#MelTakesFlagstaff

I finally got around to putting together the Flagstaff video. It can now be found on the YouTube channel: racquelandmel or you can watch it here! I hope you guys like it.

#MelTakesFlagstaff

This wasn't the first time I had been to Flagstaff, but the experience this time around was a lot different.

I was only there for a weekend, which wasn't long enough. However, in that short amount of time I fell in love with the city. It is such a wonderful place to go if you love nature and want to experience that whole small town feel, but without it being extremely small.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was going to Downtown Flagstaff, because it had so many interesting shops and restaurants. Everywhere you went was a little treasure on its own.

My other favorite part was the fact that no matter where I looked I would be able to see some form of forest or a mountain. It was like every nature lovers dream. Not to mention that Flagstaff has the San Francisco Peaks, where Humphreys Peak resides, which is the highest natural point in all of Arizona. I wasn't able to hike the great peak that weekend but plan to the next time I visit.

If you ever find yourself in Flagstaff here are a few places you should check out:
- Mars Hill
- Humphreys Peak
- Lowell Observatory
- Crystal Magic in Downtown Flagstaff
- Armadilla Wax Works in Downton Flagstaff
- Basically all of Downtown Flagstaff

Here are a few pictures from Flagstaff. I'll be posting a video soon as well!

#MelTakesBodrum

Well look what it is, the long awaited Uyku Vadisi video! It is a bit shorter than I was hoping, but I hope that it's enough for you to want to visit it if you're in Bodrum ever.
I have one more video to put together. It'll be up hopefully by this week. Hope you enjoy this one though.

#MelTakesBodrum

After surviving off of the wifi found on the beaches, I'm finally able to share my adventures in Bodrum with you all!
Bodrum is exactly what you would expect it to be like. Full of amazing beaches and people sun bathing. Aside from all this there are actually things you can do that don't involve going to the beach like hiking! I can easily understand how hiking doesn't sound like something one would want to do during summer, but Uyku Vadisi is a place that you wouldn't want to miss. About 11 km from the Bodrum airport, Uyku Vadisi is a stunning place with a small waterfall, hammocks to rest on (or sunbathe), a pool, and even a restaurant/café. It also has a trail that you can follow which leads up to the mountains. There you come across rivers, caves, and even an abandoned house up on the mountain.
Uyku Vadisi is a great place for nature lovers and those who want to get away from the party life of Bodrum for a bit to relax.

I'll be posting a video soon of my adventures there because these pictures are not enough!

#MelTakesIstanbul

I recently went on a Bosphorus tour that took me to several different places located on the Bosphorus. It was fun and extremely refreshing.

This video contains footages from that tour as well as a few clips from when I went to Bebek, a town located along the Bosphorus.

If you're ever in Istanbul, I highly recommend giving this tour a shot. Although it isn't the type of tour that stops at different locations, allowing the passengers to get off and look around, it is a great tour to just sit, relax, and enjoy the scenery.

There may be different locations where they have this tour available, but the one I went on is located in Ortaköy, which is another place that I recommend visiting.

#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.

#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.