In true travel fashion the party isn’t over until you haven’t slept for 48 hours and you are heading out to catch your flight back home. Saturday night in Istanbul… I found myself dancing in the streets.. The streets of Istiklal Caddessi in Beyoglu are packed, teeming with people heading into one of the hundreds […]
This question was asked of me the other day, so I thought I would answer it by posting. I think the great thing about travelling is that it allows you to explore other parts of your personality in an environment where the consequences aren’t so detrimental. Removing daily restrictions can allow you to feel more […]
I used to work 50-55 hours a week for a financial services company that was only paying me for the most part for 40 hours. I woke up in the morning thinking about work, went to work all day, stayed late, and then came home thinking about work. I barely went out and enjoyed myself. […]
I identify as Christian, but visiting the Muslim city of Istanbul was a bit of a spiritual awakening. Istanbul is a sacred destination, an important place for the history of many religions. Coming into the city, I gasped at the seven hills of Istanbul dotted with ancient mosques and churches on the horizons. Just like […]
(disclaimer: I am only referring to men I met in the touristy areas. I met some wonderful Turkish men outside of the touristy areas that I will not include in this post:) Before I went to Istanbul many people warned me that Turkish men love black women. Be careful they said. It was confirmed. Many […]
So, it’s my first day in Istanbul, just got off the plane and am headed to Ikea in a limousine. Yes, these are the types of things that happen to you when you are a solo traveler. Quick recap I met a woman from Atlanta boarding the plane. When I first arrived at JFK airport […]
When I first land in a new city there is always a surge of adrenaline that carries me throughout the day and pushes me to limits that I normally would not explore. This trip was no different. I had to explore and did not care that I had no sleep, just got off my flight, […]
My first hours in Istanbul I used the men’s bathroom. No, I didn’t use it because the women’s bathroom was full…it was just next door. The signs for the bathroom were in Turkish. Reading Turkish language is so different for me. I speak French which is a romance language and so far in my travels […]
Excuse me ma’am, how are you; pardonez moi mademoiselle…..Can I ask you a question? Where are you from? I heard these phrases or a variation almost every step I took in the Grand Baazar. An overload of senses everything from the smells of spice, leather, colors of every shade and anything you could possibly need..all […]
Flying into Istanbul, I had no clue what to expect. I’ve learned over the years to have no expectations so that my experience is as pure as possible. So I will say I was completely open minded. My first impressions blew me away! The architecture was one of the most stunning aspects of Istanbul. The […]
VIVIENNETOILE 
February 29, 2012
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