#MelTakesIstanbul

I've been to a good amount of places already during my stay here, so I decided to put together a little video documenting my adventures. Hope you enjoy the first of many to come.

#MelTakesIstanbul

I've been in Istanbul for a week now and have managed to visit all the places that I've found interesting in the past. Two of my favorite places being Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar) and Nişantaşı, because of the shopping. Most people may not think of Istanbul as a place to go shopping but you can find so many unique stores in Nişantaşı and even more interesting objects at Kapalı Çarşı (one of the popular tourist attractions of Turkey). 
For those of you wanting to go to more familiar stores then there's Zara, Topshop, Topman, and Miss Selfridge to name a few. All conveniently located near each other in Nişantaşı. If you're looking for designers then you've also come to the right place because there is an abundance of designer shops all lined up next to each other on different roads. It's almost overwhelming how many designer shops there are on one street.
Since Kapalı Çarşı is a touristic place it is the perfect location to find really interesting souvenirs to get for yourself, family, lovers, and friends. Word of advice: try not to get lost since it's pretty large. Best way to describe it would be like Diagon Alley, minus the open air. 

#MusicMondays

Since I'm sitting here listening to music while nibbling on almonds and reading the June issue of Company Magazine, which I can say is now one of my favorite magazines along with NYLON, I decided to hop on the band wagon and do a #MusicMondays post. I hope that I'll manage to actually stay consistent with it.

So here's a playlist of what I've been jamming out to while on holiday, and if you have any new tunes for me to check out let me know in a comment!

#MelTakesLondon

The last few days spent in London were very relaxed, but also very exciting. I went to the East side again and went to a food festival that I had heard about. I was a bit worried that the festival wouldn't live up to my expectations and that we all would regret making the trip, but it was definitely worth going and I'm glad we did.
Street Feast is the name of this food festival and it is located at Dalston Yard, which you would easily miss if there weren't signs and a massive group of people heading towards the yard. Of course people go there to try the variety of food that each stand has to offer, but going to see just the setting is worth it as well. It is a perfect place to hang out with friends and enjoy some cold beer. There is even a cocktail stand at the back of the yard which is right next to some greenery. Everything about Dalston Yard is great.
Street Feast happens every Friday and Saturday until September starting at 5 PM and ending at midnight. It's free entry until after 7 PM, then you need to pay three pounds to get in.

After eating some delicious food at Street Feast we headed home to rest before the game that everyone had been waiting for: England vs. Italy. This was the first time where I went to a pub to watch a soccer game and it was everything I imagined. Although England did not win I was proud to have a giant England flag draped around me. The whole experience of watching the game was fun and exciting, especially since the pub was split in half. One side were the English supporters and the other side were the Italian supporters. Seeing how captivated everyone was by the game was great to witness. I also meant a few cool people who had some interesting stories to share. So if you're ever in London and happen to be there when the England national team is playing a match or there's a big game coming up, be sure to go to a pub and watch it. I would recommend The Kings Arms in Chelsea, because it had a really nice setting and the people there were all such characters. 

I'm going to miss this city and how there's something to see on each corner of every street. I'm going to miss the weather and all the people I've met and how friendly everyone is. 

Next Stop: Istanbul 

#MelTakesLondon

I've been in London for about two weeks now and have a few more days remaining. Leaving is going to be bittersweet, because I've grown accustomed to this city in the short amount of time I have been here, but I'm also excited for the adventures that await. 

For those of you who are here or plan on coming here be sure to do as much as you can in a day. Make the most of it. Be sure to explore places and streets that may not be tourist locations. There are so many wonderful locations to discover in London and I think wandering around the city, markets, parks, etc. will help you to love London even more. Be a tourist for a day and try to be a local for a day as well. It will give you a different perspective and will make your trip that much more fun. Also, if you don't want to stick out and be labeled as a tourist; try to leave the giant maps at home, especially since people who use them still seem to get lost and need help. Instead, if you happen to have an Android device or iPhone get the app CityMapper. It truly is a lifesaver. It is the app that I've been using during my stay here and not once have I gotten lost. In fact, I've been mistaken for a local several times due to the fact that it looked like I knew where I was going/doing.
Although I still have a few more days left to discover places, here are a few places that I highly recommend checking out:

Trafalgar Square:

Although this is a tourist location I think it is worth the time to visit. They have several street performers there and some are definitely worth seeing. When I went I saw a breakdancing trio who were not only humorous but skilled. There is also a giant fountain in the center where people sit to relax.

Covent Garden Market: 

I absolutely enjoyed every moment that I spent at this market. There are so many places to shop and several small businesses setting up to sell their products. My favorite stand was the Mstrand stand that sold handmade soaps and lotions.
There are also many places to eat and several street performers at the market, so there's a lot to see and do.

Portobello Road:

From pastel colored buildings to street performers to the flea market, there is so much to do on this street. Be sure to go on the weekend before 4 PM, because most of the stands close by 4 and the stands are only there on weekends. While here be sure to stop by at the vintage store One Of A Kind where you can find loads and loads of vintage Chanel as well as other designer brands. It is also a really cool place to get lost in. The store may seem small once you step into it, but there are so many small rooms waiting for you to explore. Be sure to ask to see the hidden room as well. 

St. James's Park: 

Most people rave about Hyde Park and the other parks, but I absolutely fell in love with St.James's Park the moment I stepped foot. If the weather is nice go grab some food from one of the places located in the park or bring a sandwich with you, bring a blanket, book, and lay there while enjoying the nice English weather. 

Old Spitalfields Market and Nearby Streets: 

Although I don't have any pictures of Old Spitalfields Market it is a really cool place to find antique things as well as small boutiques and shops. If you wander out of the market and to random streets, you will discover an abundance of street art, which is what I really enjoyed about this side of London.