What to do and see in Istanbul in less than 24 hours

30 June, 2017 | Travel guides | 12 seen

So you have just 24 hours for Istanbul? In this short indie travel guide, I will list places you could easily manage to visit and see in less than 24 hours. 

My story short - at the end of May we booked connecting flight from Riga to Tbilisi, via Istanbul, we had an option to have a shorter waiting time, but we decided to spend one night in Istanbul's Sultanahmet area, which offers great access to the most of the tourist sights in Istanbul.

If you are traveling from Istanbul Ataturk airport, there is a metro system connecting to the City Centre, though you will need to make a transit to the line leading to Kabatas. Once you are in Sultanahmet your discoveries can start. We had a lovely hotel Dosso Dossi located just a few hundred meters from the Blue Mosque and The Grand Bazaar. 

Although we missed more cool sites to visit this time, like Galata tower or buying mussels from local fisherman, in just 24 hours to sites like the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are really cool to have on your to-do list.

Postcards from Istanbul

29 June, 2017 | | 6 seen

Istanbul has been on my travel radar since 2009, when I first visited it during a layover flight to Telaviv, Israel. Since then I've traveled countless times to and back from Istanbul. 

So did happened during our latest trip Riga - Istanbul - Tbilisi, we booked a lovely hotel Dosso Dossi in Sultanahmet district and spend one night in Istanbul, trying out local street food and visiting most iconic sites in Istanbul.

Street food in Istanbul

Filled potatoes. Yummy

Minarets of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

Read more here: Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Blue Mosque

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

28 June, 2017 | Airports | 42 seen

Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the main international airport serving Istanbul, and the biggest airport in Turkey by total number of passengers, destinations served and aircraft movements. Opened in 1924 in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is located 24 km (15 mi) west of the city centre and serves as the main hub for Turkish Airlines.

The city's other, smaller, international airport is Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. As of 2017, 273 destinations are served from Istanbul-Atatürk, making it the airport with the second-most destinations worldwide after Frankfurt Airport.

I've visited Istanbul Ataturk airport several times, mostly for layover flights, with Tbilisi being the most conected flight.

Waiting area at Ataturk Istanbul airport

Istanbul Atatürk Airport features two main passenger terminals which are interconnected to each other:

Domestic Terminal is the older and smaller of the two terminals and exclusively handles domestic flights within Turkey. Until the opening of the International Terminal, it used to be the airport's international…

Dosso Dossi Istanbul Old City Hotel

27 June, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 19 seen

We booked this 4-star hotel in Sultanahmet district, Istanbul for a one night stay during a layover flight Riga - Istanbul - Tbilisi at the end of May 2017. 

We paid about EUR 50 for one night stay at this hotel

Located in Sultanahmet district, Dosso Dossi Hotels Old City is within a walking distance from historical sites such as Hagia Sophia Museum, Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque. Sultanahmet Tram Station is just a 4-minute walk from Dosso Dossi. The property offers facilities including a Turkish bath, a sauna, and a fitness centre. The rooms of the hotel are equipped with soundproofing. 24-hour front desk, concierge service and free WiFi is also available throughout.

Dosso Dossi hotels in Istanbul

Featuring a stylish décor, all rooms at Dosso Dossi Hotels Old City are equipped with air conditioning, an LCD TV with satellite channels, minibar, a safe box, electric kettle and a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms also have a desk, sofa and a coffee machine. All rooms are soundproofed.

Our room at Dosso Dossi hotel

Dosso Dossi Hotels Old City is a unique child-friendly city hotel. The hotel…

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

26 June, 2017 | Shopping Venues | 14 seen

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

 In 2014, it was listed No.1 among world's most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. The Grand Bazar at Istanbul is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls of the world.

During my latest trip to Istanbul, which was actually a layover flight connecting to Tbilisi, I stayed for a one noght in Sultan Ahmet district and decided to photograph some cool sites in Istanbul, unfortunately during my trip to the Grand Bazaar in early morning hour it was still closed, so all I could get - just closed gates. On the other hand I've been to this market several times already, and trust me, if you haven't been here, it' s a must have while in Istanbul.

Rooftops of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar is located inside the Walled city of Istanbul, in the district of Fatih and in the neighbourhood (mahalle) bearing…

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

25 June, 2017 | Churches and Monasteries | 12 seen

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque  is a historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. A popular tourist site, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today; men still kneel in prayer on the mosque's lush red carpet after the call to prayer.

The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains Ahmed's tomb, a madrasah and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight secondary domes. It sits next to the Hagia Sophia, another popular tourist site.

I visited Sultan Ahmed Mosque at the end of May 2017, during a layover flight staying in Istanbul for one night, though I've visited Blue Mosque several times already in the past.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development. It incorporates some…

Summer Solstice 2017

24 June, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 6 seen

This is already fourth Summer Solstice featured on this blog. see how three years ago we made a barbeque on our Tbilisi's balcony and how we celebrated our first Summer Solstice in our newly inherited house two years ago. Also compare how did it go last year. This year we celebrated Summer Solstice already for the third time at our rural country house, see home remodeling. 

This year it was just us two and cats. Nothing fancy.

Improvised DJ Remote control and some snacks 

Fireplace

Golden hour sunrise during Summer Solstice 2017

Abava Rumba Waterfall

23 June, 2017 | Tourism objects | 17 seen

Abava Rumba is the second widest waterfall in Latvia (after Venta Rumba) ,up to 1 m high and 35 m wide.

I had a chance to visit it and spend some hour in lovely photography session at the end of May 2017, just after our Germany trip in the Mossel Valley. There is a camping area located just next to the rapid. 

Abava Rumba in Latvia

I find such places tranquil and quite inspiring for my photography. 

Hiking trek near Abava Rumba

As an active outdoors fan I could resist to go deep in the "jungle"

Camping area near Abava Rumba

3 day leisure trip to Germany (The Mossel Valley)

21 June, 2017 | Travel guides | 16 seen

This is a round up post about our latest travel to Germany, at the end of May 2017. Our trip started at Dortmund airport, were we got a nice Nissan X-trail rental car from Hertz (about EUR 250 for 4 days).

Although I've traveled to Germany countless times in the past, this is just third recap featured on blog, in fact about 2 years ago we made a similar trip to Germany but extended it it by visiting the Netherlands, see: My Germany and The Netherlands Travel Guide, also I briefly visited Berlin last Summer between layovers to 7 day trip to Spain

This trip was interesting because of this time instead of choosing hotel rooms we opted for apartments, though it costs about twice to have a lovely apartment as a hotel room, I now have pretty ambivalent feelings regarding apartments. We got two really amazing apartments, but there was one that almost ruined our trip. 

Anyhow - this time more castles and lovely views from the Mossel Valley in Germany.

Postcards from Germany

20 June, 2017 | | 33 seen

Welcome to another Piece of Life postcards from series. In today's article - Germany. We traveled to Germany for about 3 days at the end of May 2017. 

I was not at all in photography this time, but still managed to capture some cool sceneries.

Sunset in Gudenberg, Germany

One of rare HDR's I made during this trip. Folks interested in such an interesting architecture, make sure you plan your travels to the region of Hesse in Germany,

Porta Nigra in Trier

My first trip to this place happened back in 2005 and it was nice to rediscover this place again in 2017. See more: Porta Nigra in Trier

Burg Eltz in Germany

Cochem Castle

The Mossel Valley near Cochem in Germany

Hotel Monopol in Gelsenkirchen, Germany

18 June, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 18 seen

This 3-star hotel offers comfortable accommodation in Gelsenkirchen's northern Buer district. It is 3 km from the Veltins Arena and 1 km from Gelsenkirchen-Buer Nord train station. 

Hotel Monopol was our last accommodations while in Germany for a short few day trip, unfortunately I was not in the photography mood and didn't made much photos in the past days and almost forgot to photograph this hotel. In fact I captured just the entrance doors for this place. 

Hotel Monopol

The tastefully furnished rooms at the Hotel Monopol are all equipped with cable TV and a safe. Wi-Fi is also available.

A full breakfast buffet is served each morning at Hotel Monopol. There are several restaurants and cafes within 15 minutes' of the hotel.

The hotel provides an ideal base for exploring the old mining town of Gelsenkirchen and the Ruhr Area. Many exhibition centres are a short drive away.

The Löchterheide heath is just a 10 minute walk away. Gelsenkirchen city centre is 8 km from the Monopol. 

Haus Daniela Superior Apartment in Cochem, Germany

17 June, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 13 seen

I now have pretty ambivalent feelings regarding booking apartments instead of hotel rooms. Despite my feelings, Haus Daniela was a really nice stay in Cochem. For this spacious apartment we paid about EUR 200 for a one night stay, but it featured 3 bedrooms, a huge outdoor terrace with an electrical grill and very well equipped kitchen.

Offering free WiFi and a sun terrace, Haus Daniela Superior is set in Cochem. Cochem Castle is 400 m away. Free private parking is available on site.

Haus Daniela apartment in Cochem 

You can play table tennis at the property, and the area is popular for cycling and fishing. The nearest airport is Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, 23 km from Haus Daniela Superior. 

Flat screen TV

Kitchen at Haus Daniela apartment

Rose Cottage in Udler, Germany

16 June, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 8 seen

Featuring free WiFi and garden views, Rose Cottage is a holiday home, situated in Udler. It provides free private parking.

We booked this place on booking.com for a one night stay during our few day leisure trip in Germany, sadly there are few good words I can use to describe our stay here. As this place is one of the few that actually kind of ruined our holidays. Anyhow let's start with positive - the rental property is decent, a lot of plastic roses, but hey it's decent. I haven't been to the UK, but I got feeling that indoor style at house is something British. So far, so good.

About negative: First, rental owners (they seemed like a married couple to me) didn't see too happy seeing us arriving at 9PM - the owner even complained that it doesn't makes him happy, I kindly replied, hey guests uses booking.com just for one reason - to book and arrive anytime right?!

Next what followed was rather joke than reality, despite the price we paid (EUR 148) included cleaning fee already (about EUR 70), the landlord lady asked us to clean up after ourselves and sort our garbage…

Cochem Imperial castle

15 June, 2017 | Tourism objects | 23 seen

The contours of the neo-gothic building rise more than about 330 ft above the river Moselle on an outstanding hill. The silhouette of the towering hill seems to continue in the building which is topped by the slate roof of the massive keep. As for its structure, Cochem Castle belongs to the category of castles protected by height that had to be protected all around. Romanesque fragments found in the well indicate a reinforcement of the castle around 1056.

For the sake of this article, I must admit - I didn't visited castle itself, because I found more interesting to photograph such huge objects from distance. So did I do - photographed from different angles. 

Cochem Castle in Germany

Around this time or a bit earlier the core of the Romanesque square keep (17ft by 17ft) was built, its walls being up to 12ft thick. At the same time, the keep was also made higher. In the first half of the 14th century, archbishop Balduin of Trier connected the castle and the town by massive walls. Furthermore a chain was installed below the castle to form a removable toll barrier across the river.

Cochem Castle

t is generally…

Eltz Castle

14 June, 2017 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

Eltz Castle (German: Burg Eltz) is a medieval castle nestled in the hills above the Moselle River between Koblenz and Trier, Germany. It is still owned by a branch of the same family (the Eltz family) that lived there in the 12th century, 33 generations ago. Bürresheim Castle (Schloss Bürresheim), Eltz Castle and Lissingen Castle are the only castles on the left bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate which have never been destroyed.

I paid here a brief visit in May 2017, during a few day trip around Germany.

The castle is surrounded on three sides by the Elzbach River, a tributary on the north side of the Moselle. It is on a 70-metre (230 ft) rock spur, on an important Roman trade route between rich farmlands and their markets. The Eltz Forest has been declared a nature reserve by Flora-Fauna-Habitat and Natura 2000

Burg Eltz in Germany

The Rübenach and Rodendorf families' homes in the castle are open to the public, while the Kempenich branch of the family uses the other third of the castle. The public is admitted…