Wanderlust

Long story short, my friend Miranda surprised me in Germany with a trip to visit! She was there for the last two weeks of my trip. It was wonderful to see a friendly face and have such a great travel buddy. She came in on a Saturday and we were off on Sunday to Prague. We spent three days there and then took of for Barcelona for 5 days. The last two weeks of my trip were fantastic. 

Here are pictures from Prague and you can find pictures of Barcelona in the previous post. Enjoy! I know I did. X

Tuesday after the doctor, Sylvio and I were off to Munich for the premiere of Magnifico.

He showed me just a little bit of the city as I could not walk too much. We did however stop by the Mayor’s house…. wow, it was a amazing.


Munich is gorgeous. Hopefully in a week or two we will be making it back up that way. 



The Magnifico premiere was amazing. There was a red carpet and hundreds of talented individuals that attended. Paparazzi were taking pictures and the fashions were unique. Some looked like a million bucks. 
The show was two hours with a break in the middle. It had everything from horses with lights to break dancing. There were acrobatics and contortionists, yodeling and flamenco dancing. It was a one of a kind show that had something for everyone. It was MAGNIFICO!

PATIENCE

The whole experience was unforgettable. The show is a definite success and is touring throughout Europe. We had to leave that night to get back in time for Sylvio to pick up his wife from the airport the next morning. We left Munich around 11 p.m. Taking the autobahn, going about 220km the whole way, it took us about 4 hours to get home.

Wednesday I slept the day away because my foot was in so much pain and I had a rough nights sleep.

 I want to relax my foot as much as possible now so hopefully by the middle of next week it will be better. The bruising will be gone, hopefully, so the aircast won’t rub against the sensitive area.

Yesterday Nana, Sylvio’s wife, took me on a driving tour around Potsdam to show me places to go when my ankle heals. I didn’t realize how much Potsdam has to offer but there are about 7 different castles walking distacne from their house. There is one castle in a park that will take up the whole day. I can’t wait to go. It’s about a 30 minute walk from the house and has gardens, cafes, and gorgeous scenery.


We then went to another castle, the Cecilienhof Palace, where the Potsdam agreement was drawn up.
There was so much history there. We went on a guided tour to learn more but I wasn’t allowed to take pictures inside. 


We wandered around and then headed back for a quiet night in.
 There is so much history in Potsdam. It will take me a good week to explore just this area let alone going back into Berlin. Hoping for the ankle to heal fast or at least give me less pain, so I can explore more soon!
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The last couple days have been a whirlwind. I flew back to Germany on Saturday morning and was greeted by Gina. She wanted to go shopping so we went into Berlin where I found a great pair of shoes. She bought a lot of great things but the weather was horrible so we left earlier than expected.

Sylvio had some friends stay overnight so they took my room and I was in Gina’s, where I put my luggage.

Sunday morning we had breakfast and were ready to head to Munich but I had a little mishap. Before leaving the house, I was to put my luggage in my room downstairs. On the way down the spiral staircase, I fell, landing on my left ankle and continued to slide down the stairs. It was painful. I sat at the bottom of the staircase in shock, shaking and pain rushing to my ankle like I have never felt. I sat for a minute and brushed it off, hoping nothing was wrong.

We piled into the car and took off to Munich and the German Alps. We took the autobahn. We went about 150 mph for you car enthusiasts.  I could feel my boot getting tighter from the injury. On the way we stopped to get gas. I checked my ankle and low and behold it was swelling. I kept my boot off, hoping to give it room to breath. We dropped his friends off in Munich and we were off to Bavaria.

The left ankle is the one I fell on. 

The drive was gorgeous. The mountains still had snow and the scenery was just amazing. We arrived at his friends house in Prien. It was lovely and so were the people. I unfortunately could hardly walk. I knew there was something wrong but tried to push through it. Sonia, Sylvio’s friend, gave me crutches and cream for my foot. We took a drive to a lake that overlooked a castle and the mountains. It was beautiful.



We sat at a great little cafe where the waitresses dressed in dirndls. I got a hot chocolate and Sylvio ordered me this delicious chocolate cake. It was so good. After admiring the view, we went back to the house. There, Sonia put this yogurt stuff on my ankle that made it feel better. It was cold and she wrapped my ankle in it for about 20 minutes. 

The next morning we were supposed to go to Salzburg, where Mozart was from but Sylvio didn’t think it was a good idea because of my ankle. Instead we went to the Alps. We drove through this little town with a gorgeous boarding school and paintings on the buildings. It looked like something out of a story book. 

After taking a walk through the village we went to another little town where we took a gondola up to the top of the mountain. It was just stunning. I hobbled around with my crutch up to a little cafe where we sat outside and looked out at the Alps. There we had this amazing streusel. It was peaches and whip cream with ice cream. It was wonderful.

 
 

We relaxed in the sun for awhile and took it all in. It was a gorgeous, sunny day out, and “warm”. It was about 40-45 degrees. The gondola ride was great. I was able to see where we were staying and a bunch of other little villages. 

We had a nice evening back at the house and I called it an early night so I could make it to the doctor in the morning before leaving for Munich. 

Tuesday morning I had to wake up early to make my doctors appointment. Miram, Sonia’s daughter, took me to the doctor. She was so sweet and very helpful. After two x-rays and pulling and twisting my ankle, the doctor diagnosed the injury….. two ruptured ligaments:

“The ruptured ligament on the upper ankle joint describes a partial or complete rupture of one or several ligament structures. A painful swelling and bruise is evident on the affected joint. The treatment of ruptured ligaments is made primarily by putting the ankle at rest for 2-6 weeks or surgically by suturing or fixation of torn bone fragments.”


“If a hematoma is visible, with corresponding discoloring of the skin, this is an initial indication of a ruptured ligament. The bruise is an indication that perfused structures, such as the joint capsule and ligaments, have been damaged in their structure; but it can also be an indication for the rupture of the lateral ankle bone.”

I now have to wear an aircast all the time for the next four weeks. After the month is over, I only have to wear it during the day for two more weeks. I don’t know how this is going to work since I am in Germany for another three weeks but hey, it makes one hell of a story!



And my nickname “broken” lives on…. 

Yesterday was my last day in Turkey and boy was it it ever a great way to end a wonderful trip.

My cousin Cindy’s husband was able to get us two invites to Günseli Türkay’s runway collection. Just the fact of being at IFW was amazing enough. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. 


Her show, was incredible. I loved everything about her collection. The music, the hair, makeup and designs were a perfect combination for her “Broken Porcelain” collection. 

❝Porcelain symbolizes our dependencies coming from the past. By breaking the porcelain Günseli Türkay shows the avant-garde approach to love. When the porcelain is broken, love is set free from the chains, transforms a more creative form and comes back to us again with more joy and surprise.❞ - IFW book. 

These were some of my favorite pieces from the collection.

She used such unique details to tell the story of broken porcelain. Türkay used porcelain pieces in the hair as well as patterns and designs that were modeled after broken pieces. 
Lace was a predominant feature in her collection which created a romantic feeling. Oversized knits, shirts, blouses and silks highlighted her collection. 

 For my first runway show, this was an absolutely incredible experience. The pieces were so thought out and detailed. The hair and makeup blended perfectly with the concept of Broken Porcelain. 




After the show, Cindy and I were in awe. It was so amazing being apart of fashion week. The ambiance alone was enough to make anyone appreciate fashion. We really wanted to go to another one but only had one invite. Cindy made a call to her husband and 10 minutes later we were back in line to get our passes for the next runway show. 

Mehtap Elaidi was next. People poured in to grab seats but this time there was a little surprise. A gift for each seat. We chose the same area because it was a perfect place for pictures. It was far enough away where you could watch the models walk out, admire the piece, and snap some shots as they walk the catwalk. 

Her collection was based around the idea that social media networks have been so integrated into our lives, ”almost to a point of dominance.” With this said, she believes that these networks have started to change the concepts of loneliness and crowdedness.

❝I tried to delve into how these networks work to reconcile the loneliness people feel when in fact, they’re used to eliminate this feeling. I tried to convey the idea that while these networks try to create secondary identities within us, it is important to keep on to our primary, original identity.❞ -Mehtap Elaidi


Her pieces were darker, more of an autumn winter feel than Türkay, but overall I liked Türkay’s more. I did however, really love the shoes from this collection. 

This pattern below, was a very popular choice of Elaidi’s in both black and white and color. In the description of her show she refers to the pattern as trying to show the conflict between loneliness and crowdedness. I think the pattern definitely does that. **It is the same pattern that is used in the beginning of the show. 

Her pieces included different structures of jackets, pants and skirts. Long maxi skirts were a dominant feature along with oversized pieces and patterned leggings.


The whole experience was unforgettable. I was and still am so ecstatic that I had the opportunity and invite into Istanbul Fashion Week. I may not have gotten access into MBFW but IFW is definitely a great place to start. 

I am now back in Germany and will be going to Munich tomorrow. I already miss Turkey and my family so much. It was such a wonderful trip and hopefully I will make it back soon.
For a look at more pictures from IFW: click here. 

You can also find this post on my fashion blog: Tickle Me Chic

Wednesday was just lovely. I woke up to the sun shinning and the temperature about 10 degrees warmer. Since it was so nice out, Cindy thought it would be great to go on the Bosphorus boat tour. We all got ready and headed out, at about 1:30 p.m.

We had gone shopping the night before and I found this gorgeous jacket that I should have bought. It was from Zara and it was this gorgeous dark blue, fitted down jacket. I kept thinking about it, talking about it and wishing I had bought it. To my surprise Cindy and Cagri had decided to buy it for my graduation present. I was ecstatic. We had to go into the shopping district for Aunt Nancy so it was the perfect excuse to get the jacket :)

After our little detour, we hit bridge traffic. It took us about an hour and a half to get over to the other side but the drive was gorgeous over the bridge. It was so clear.

By the time we got into Ortakoy we were hungry. We stopped at a great restaurant right on the water. It was so delicious and had an amazing view of the bridge and a gorgeous little mosque.

The sun began to set and cast a gorgeous golden light over the city. We rushed over to the boat dock to catch a tour but it was too late. I didn’t mind though, I was in awe of how beautiful everything looked.




Cindy took Jon to play in the play area while Aunt Nancy and I walked and talked. After the sun set it was got colder so we grabbed a coffee to warm up. We sat in the little coffee shop and people watched. There were so many people enjoying the day. It was dark now and the bridge was lit up. It was absolutely breathtaking. 

While we were there, a photographer came up with a model. She took off her jacket and she was wearing this stunning feather, beaded wedding dress. They started shooting right next to where we were. It was so great because I got some AMAZING shots of her as well. The backdrop was just amazing for the photoshoot. 







These were just some of the photos I took. It was such a gorgeous backdrop and the dress was so unique. It was a great way to end the day. 

Yesterday was great. We woke up and got ready for a full day of shopping. We got the kiddos ready and took them to their great aunt’s house.


From there we caught the little bus down to the water where we took the ferry over to the other side. It was a gorgeous day for the most part but just REALLY cold. The wind chill made it about 25. As we got on the boat, I looked into the water and found hundreds of jelly fish.



It was a short ride over but this time we stayed inside because it was so cold. We caught the train for a 10 minute ride until we came to the Grand Bazaar, aka the Covered Market. It’s the oldest mall in the world!It’s claimed to have about 4,000 shops inside with about a dozen restaurants. We stopped at one and sat by the window where you essentially shop while eating. 

The Grand Bazaar was constructed between 1455 and 1461. It was made for merchants to sell goods in an inclosed place where weather was not a worry.

I found lots of great little gifts to bring back, including a pashmina scarf for myself :) It’s a gorgeous blue and was about 7$. We walked around for about three hours shopping and admiring the goods. There were so make fake designer brands, it was nuts. I was tempted but I didn’t buy any. I’d rather buy authentic gifts for friends to have as well as myself. 

On the way back to the Asian side, we made a stop at the Spice Bazaar, another interesting market focusing more on spices. Made me think of my mom, because she would LOVE this place. 
Once we got over to the Asian side we had a great dinner at a place called, Kirpi. It had some great flavors with a lovely atmosphere. After dinner we were just a short distance from the kids so we walked from the restaurant. Turkey is very hilly and some roads are very steep. 
It was an overall great day. I bought presents, got a couple things for me, enjoyed a great day with family, not much more a girl could ask for. 

Friday and Saturday were pretty lazy days. On Friday we went to a typical Turkish mall. Completely different from anything like a U.S. mall but it had some great shops. We grabbed some food at the food court and then shopped for a bit. It was a clam Friday.

Saturday was rainy and icy. We thought we would go to another mall but with all the traffic and trying to get over to the European side, it was too late so we just had dinner. It was great. They brought out about 7 different plates of yummy appetizer/spreads and tons of bread. The place is known for shishkabobs so of course we had some. And then desert. O my goodness the desserts are great here. Such different tastes but still wonderful.

Sunday morning we got ready and decided to go to the Black Sea. I really wanted to see it before leaving Turkey.

We left about 2 p.m. and took the scenic way up, along the Bosphorus. It was so pretty. On the way there were many little villages. We stopped in one called Kanlica, pronounced kahn-li-ja, to go to a little arts market. It was so chilly but we did get lucky and find a couple really cool things. Aunt Nancy and Cindy bought me this gorgeous ring that has variations of the “Blue Eye”which is a symbol to ward off evil and bring success and good luck (I really like the idea behind the blue eye), and a cute little sterling silver elephant charm.

After looking around for a bit we were off to the Black Sea. I was so excited to be on this adventure! On the was there was lots of green space, meaning  there was a lot of military areas. We were driving to the coast where there wasn’t much around.

We drove out to a point and got out of the car. We walked over to a ledge and there it was, the gorgeous Black Sea. The wind was blowing pretty hard and the air was bitting cold but I didn’t care. Being on that ledge was so peaceful and beautiful. It made me so happy.

Looking from one side you could see the Bosphorus going back into the city. 

When you looked in the opposite direction you see the opening into the Black Sea. It was amazing.

We only stayed at the ledge for about 10 minutes because it was just too cold. Cagri took us to a great little seafood restaurant right on a little harbor. We sat next to the window and looked out to see old boats run up on shore, others docked, and a little beach. We had a great dinner and headed back into the city where I had the pleasure of meeting Cagri’s mother, Umet. She is such a sweet lady. We stayed a while and she brought out scarfs she made. She said take as many as I’d like. I ended up with about 6. She was so happy to give them to me and wanted me to bring some to friends. I was amazed at how wonderfully knit they were. Some lucky people might have a present waiting for them when I get back. 
Today we went to the Grand Bazar, the oldest mall in the world, but that is tomorrow’s post. Until then, goodnight x

Yesterday was absolutely fantastic.

Cindy and I dropped Adelia off at her aunts and we took a little bus down to the Bosphorus, where we caught a ferry across. The view was breathtaking. It was sunny and clear with a crisp breeze in the air. As we left the dock you could hear three different Ezans, reciting prayers for people to hear.

 

The current running through the Bosphorus was incredibly strong. It joins the Sea of Marmara with The Black Sea and it is the body of water that separates the European and Asian continents. Boats were struggling trying to get across.

Here is a little tid bit about the Bosphorus: “Its English name comes from aGreek legend: Zeus had anaffairwith a beautiful women named Io. When Hera, his wife, discovered his infidelity, she turned Io into a cow and created a horsefly to sting her on the rump. Io jumped clear across the strait. Thusbous =cow, andporos = crossing-place:Bosphorus= “crossing-place of the cow.”- www.turkeytravelplanner.com

The whole trip across took about 30 minutes, just enough time to really see how gorgeous the views are from either side. Cindy lives on the Asian side so we crossed over to the European side of Istanbul.

Once we got over, we took the train to the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya. Before we went inside the ancient places, we had a great lunch overlooking a pretty little park. I tried my first bit of Turkish food and it was great. The food was so light. We had yogurt that tasted similar to sour cream, a piyaz, which is a bean and carrot salad with a hint of lemon, and kofte, which is Turkish meat balls. It was great way to start our adventure.

After lunch, we journeyed over to the little courtyard in the middle of the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya.It was gorgeous. In one direction you could see the stunning Ayasofya, which was built by Byzantine emperor, Justinian, between 532 and 537 A.D. and the opposite direction you could see it’s competition, The Blue Mosque.

We first went into the Blue Mosque because it was getting to be prayer time and you can’t enter while it’s going on. That is also when the Ezan is recited. We had to take our shoes off so we did not bring any impurities inside. You used to have to cover your hair and cleanse the body before entering too. Now it’s not as common but we did see a few people do it.

It was absolutely breathtaking inside. The ornate detail of all the mosaics and stained glass windows were two of many fascinating things about the mosque. Women are to pray in the back so man won’t get any impure thoughts when the women bend over. They are bound to an area that is mostly closed off.

The architecture was so elaborate and ornate. Every little detail was gorgeous to look at. After walking through, we went out to the courtyard which was just amazing. The minarets looked gorgeous against the blue cloudless sky.

Next stop was the Ayasofya. I was very impressed by it. Everything about the ancient church turned mosque was magnificent —the way the light lit up the inside, the mosaics that lined the walls, the history behind it — getting to experience it was just amazing. The Ayasofya was my favorite of the day.

The Ayasofia was proclaimed a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror after his conquest of the city in 1453. There is so much history in both places, but Ayasofya started it all. Without it, the Blue Mosque might not have been built because Sultan Ahmet I, wished to build an Islamic place of worship with more grandeur than Ayasofya.

After the two tours through history, we went to the Basilica Cistern built by Justinian after 532. It stored water for the Great Palace and surrounding places. Erased from memory, many forgot about the Cistern until Petrus Gyllius, rediscovered it.

Once we walked through the cistern we grabbed dinner at a little Turkish restaurant called the Pudding Shop. It was really good and we had to get dessert of course. That was the best part. We had pistachio baclava and rice pudding. 
We took the train back to the ferry docks and caught the ferry back. The day was amazing. I still can’t believe all that we did and saw. The history behind it all is just amazing. 
Hope you enjoyed learning about all of this as much as I did.
To see all the 256 pictures from yesterday click here.
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