Inside Out In Istanbul

Bursa is a great side trip or city escape if the chaos of Istanbul gets too much for you. It’s only a few hours away, is packed with history, gorgeous architecture and enticing dining selections. Link in comments.

I’ve done all the work for you including highlighting the must sees (from a large selection of possibilities), hotel suggestions and transport option so all you have to decide is when you want to go and how many days you want to stay.

Right, get packing!

The big news in my life is that as of now, I will be splitting my time between Istanbul and our new summer place in Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast. I'm a big city person. I love the hustle and bustle of the crowds, particularly in Istanbul which is full of excitement and possibilties, galleries and museums, cafes and restaurants. That said, sometimes Istanbul is a bit too big, too much, and well ... too too!

Having a place where all I hear is birdsong (rather than ongoing contruction work for the urban renewal project that's taken over my Istanbul neighbourhood) and having the waterfront a three minute walk away, is good for my writing, my soul, and my darling husband who's enjoying getting his hands dirty in the garden and plans to get a dog.

It also means I can explore more of the Western part of Turkey because believe it or not there are still places I haven't been, partly because there is so much on offer in the country but also because they keep making new archaeological discoveries. The excitement continues ...

What kind of person are you - big city, small country coastal town or a mix of both?