Le Tour Du Bosphore

Il y a 600 demeure au Boshore. 
Si vous êtes au Istanbul, vous pouvez prendre une bateau du voyage et visiter Le Bosphore et ses demeures. Aujourd'hui J'ai rejoint une bateau du voyage, J'ai pris des tas de photos.
C'était très amusant...

 

Quand Je regarde au le Bosphore, Je veux être riche

 

 

Cette maison a appartenu Sait Halim Paşa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I eat more "pasteis de belem"? (Part-2)

It's has been for a while since I wrote my blog.

I'm deeply sorry for that but I can not keep the balance between my social and professional life. But I can not help it. There is too much work to do, but not enough manpower to finish all those things.
At the end, years and days are passing by and I'm spending my life in a small, boring office room.

Unhappily we do not make time for things which make life worth to live.

But thanks God, I can travel, idea of travelling is keeping me alive.

Now It's time to talk about yummy things like "pasteis de belém".

There is small patisserie in Belém famous with is "pasteis de belém".  Pasteis de belem is a yummy, crispy tart. The formula of the desert is secret. Formula is not written, only two privileged people at the earth know the secret recipe (I guess two, could be three).

When you go to patisserie, a long queue will welcome you. If you don't like to wait I suggest you to go there early in morning.

But please note that if you like chocolate desserts there is a slightest possibility to dislike the tart.

It's funny, I now realized that I was so busy with eating pasteis de belem haven't taken any pictures of them (:

After eating my pasteis de belems, we headed to Mosteiro dos Jeronimos - Jeronimos Monastery. Jeronimos Monastery is in UNESCO World Heritage List

Monastery and us

Due to its fame, there was a huge queue in front of monastery. Instead of waiting we went to Berardo Museum, Museum of modern and contemporary art.

I love art but I have no clue about modern art. There was no guide who can just explain the meaning of pictures that we were looking at.
So I read the signs, looked at the pictures. They were nice but I can not tell you more (:

But Museum has a huge collection If you like modern art and can understand it I strongly recommend you to visit museum.

You can nice pieces of Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali.

A bit of Warhol

 After spending like 1.5 hours in Berardo Museum, the queue in front of monastery was not bad at all. After entering the garden of monastery we have noticed If you want to visit only the monastery you don't have to queue.


Inside of Monastery

Inside of Monastery

But I recommend you to visit the Garden.

 

Garden

Birdview of garden

After having a nice tour around Belem we walk to Ajuda. Actually we climbed the Ajuda, didn't want to take a cab, couldn't catch the bus so decided to walk. But Ajuda is at the peakest place of Belem.

I loved Ajuda, it's a nice town with nice tile pavement apartments and of course there is also a palace- Ajuda National Palace

My "I did it" face after climbing a steep

Nice tiles



25 de abril Bridge

 We have spent so much time in Belem and Ajuda, Torre de Belem was closed. Tower of Belem was built to protect Lisbon port at 16. century.

The tower is example of late Portuguese Gothic art and also in UNESCO World Heritage List.

After Torre de Belem we visited Padroa Dos Descobrimentos which means Monument to the Discoveries.

 

 Padroa Dos Descobrimentos- Western Side

Monument was dedicated to people who had major geographic expedition in Portuguese History.

Main statue represent Henry the Navigator. He got the navigator nick name after his death. He played a major role in development of European Maritime.

You can see Vasco da Gama at Eastern side of monument.

Padroa Dos Descobrimentos- Eastern Side

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can I eat more "pasteis de belem"? (Part-1)

“Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked.
'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.
'I don't know,' Alice answered.
'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter.”

 Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Despite to Alice, I knew where I wanted to go. Four months ago, I was sneakily searching cheap Barcelona tickets in the office. And I made it, I found some cheap tickets but just because of my laziness, I did not buy them on that day.

Very next day, those cheap tickets weren’t that cheap any more. So I cancelled my Barcelona trip but did not give up, I continued my research.

Et voilà ! I found new tickets but this time to LISBON!!!



Lisbon Air View

 

We can divide Lisbon to 10. You can find below top ten places in Lisbon;

1.     Baxia and Rossio

2.     Sé, Castelo and Alfama

3.     Chiado

4.     Bairro Alto

5.     Estrela, Lapa and Santos

6.     Belém adn Ajuda

7.     Avenida, Gulbenkian and Parque Eduardo

8.     Sintra

9.     Lisbon coast

10.  Parque das Naçoes

Our hotel was very close to section 7; Avenida, Gulbenkian and Parque Eduardo. So first day, right after leaving our luggage to hotel we went to “Museu Calouste Gulbenkian”. Taking pictures is not allowed so I only took pictures of museum ducks.

Ducks of the museum

Admission fee is € 8 but you can have a discount if you have Lisbon Card (http://www.golisbon.com/Lisboa-Card/)

Calouste Gulbenkian is an oil expert and business man who was born in İstanbul. Besides being a business man Calouste Gulbenkian is a collector. Throughout his life, he assembled a unique collection. In the museum you can see precious pieces such as Portrait of Madame Claude Monet, Still life with melon.

After Museum; we headed to Avenida and Parque Eduardo (Well, actually there is nothing special at Parque Eduardo)

Avenida or Avenida Da Liberdade is main boulevard of the city. This 1.3 km connects boulevard  to Parque Eduardo, at the end of it you can reach to Baxia and Rossio.Avenida is a posh and nice place. It is covered with luxury brands like Prada, Louis Vuitton and palm trees. It is nice walk there.

If you feel hungry you can stop by “marisqueira santa marta” and have nice fishes.  But please keep in my; the place is not open at lunch hours. (http://www.marisqueirasantamarta.pt.vu/)

Forgot to take pictures of fancy shops

 

Every European city has a straight street where you can find almost everything. Straight Street of Lisbon is called Rua Augusta. Rua Augusta is main Pedestrian Street of Baixa.

So Baixa and of course Rua Augusto is located between Rossio and Praça do Comércio. If you are fancy in traditonaol travel shopping (like buying magnets and key chains as souvenirs) Rua Augusto is the right place. The street is covered with souvenir shops, stores like Zara, Mango and you can  also find resturants, cafes.



Rua Augusto at night

At the river side of Rua Augusto you’ll notice (it is not impossible to notice) a huge, white arch. Rua Augusto Arch is like door which opens to Praça do Comércio. Before telling you Praça do Comércio or in English Commerce Square I would like mention about the arch a little bit.

 

Arch and Rua Augusto

Maybe you know maybe not, on 1755 a great earthquake was occurred in Lisbon. Lisbon was totally destroyed. After earthquake, the city was rebuilt and in order to remember this enormous catastrophe Rua Augusto Arch was built.

Severity of damage done by earthquake and hugeness of the arch is parallel. You’ll see four statues, they represent

·         Nuno Alvares Pereira

·         Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo

·         Marquis of Pombal

·         Vasco da Gama

 

If you like take aerial viewpoint of the city you can climb the arch
  

Who wants to take a picture?

 
Before the earthquake, Praça do Comércio was home of royal buildings. But today it is a square which is located near to Tagus River where people meet.
 

 

   
So in the middle of square a king welcomes you. Don José was the king of Portugal at the time of 1755 earthquake.

Long Live The King

 
The Square was also main scene of political acts; in 1908 King and his was killed in there and in 25 May 1974 with Carnation Revolution the regime of the Estado Novo was overthrew. Billions of people gathered there during the Revolution.
 
 
You'll love the view which seen from square. Tagus River, 25th of April Bridge and Jesus Christ monument. If you like take pictures of the sunset  Praça do Comércio is the right place.
 

 



Love

 

More Rua Augusto

 

Travels, trips and journeys: Wonder Workers

Travels, trips and journeys: Wonder Workers: What can mankind do to be remembered? Or what can you do to evoke admiration? Or is it too important to leave a mark in this impermanent wo...

Travels, trips and journeys: I LOVE YOU, AMSTERDAM!

Travels, trips and journeys: I LOVE YOU, AMSTERDAM!: People are becoming wiser when their 30's? Well, did I become wiser? No! I'm still a fool but not that much. Better than nothing I ...

One Way Ticket to AMSTERDAM!

People are becoming wiser when their 30's? Well, did I become wiser? No! I'm still a fool but not that much. Better than nothing I guess? Do I know what I want? No! But at least I know what I do not want (Even that part is not crystal clear). And I know one thing for sure, I want to travel. I can't stop my desire for travelling. So, last weekend I was at Amsterdam...

I Amsterdam and me, trying hurt my self.

Before telling my Amsterdam journey, I would like to say something;

When I was 18, I was thinking I would drown in cash, be CEO of a top notch company&career psycho, and have lots of Louis Vuitton bags at my 30.

Now I'm 30 I'm not drowning in cash, I'm working as a tax consultant and trying to be a CPA (such a loser I'm), I do not have even one Louis Vuitton bag.

But those things that I wanted when I was 18 are not required any more (expect the bags). Only thing that matters for me is being a good human being.

So far I have learned something for sure, titles and money will vanish. One day we'll all get old, only the memories will stay with us. So earn memories, have something to remember and tell.

Do not stay at home, travel; you don't have to be rich to travel. Travelling is not a luxury but a necessity.

Oh, God! I talked too much. I'm sorry the tiny city Amsterdam, home of great painters.

Now, I'm giving all my attention to you.

I love myself, does it count?

As I mentioned, city is small but content is huge. There are 2 big and important museums first of all. Van Gogh and Rijks Museums.

I have been Amsterdam before, this time it was only for 1.5 days of journey so we went to only Rijks Museum. It took 3.5 hours to visit all museum and please note that; it was a quick tour. If you do not have 3.5 hours, I recommend you to visit Gallery of Honour where you can find Rembrandt, Vermeer. One floor below, you'll see Van Gogh and Monet.

A quick question, what is name of Rembrandt's most famous painting? Could you recognize it?

There it is, the great Night Watch;

What makes the Night Watch so great? I guess the details, you feel like Frans Banning Cocq will leave frame and talk towards you. The painting is not still, every figure is moving.

By the way, original name of the painting is The Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq.

Look at Vermeer's the most famous painting. He paid attention to every small detail, there is a nail on the wall, and window glass is broken....



Look how she is pouring the milk carefully; everything is still except the milk. It feels like you can hear the sound of pouring milk.
 

Kitchen Maid

If only a servant is only handling a letter to a lady, why this painting is called as "love letter"? Because the cittern that is holding is the symbol of love.

Love Letter

Rembrandt's self-portrait

Another Vermeer, a young lady is reading a letter, you the map behind her; they say it could be an allusion to the sender.

After Rijks we headed to Red Light District. Even if the place famous with drugs and prostitution, it's a big place with nice cafes and bars. There is even a church there.

But just to follow customs we bought a small cake and saw hookers.

Be careful, you are not allowed to take pictures of ladies.

 

Break in the case of emergency

 

After walking around Red Light, we went to Dam Square, saw Ukrainian protesters. Square was preparing for Christmas, pity, we could not see the big Christmas tree.

 

Decorating Christmas tree

I'm supporting every body who demands justice

So after Dam Square we biked to again Leidseplein. Yes bike, I recommend you to hire a bike. Biking is perfect way to travel in the city. Since the city is small biking is the best solution.

We rented our bikes from our hotel for 16 EURO (daily price). We stayed Hotel Central Park. It was a OK hotel, clean sheets and room, no breakfast service.

Hotel was close to Vondel Park, approximately 1.5 km to Museum Quarter.
 

When it comes to food, Amsterdam is not famous with its food. If you are fancy in french fries you are in the right place.

We went Hard Rock Cafe at Leidseplein near to canal, typical American food, meat, hamburger and shitty beer.

When you are in Amsterdam your expectations from beer is huge but do not expect too much. I haven't taste any good beer but thanks to God they had Belgium beers.

At night, we went to a bar called Momo, nice bar where white collars hang out. After reaching enough alcohol in our bloods we again biked to Red Light District.

Then somehow, we found our hotel, went to bed. The day that we left, we went to a nice breakfast place, called Anne&Max. It was really close to our hotel. We spend our last in Amsterdam with having breakfast and praying for a blizzard. With a blizzard we could spend one more day in Amsterdam but we were in İstanbul on time.

Yummy

Some clichés;