travel zen on tuesday - ancient ruins of ephesus (in turkey)

Library of Celsius in Ephesus.

These ruins were amazing and incredibly well-preserved.  It could easily give Pompeii a run for its money.  It is astonishing how advanced the ancient Greeks and Romans were.  They had central heat and public toilets for goodness sakes!

shopping (aka bargaining) in istanbul

(Istanbul, Turkey).  I was only able to spend about 2 days in Istanbul during a Mediterranean Cruise, but I absolutely loved it!  The food, the gorgeous colors, the sights, the shopping!  I definitely have to return and spend some quality time exploring this vibrant city.

Gorgeous display at the Grand Bazaar.

Today, I’m focusing on my experience shopping in Istanbul.  Most people will immediately think of the Grand Bazaar which is an impressively large market filled with arts and crafts, jewelry, carpets, textiles … anything your little heart could desire!  It is so huge and hectic that it can be a bit overwhelming.  Most people only have a couple of hours to spend here, so unless you have specific items you are hunting for, you may as well just go with the flow and enjoy (but note where you should exit, because you do not want to get lost in there).

travel zen on tuesday - night sky over istanbul, turkey

A shot of Istanbul from the cruise ship.  I definitely have to return to this lovely place.  Here I am (literally) between Europe and Asia.