alper / Alper Çugun

Took four days to visit Istanbul for the first time this year. I had already seen most of the rest of Turkey, but I always missed Istanbul for some reason.

We went here in the new year, start of January and riding the ferries on the Bosporus was quite chilly from time to time. A very great city – great in all its meanings, its vast size, its historic majesty, its enchanting atmosphere – worth going to. And I am sure if once you visit Istanbul, you will be drawn back to it.

If you pick up a high pace, four days is quite enough to see a lot of the city and to leave some of it for your next visit. We saw a lot of palaces, mosques and bazaars.

But what impressed me most, were the huge crowds of people. Massive throngs going up and down Istiklal Caddesi at every hour of day. People as far as the eye could see.

Been here for a weekend last summer again. Ghent is one of the nicest small Belgian towns and adorable.

Especially recommended is visiting the city during the annual festival of the Gentse Feesten. Two weeks during which the city bursts its seems with all kind of festival/party happenings.

I’ve been to Spain this summer and the experience was unbelievable. I went to the small principality of Asturias in the north of Spain completely unknown to foreign tourists.

The culture there is really something else than you are used to in Spain, the people are friendly, the nature is fabulous, the waves are great. It was fantastic. Definitely worth going to.