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Practical information: Things You Should Know Before visiting Istanbul

The Only Team Istanbulite, Only-Be, Practical Guide to Istanbul

One of the most beautiful things about traveling is to learn about our destination. Every trip makes us better people, because we get to know new things including: history, customs, people, languages, etc, of a new place in the planet… Traveling is then one of the most interesting and useful ways to learn, grow and expand our horizons. However, every journey has to start with a prior “preparation” that includes gathering the basic information about our destination. If you plan to spend a few days in Istanbul, the following is the information you need to know to avoid unpleasant surprises: 1) Visa: Not everyone requires a visa and not all nationalities have to pay on arrival fees. Those who need a visa have to be that you can get it at the customs or ask at the Turkish consulate in your country. The best thing you can do is to check all details before traveling. 2) Money & Currency: Turkey’s official currency is the Turkish Lira (Türk Lirası). If you didn’t have time to change money in your country, you can do it at any exchange office at the airport or at any bank in the main streets of the city. 3) Electricity and phone: The electrical voltage in Turkey is 220 V 50. Power sockets are the same as in most European countries (type C and F). Telephone code is +90, for the European part +212 and for the Asian part +216. 4) Time zone: In Turkey there is a GMT +2 time zone; in summer it becomes GMT +3. 5) Working Hours: Banks are open from 9:00... read more

Where you can have the best port wine

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Portuense, Practical Guide - Porto

Port wine originates in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and as a main feature, we can establish the strength it has to withstand and resist different temperatures, important aspect in commercial trade with long routes centuries ago It is in the Alto Douro wine regions in Portugal, which historically produces a lot of wine from large tracts of vineyards, but it is in England where its flavor is more noticeable and where it becomes more popular. This expansion was prompted mainly by given times of shortage of wine in England, first by wars and other conflicts in Europe, and second, because the vinho do Porto was available in seasons in which French wine was not The brandy component that is incorporated during fermentation of Port wine, is the key to providing this type of wine a much sweeter taste while constituting a higher alcohol beverage. For the connoisseurs, the types of this wine are distinguished by their bodies, tone, freshness, aging, youth and fruity flavors with hints, or dryness. From these characteristics, we list several of the most popular types, among which are: Full Wine: retinto Red Wine: Red Ruby Wine: Red Gold Tawny Wine: Dorado Tawny Wine Light: light gold Today, the most important zone as far as wine is concerned in Portugal, is Vila Nova de Gaia, where most wineries that offer tastings and sell wine from different classes, clients and stakeholders in the wine tourism or wine routes concentrate. Some of the wineries that we want to highlight today are: Wineries Rozès, Inc. http://rozes.com.pt Located at Rua Cândido dos Reis, 526-532, in Vila Nova... read more

Tassenmuseum: The Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam

Mónica Boixeda Amsterdammer, Only-Be, Practical Guide to Amsterdam

Fashion lovers will find a paradise in the Amsterdam Museum of Bags and Purses. There they can get lost for hours while admiring the 4,000 pieces of its extensive permanent collections that include: handbags, wallets, suitcases and accessories. This is a journey that begins in the sixteenth century. Founded in 1996 as a museum in her own house, Hendrikje Ivo, a collector who decided to share her passion for handbags, decided to show her collection to the public after 35 years gathering valuable pieces. The museum soon became famous and started receiving more visitors and donations. In 2007 its location became so small and the collections were moved to a magnificent seventeenth century palacete, which is located in the Herengracht neighborhood. The building was home of the governor of Amsterdam in 1664, has three floors and retains its original painted ceilings and chimneys. What can you see at the museum? In addition to its permanent exhibitions, at the museum it is also possible to organize all kinds of events, so those captivated by its classic and romantic atmosphere can have a birthday party in one of its rooms, have a snack in its lovely coffee or even get married in its magical garden, as the museum has wedding license. In its permanent collection (the largest in the world dedicated to bags and purses) you will be able to see elegant handbags, purses, chic handbags, and outstanding pieces; as a bride bag made by tiny pearls in France in the eighteenth century, a leather purse from 1935 called Normandy, which was given to first class passengers on the most luxurious cruise... read more