syria and the nation’s current debate about how far separate church and state need to be, but a visit to Istanbul paints a fuller picture than these agita-inducing headlines.

Turkey’s largest city offers many opportunities to chill, reflect, and self-improve. Seaside parks come kitted out with exercise equipment for public use, while recreational fishermen can cast their hooks into the Bosphorus Sea, visually sipping on a postcard view of a bridge that leads to Asia.

Studded with ancient mosques, ruins, museums, and old universities, newer constructions reflect the nation’s overall respect for the past, not clashing with but complementing the older structures. Shopaholics will appreciate the winding cobblestone alleys that act as points of discovery for textile and crafts shops, while budget hounds will love the ability to haggle at markets and the exchange rate which currently favors the American traveler (as of the publication of this post, $1 nets you 1.81 Turkish Lira). Oh, and the food’s good too!

With many still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it’s nice to imagine a tranquil place far away. Click through for our guide to the city’s must-visit sights.

via Travel Abroad: Istanbul, Turkey | Madame Noire | Black Women’s Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love.

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October 31, 2012
What makes Istanbul beautiful

Anyone who has walked around the upper platform of Istanbul’s Galata Tower will notice history in the city’s skyline. Instead of the boxy skyscrapers and glass buildings we’re used to in America’s big cities, Istanbul’s pointed mosque minarets and jagged palace walls give the city a creatively pure look. Every day, the Bosphorus shines a bright blue, shaping a stunning scene against the red tile roofs and typically clear sky of this bi-continental city.

The Bosphorus divides the city between Europe and Asia, and anyone can take a ferry or bus trip between the two sides for about $1 or $2 each way. As an American, I would normally find this type of travel unthinkable. Travel leisurely between two continents? It seems it should be more difficult than just a 15-minute leisurely ride. As my friend Jessica stated quite simply on our ferry ride to Asia, “we’re sailing down the middle of two continents right now.”

What a wonderful, unique experience to have ventured in a lifetime.

The Turkish food is both delicious and cheap, even for the traveling vegetarian. Servers bring a side of bread with every restaurant meal, including breakfast, and no one – locals and tourists alike – can seem to drink enough tea. I have been part of this crowd, sipping local tea (pronounced “chai” in Turkish) out of the petite glasses every chance I get. And they are glasses too – typically a curvy glass cup with a handle. I found my favorite dining place to be anywhere along the Bosphorus, shoveling bread into my mouth while sipping tea and staring across the water at another continent.

Everything I see seems unfathomably old. We have walked through mosques built in the early 1100s and looked at jewelry and other prized possessions from the mid-500s. We have ruins of old Pueblo settlements in the Western United States that date back to 750. What is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited site in the U.S. was built between 1000-1200. Besides this…unless one makes a special trip to these very specific, somewhat secluded areas…our earliest buildings date only to the early 1600s (mid-1500s if you count Puerto Rico).

Istanbul radiates the under-appreciated history we learned about in eighth grade social studies classes – Constantinople, ancient Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire, sultans, palaces…If only I could remember all that knowledge as I walk amongst these old, beautifully designed, hand-crafted walls.

Of course, Istanbul beams beauty in all sorts of ways. These are just a few things I found to be especially spectacular.

via What makes Istanbul beautiful | Scholars and Rogues.

October 30, 2012
Obama: Hurricane Sandy Is A ‘Serious And Big Storm’

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to the press after a briefing on Hurricane Sandy at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington, DC on October 28, 2012. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama warned on Sunday that Hurricane Sandy was a “serious and big storm” and called on East Coast residents to heed the orders of state and local officials to protect themselves from its onslaught.

Obama, speaking after a briefing at the federal government’s storm response center in Washington, said officials had assured him that they had all the resources they needed in place, and he stressed that “it is important for us to respond big and to respond fast” to the hurricane’s onslaught.

“We’re going to cut through red tape and we’re not going to get bogged down in a lot of rules,” said Obama, who was having to juggle both is re-election bid and his efforts to stay on top of the storm’s impact just nine days before Election Day.

More from HuffPost:

Via a White House press release, Obama added that his first message to Americans “to take this very seriously and follow the instructions of your state and local officials, because they are going to be providing you with the best advice in terms of how to deal with this storm over the coming days.”

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Cape May, N.J.

Rough surf of the Atlantic Ocean breaks over the beach and across Beach Ave., Monday morning, Oct. 29, 2012, in Cape May, N.J., as high tide and Hurricane Sandy begin to arrive. Hurricane Sandy continued on its path Monday, forcing the shutdown of mass transit, schools and financial markets, sending coastal residents fleeing, and threatening a dangerous mix of high winds and soaking rain. (Mel Evans, AP)

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Water Level Rising At Pier 6/Brooklyn Bridge Park

Photo by Will Campbell

October 30, 2012
Turkey highlights new Bond Skyfall connection

The new James Bond film ‘Skyfall’, which will be released in the UK on Friday, has been filmed in various locations around Turkey.

Filming locations for ‘Skyfall’ included Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, marking the third time in 50 years of Bond films that Istanbul has served as a backdrop for 007’s adventures, as well as the picturesque coastal resort of Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast and the historical city of Adana in the country’s south-east.

Turkey’s diverse cultures, landscapes and architecture means that it is an ideal location for film-makers of glamorous and escapist movies looking for a versatile setting.

Bond’s latest film ‘Skyfall’ combines the historic location of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar with the metropolitan skyline of the city, while the golden beaches and crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean at Fethiye provide the setting for a beach scene.

The lesser-known city of Adana in Turkey’s southeast also features with its historical Vardar and Kasim Gulek Bridges and train station forming the setting for a dramatic scene involving trains.

Turkey has also served as the backdrop for two other Bond films: ‘From Russia with Love’ (1963) and ‘For the World is not Enough’ (1999).

It has also been the filming location for several other blockbuster movies, including ‘Star Wars’, ‘Taken 2’ and ‘Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance’.

via Turkey highlights new Bond Skyfall connection | News | Breaking Travel News.

October 27, 2012
James Bond: Thomas Cook’s Top 10 Bond Destinations

James Bond: Thomas Cook’s Top 10 Bond Destinations

Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in Skyfall this week, which will be the 23rd action-adventure in the franchise. Many of the film’s most famous scenes have been shot in exotic places, here are a few

Over the years many of the film’s most famous scenes have been shot in some of the most glamorous and picturesque places around the World – Thomas Cook takes a look at the top ten.

1. Istanbul – (Skyfall, From Russia, With Love, The World is Not Enough)

One of the popular destinations for Bond films, Istanbul combines history with beautiful architecture and an element of mystery that keeps the 007 crew coming back time and time again.

Straddling two continents, Istanbul offers an intoxicating blend of east and west. Civilisations have left their mark and can be seen today in the city’s fascinating pot-pourri of architectural styles.

2. Venice – (From Russia With Love, Casino Royale)

Italy continues to be a big draw for Britain’s favourite secret agent, with Venice playing host to two of the most popular Bond films ever. Italy’s floating city oozes Hollywood glamour and the iconic scenery provides an awe-inspiring backdrop for any blockbuster movie.

Stay at the five star Danieli Hotel, located on the famous Riva Degli Schiavoni, it’s one of the most iconic in Venice and has been the star of not just one, but two James Bond movies (Casino Royale and Moonraker).

3. Jamaica – (Dr No, Live and Let Die)

This Caribbean island is a favourite James Bond destination and was the set of one of the most iconic Bond girl scenes in history. One of the island’s beaches is even named after the man himself – ‘James Bond Beach’.

Boasting an abundance of natural beauty with its jungle clad mountains, breath-taking waterfalls, superb white sand beaches combined with the easy-going charm of its people, it’s not surprising you will find yourself returning to Jamaica time after time.

4. Las Vegas – (Diamonds Are Forever)

The destination of choice this year for Royalty, A-listers, sports and music stars, Las Vegas is the ultimate adults’ playground and the set for many blockbuster movies. Diamonds Are Forever features some of Las Vegas’s famous landmarks and hotels including Circus Circus Hotel & Casino and the Las Vegas Hilton.

A truly 24-hour city, where the nights are even more dazzling than the sunny days. Take a break from the casinos and shopping malls and enjoy a once in a lifetime helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon or show your romantic side with the other half and renew the old wedding vows.

5. Bahamas – (Thunderball, License to Kill, Casino Royale)

Located off the east coast of Florida, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, the Bahamas is a stunning collection of 700 islands. Used as the backdrop for Daniel Craig’s memorable walk out the sea in ‘those’ trunks in Casino Royale, these Caribbean islands are well and truly part of the Bonds’ must famous filming locations.

6. Thailand – (Man With The Golden Gun, Tomorrow Never Dies)

Phang Nga, Thailand, also known as James Bond Island made a huge impression in the 1974 James Bond film Man With the Golden Gun. To visit the set its best to stay on the island of Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular resorts. Offering all the ingredients for the perfect beach holiday, this Thai Island is surrounded by 25 miles of perfect beaches and is one of the world’s top ten dive sites.

7. Mexico – (Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Quantum of Solace)

With its dramatic landscapes from mountains to deserts to rainforests – Mexico has played host to 007 classics such as Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and most recently, Quantum of Solace, where the airstrip in the popular resort of San Felipe in Baja California was used to shoot for this film.

Popular year round, Mexico offers the perfect combination of colourful culture, great cuisine and beautiful coastline. Here you can do as little or as much as you like and enjoy some of the world’s finest hotels and resorts.

8. Egypt – (The Spy Who Loved Me, Diamonds Are Forever)

Offering some of the world’s most recognisable sites it’s no wonder the Bond crew return to Egypt to film. Featured in 1977’s The Spy Who Loved Me, James Bond is dispatched to Cairo where some of the films famous scenes were shot around the Pyramids and Great Sphinx alongside scenes in Cairo city itself.

Take a trip to Egypt’s Red Sea resorts where you relax on the beach or enjoy what lies beneath with some of the world’s best dive sites. Whilst here you can enjoy a day trip to Cairo and see the sets for yourself.

9. Miami – (Thunderball, Goldfinger, Casino Royale)

The Fontainebleau Hilton in Miami played host to Goldfinger in this 1964 James Bond Classic. A popular choice for filming – this hotel also feature in The Bellboy, Scarface and The Bodyguard. Miami is also featured as a backdrop in a number of other Bond movies including Casino Royale and Thunderball.

Famous for its beaches, architecture and scores of celebrity visitors each year, Miami combines a rich and diverse culture, exclusive boutiques and exciting nightlife with a near perfect year-round climate – what’s not to like!

10. Monte Carlo – (GoldenEye)

Monte-Carlo is a by-word for wealth, glamour and sophistication which fits perfectly with James Bond so it’s not surprising filming has taken place here. The World famous Monte Carlo Casino features in Goldeneye

Famed for the pink Palais Princier, the Grand prix, the Casino and of course the yachts – Monte Carlo is the perfect combination of a city break and sunshine getaway. Arrive in true James Bond style with helicopter transfers for a truly unforgettable weekend away.

For more information on all the destinations visit www.tcsignature.com or www.crestaholidays.co.uk

Comment on this Article

Have you visited any of these Bond destinations? Tell us what you thought in the comments below or tweet us @FemaleFirst_UK

FemaleFirst

Shabana Adam

October 27, 2012
Travel Europe: Six things in … Istanbul

The Bosphorus strait runs through the heart of Istanbul, splitting it into two parts. The strait may physically divide the city’s residents, but it also draws them together.

Amy Laughinghouse
Special to the Star

ISTANBUL, TURKEY—Been there. Done that. Bought the rug. That’s what I thought, after a two-day stopover on a cruise four years ago.

Yet so many people rave about Istanbul, I wondered if they were simply smokin’ from a different hookah, or if perhaps I had missed something during my whirlwind tour of the “must see” sites: the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace. It was architectural overload, like staring at the sun. If I had been invited to gaze upon one more mosaic, however beautiful, I thought I might bleed from my eyes.

Don’t get me wrong. Istanbul’s wonders are worth visiting, particularly the Blue Mosque, as it’s not only stunning; it’s also an important religious centre where worshipers pray five times a day.

But for the most part, the de rigueur list barely scratches the surface of what I had come to suspect might be the true spirit of this city, where residents respect their history, but live, love, work, dance, play and party in the present.

So I went back. I slowed down. I took time to meet the people and learn how the locals spend their days, and their nights. What I discovered is that this isn’t a city you should try to “do” in two days. Take a week. Take a walk and wander, and let Istanbul weave its web around you.

Get high

If you’ve ever seen Midnight Express, you’ll know I’m not suggesting a dalliance with drugs, unless you fancy an extended stay in a Turkish prison.

To fully appreciate the scope of this city — from the spiny minarets that punctuate the treetops to the cascade of blocky mid-rises that tumble down the hillsides like Lego-built lava — you need to poke your head in the clouds.

Savour the view from Gaja Restaurant and rooftop bar, atop Swissotel The Bosphorus, or book a room at the adjacent Swissotel Living — chic apartments you can rent by the night, where guests can relax beside a rooftop infinity-edge pool overlooking the strait.

swissotel.com, Bayildim Cad. No:2 Macka, Besiktas, Tel: +90 212 326 1100. Main courses from 45 TL ($24); Swissotel Living rooms from about $562.

Take a cruise

The Bosphorus strait runs through the heart of Istanbul, splitting it into two parts — two continents, in fact (Asia and Europe). The strait may physically divide the residents, but it also draws them together, fishing on its banks and traversing its waters.

Sehir Hatlari offers a round-trip Full Bosphorus Cruise (25 TL, $13.60), departing Eminönü at 10:30 a.m. with a 2.5-hour stopover at Anadolu Kavagi, a little fishing village chock-a-block with fresh seafood restaurants, a short walk from castle ruins. Buy your ticket on the Eminönü pier. sehirhatlari.com.tr.

Visit a hammam

Want to experience the ultimate self-indulgence — something that extends well beyond a massage and totally blows a mundane mani-pedi out of the water?

How about a personal bather? At a hammam, you’ll be scrubbed, rinsed, rubbed and steamed, emerging smoother than a newborn baby’s bottom.

There’s no better place to shed those dead skin cells than the Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamami, between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Built in 1556 by Suleiman the Magnificent, this hammam is a work of art, with tasseled curtains framing massage rooms and restful expanses of white marble.

ayasofyahamami.com, Cankurtaran Mahallesi Bab-i Hümayun Cad.?No:1, Sultanahmet, Tel: +90 212 517 3535. 35-minute Pir-i Pak package, 70 euro (about $89).

Dessert and a show

The ice cream vendors on Istiklal Caddesi, a lively shopping artery running southwest of Taksim Square, don’t just scoop gobs of chilled goo.

Dressed in embroidered vests and colourful scarves, and framed by open windows emblazoned with neon lights, they wield a sword (albeit a sword that ends in a spoon) with a magician’s slight of hand, tossing the ice cream from cone to cone and keeping it tantalizingly out of reach until you’re salivating for the sweet stuff. Try Borek Center, Istiklal Cad., N:167 Taksim Beyoglu.

Rock on at Reina

Located on the banks of the Bosphorus, almost directly beneath one of its famous bridges, Reina is the reigning queen of Istanbul’s nightlife, drawing celebrities such as Bono, Uma Thurman and Sting. Dine, then dance the night away. reina.com.tr, Muallim Naci Cad. No:44 Ortakoy, Tel: +90 212 259 59 19.

Shop ’til you drop

“Excuse me. May I sell you something you don’t need?” a cheeky young man at the Grand Bazaar enquires, offering up the best pitch I’ve heard all day.

Yes, it’s unabashedly touristy, but a visit to the bazaar, bustling with thousands of shops selling hookahs, jewellery, ceramics, pashminas and the ubiquitous Turkish rugs, is cheap entertainment and a great place to buy inexpensive souvenirs.

For a more upscale shopping experience, stroll the streets of Nisantasi, which are flanked by boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Alexander McQueen and Roberto Cavalli. You’ll find many of the best designers under one roof at Beymen, a chic department store where sales staff follow you at a discreet, watchful distance — at least if you stroll in wearing an H&M sundress and flip-flops.

Beymen: beymen.com, Abdi Ipekçi Cad. 23/1 Nisantasi, Tel: +90 212 373 4800. Grand Bazaar: grandbazaaristanbul.org, the most popular entrances are through the Beyazit Gate and the Nuruosmaniye Gate, in Beyazit.

Amy Laughinghouse is a freelance writer based in London. Follow her on Twitter at @A_Laughinghouse.

October 25, 2012