One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to try local coffee. It may be strong and bitter or sweet and smooth – it’s amazing how unique each region’s cup can be.
Whether you are in Seattle, Paris or Istanbul, you will always find something hot and tasty to make your mornings all the more wonderful. Except in Boston, they think you buy coffee from a donut shop. But everywhere else in the world, it’s an affordable experience that is easy to savor.
Where have you had the best cup of coffee?
This post is a Wordless Wednesday entry with some discussion directly below it. And video.
Yes folks, people still do this. Toady we hear from freelance travel writer and Uptake blogger, Zach Everson (link), who spent three months backpacking his way around Europe. Above you see Zach standing in cold water in Olympos, Turkey. Why he’s smiling is anyone’s guess.
Zach explains that there are obvious things to watch out for, but that it’s safe and cost effective. There are so many young people doing this, it really is quite normal.
Well, look at you. You’ve gone and done it. You’ve scrimped, you’ve saved, you’ve cashed in the kid’s birthday/Christmas checks from grandma and grandpa – that’s not right by the way – you’ve read all the books and written down your contact information. You’ve put a hold on the mail and piled cat food to the ceiling and left the toilet lid open. You’ve made all the necessary arrangements. It’s time to tour Europe. You’ve been good. You deserved this.
Here’s the thing though. Europe is big. It’s huge. Like, so huge that there’s no way you’re walking around it unless you’re all convicted and doing it for a charity or awareness or something like that. If you’re not set up for anything listed previously, you’re going to need transportation. Read More »
Europe, being very touchy over leadership issues in the EU, has rotating presidencies for just about everything. Turns out they also have rotating ‘Capitals of Culture.’ And Istanbul is one of the 2010 European Capital of Culture (ECOC) cities. So what does that mean and why should you care?
Bosphorus Bridge linking Asia and Europe
A city that gets itself designated as the ECOC gets to showcase its cultural life and cultural development for the entire year with events, shows and programs, which transform the city into an exciting destination for visitors.
Istanbul already has a lot of culture, to say the least. It has been the capital of three empires, starting with the Romans in 330 AD.
For added significance, Istanbul literally connects Asia and Europe, with bridges over the Bosphorus Strait linking the two continents.
With the pileup of thousands of years of heritage, a dash of European modernity mixed in with Asian muslim customs and Ottoman cuisine, what you have in Istanbul is what Europe will look like 50 to 100 years from now.
These two faces of Istanbul are plainly visible in the contrast between attractions like the traditional structure of the Blue Mosque and the Art Nouveau buildings in nearby Nisantasi.
As for the immediate future, the 2010 ECOC program has plenty of highlights and events lined up all through 2010 to make your visit memorable. More details here – www.en.istanbul2010.org/
