Category Archives: turkey

Best Traveled Dress

I travel a lot. And I’m often asked about travel essentials and how and what I choose to pack. There are few staples depending upon the climate but there is one standout dress that seems to accompany me almost everywhere for the last five years and is still going strong!

rodress     Photo 1-16     Photo 2-16    lola_blackpink

The Calypso Classic Ro Dress. Calypso St. Barth is a favorite store of mine found in some lucky locales throughout the USA and, of course, the original in St. Barth. I’ve visited a few but the Boston store is where I do the most damage. Five years ago or so I bought my first Ro dress and knew instantly what a great staple dress this was but since have truly learned it’s value. (The classic Ro dress retails at $195)

I have worn it as going out nighttime dress, a touring day dress, a beach cover up or just something to quickly throw on. This is a dress that keeps you cool and comfortable. It’s a dress that consistently gets complimented. It is a dress that’s forgiving – I think it would look good on anyone. Best of all, you can machine wash it or, in times of necessity, hand wash it in a sink. It looks great with a casual denim jacket or cardigan. It can be worn with leggings and boots. Mine has gone on fancy dinner dates, out dancing at clubs or just chilling at beach bars. Plus, obviously, it travels well in your bag. It is my go-to everything dress!

This dress has literally traveled the globe with me. It’s been to Miami virtually every time I go. Hello cover up or a dress to throw on for lunch. Same idea for Hawaii and Palm Springs. And, seen here on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

romex

In St. Martin and St. Barth it’s been a going out dress. Also in London, Bali and seen here in Istanbul.

roturk

This dress traveled with me for my 10,000 mile drive from the United Kingdom to Mongolia. It is that diverse and essential. In Cambodia it was a touring dress of the Phnom Penh Night Market.

rocambo

In Thailand it saw the grandeur of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

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And as a day dress it met children in an orphanage in Bangalore India.

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Calypso St. Barth has grown from a modest resort-wear boutique to a luxury lifestyle brand with a passionate international following. Inspired by travel, culture & the arts, the brand reveals unique & feminine pieces that can be mixed and matched for effortless elegance, which women of every age have come to love.

Calypso St. Barth’s namesake collection is displayed alongside carefully curated pieces from international designers for an eclectic assortment with wide appeal. To me, entering Calypso St. Barth is like taking a mini-vacation to somewhere exotic. And each of my Calypso pieces are very unique and special to me.

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Filed under boston, cabo san lucas, cambodia, caribbean, fashion, miami, mongol rally, phnom penh, st. barts, travel, turkey

Discovering Istanbul

turkey

Istanbul, the bridge between Europe and Asia, can be considered as one of the best cities to visit worldwide. From the beautiful mosques perched over the Bosphorus strait to the incredible Grand Bazaar, Istanbul has a mix of cultures all coming together in one place. There is no lack of awe inspiring sites to see, the only problem is seeing them all if you a have a limited time in the city. Here are some tips on how to get the best of the old Byzantine and Ottoman Empire capital.

There are many great areas to stay in Istanbul, but one of the best is around the Galata tower or in the Karakoy neighborhood. Should you be searching for accommodation in these areas of Istanbul, you can do it online, because booking providers such as Venere.com do a search by city zone possible. After you have found your place to stay, these two areas are a must see before you hit the landmarks on the other side of the strait. The Galata tower is a Romanesque 14th century tower that has an incredible view of the city and houses a great restaurant and night club at the top. It was once used to spot fires for the Ottomans but now is used to get a stunning look at the Blue Mosque and Topkapi palace from the other side of the strait. From there you can make your way down the winding streets to the bridge that takes you across. It is called the Galata Bridge, and here you can dine underneath the structure. Here they literally catch fish and put it directly from the line onto the grill, be sure to go here for a truly unique experience and amazing seafood.

Istanbul Spice Market_flickr

Photo credit: Istanbul Spice Market by Jason Persse (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Across the strait you can first visit the Topkapi palace that used to house the Ottoman sultans. Sitting on top of a beautiful park, the palace has incredible gardens and museums where you can see the ancient treasures of the once mighty empire. Next, go to Aya Sofia or Hagia Sofia, the enormous church turned mosque that was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian. It has some beautiful mosaics, but honestly not much else. It is even better to see from the outside. The best site of the city is easily the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or the Blue Mosque. It stands out on the skyline of Istanbul because of its blue colored stone work and immense dome accompanied by six minarets. Inside with its hanging lights, is truly a religious experience because of its tranquility. It is also still used as a mosque today, so watching the prayer is something you might want to see.

Lastly, the Grand Bazaar and Istanbul Spice Market are great places to wander around. The bazaar has gorgeous tiles and artwork, as it was the main market during Ottoman times. However, the actual shops are a bit touristy. The Spice Market has a more authentic experience and you can try endless types of Turkish delights from the many vendors making it fresh! Be careful in these areas though, because pickpockets target tourists in large crowds. But other than that Istanbul is a safe and incredible city to visit.

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Filed under istanbul, travel, turkey