Istanbul’s Magical Mystery Tour
“What happened to your head?” someone asked me on the plane heading home from Turkey. I’d been waiting for the question – after all, it was a rather rude red mark atop my forehead – and now, at last, I could answer, “I hit…
Ciragan Palace Kempinski: Istanbul, Turkey
Whether you arrive by yacht, helicopter, limousine, or Maybach (all of which are available to guests), as soon as you enter the five-star Ciragan Palace Kempinski you enter into a world marked by Ottoman elegance. Built in the late 19th century, the…
Tugra, Ciragan Palace: Istanbul, Turkey
One of the most romantic locations in the world, Tugra Restaurant is located on the first floor of the historic Ciragan Palace with breathtaking views of the Bosphorus. If you dine on the terrace at sunset at a table situated between the Ottoman palace’s…
Holiday Food and Drink Gift Guide
All through the holiday season, you just want to stuff your face. Everywhere you turn someone is offering you a drink. The sideboard is laden with all sorts of fattening goodies and one dessert is never enough. Silver trays pass by and you help yourself:…
Home for the Holidays Gift Guide
It’s beginning to look a lot like… Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but not for those of us running hither and yon in a mad dash to make sure that everyone on our holiday lists is happy and gay. If you’re…
Fragrance, Beauty, and Fashion Holiday Gift Guide
You made it through the election season and you survived Hurricane Sandy – and now you’re supposed to be merry and gay amidst the mayhem of the holiday season? Who are they kidding? Fortunately, shopping for those you love doesn’t have to be…
Stocking Stuffers: Holiday Grooming Gift Guide
Let’s face it, most of us are suckers for skin care products: the packaging, the presentation, the promises, the promotions. A little swag with a purchase and a nice shopping bag: sometimes it’s the little things that make us the happiest. Think about…
Hilltop Heaven: Cappadocia, Turkey
Years ago, as an adolescent, I learned the word “Shangri-La” and subsequently sought out the 1933 James Hilton novel, “Lost Horizon,” where a group of world-weary travelers arrive at a mystical lamasery, a mythical utopia marked…