N.B. This Hotel Review was written by Rayyan Mikdash (Rayyana Sweet Treet) after her personal experience there, and Edited by Lale Venture. It is the summer season again! I had to make up my mind and choose our family’s getaway for this year. Antalya was the destination, cause I wanted to visit the waterpark called Land of Legends, large and entertaining for the whole family. I also wanted our hotel to be in Belek area. Weeks of searching for the best hotel. Modern rooms with direct access to the pool, great food, and kids activities. Papillon Zeugma Relaxury hotel was really the best match. L ..read more

A special interview conducted with my Turkish Language teacher Mrs. Duygu Itani at the “Yunus Emre Enstitüsü”, Turkish Cultural Center in Beirut. For the Arabic version, visit our facebook page on this link. L: Hello! Would you please tell us about Fitr Feast in Turkey. How do people in Turkey celebrate this holiday? D: Smiled and said: “Ramazan Bayramı”, meaning Fitr Feast, is a special holiday in Turkey. It starts by visiting the mosques early in the morning. Men of religious families pray the feast prayer in mosques. After the prayer, men congratulate each other for this happy occasion, an ..read more

لرمضان نكهة خاصة تميزه عن باقي شهور السنة. ننتظره لصيامه وقيامه، لنجتمع مع الأهل والأصحاب حول مائدة الإفطار ولمساعدة فقير وتكافل اجتماعي غالبا ما يقضي الناس أيام شهر رمضان في البلد الذي يعيشون فيه، كما ويسعى المغتربون لإغتنام الفرصة بالعودة الى الوطن لقضاء بعض الأيام الرمضانية مع العائلة ولكن أحيانا قد تميل النفس للخروج عن المألوف وخوض تجربة جديدة وهذا ما فعلناه عندما قررنا قضاء الأيام الخمس الأخيرة من رمضان ١٤٣٩ ه، ٢٠١٨ م في اسطنبول، للتعرف على هذه المدينة بحلة مميزة، إذ أن الأتراك يطلقون على رمضان لقب “سلطان الشهور”. وبالتأكيد سيكون لهذا الشهر وقع مختلف على مدنهم ما هو الجديد الذي عشناه؟ كيف ..read more

When you hear the word “Istanbul”, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Some of you would say magnificent historical structures, others will mention the amazing Bosphorus Strait, while others would refer to the exciting urban activities. It is true that Istanbul is all about the mentioned attractions, but it’s also about green spaces and nature. This metropolitan city is covered by 44% of greenery ranging from street greenery to parks and forests. Away from touristic areas, crowds of people, shopping sprees and noisy traffic, on the north side of European Istanbul, lay two of the m ..read more

Hello, and welcome to my blog! I am Layla. Born and raised in Lebanon, I spent a great part of my life as a scout, and that is how I became fond of adventure, new experiences, nature, and planning. After visiting Istanbul many times, and learning the Turkish language, I became well known in my society as “The Istanbul Expert”, finding joy in guiding people around the city. “Your eyes sparkle when you talk about Istanbul“, they say. Of course, every visit brings with it new ventures. Whether it is a previously unvisited museum or a hidden gem, I plan to see it all. Driven by the passion to hel ..read more

When visiting a new city, there are different ways to experience the real taste of the place. One can hop on a taxi, use public transport, or simply enjoy walks and strolls throughout the city. The way I do it! Well, for me, cities are best experienced on foot. Exploring not only the well-known paths but also taking that extra step into backstreets and not so popular allies. Here is where the real feel of the city is experienced. Istanbul Walks and Strolls If there were a city to which my theory really applies, it is definitely Istanbul. Having major walking streets full of tourists and locals ..read more

Well known worldwide for its touristic attractions, Istanbul caters for all types of tourists. As a first timer though, there are some attractions that are not to be missed. According to your touristic taste, you can choose to only pass by these attractions, and take a usual selfie or two. Or, you might decide to visit all the major attractions and know every historical detail. Whatever you decide, I am providing you with a list of 10 Historical Attractions in Istanbul as a first timer. Historical Visits The capital city of three major empires, the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire an ..read more

Yes, it was just a game! But, I assure you, the fear was real!! How I got there? Here is my story… It was a nice 2017 Istanbul spring vacation with ex-scout friends. We were enjoying various activities around the city. Then, I suggested doing something different… I explained the idea of “Room Escape” and they were all in for the excitement. Unexpectedly, our escape game turned out to be escaping a horror house! What is “Room Escape”? You are simply locked in a room. You have just 60 minutes to solve a puzzle and get out. Some rooms are designed as only 1 room, while others might extend to 2 o ..read more

N.B. This Hotel Review was written by Rayyan Mikdash (Rayyana Sweet Treet) after her personal experience there, and Edited by Lale Venture. It is the summer season again! I had to make up my mind and choose our family’s getaway for this year. Antalya was the destination, cause I wanted to visit the waterpark called Land of Legends, large and entertaining for the whole family. I also wanted our hotel to be in Belek area. Weeks of searching for the best hotel. Modern rooms with direct access to the pool, great food, and kids activities. Papillon Zeugma Relaxury hotel was really the best match. L ..read more

Simply stated; Heaven on Earth! Summer 2016 was around the corner. I was about to receive my Master’s Degree and wanted to reward myself with a decent getaway. Our kids, 7 and 4 years old at the time, were eager to have a different kind of summer activity. My hubby, a swimming coach himself, wanted a seaside vacation to relax and have fun with the family. When in Letoonia, Hammocks are your Best FriendsLong story short, we could all benefit from a week at “Club and Hotel Letoonia” in Fethiye, that natural peninsula on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Exceptional Natural BeautyAll it took ..read more