Brenda Farrell | Turkey & Lifestyle Travel Specialist

“Today’s Zaman” reports a wedding rush in Turkey as couples line up to wed before the start of Ramadan.  Store owners throughout Turkey are said to be “happy” with pre-marriage sales and no wonder;  the size of the marriage market in Turkey has reached a whopping 6 billion TL (about $4,000,000 CAD)

Ramadan (also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of prayer, fasting, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims.  It is believed that he first verses of the Koran (Qu’ran) were revealed to the Prophet Mohammad during the last third of Ramadan, making this an especially holy period for Muslims.

This year, Ramadan in Turkey is August 11 to September 9.  If you will be in Turkey during this time, you are respectfully reminded to smoke, eat and drink discreetly during daylight hours as many around you will have not eaten or let anything pass their lips from before sunrise.

I love being in Turkey during Ramadan and especially for the Bayram, which follows the month of fasting and comprises a ten day feast of celebration.  My favourite memory of Ramadan in Istanbul is watching the children, sitting with their families at tables in Sultanahmet Park, beside the Blue Mosque, savouring their soon-to-be meal.  You can feel the excitement in their eyes and the pride in their parents’ eyes as they wait for the call to prayer that announces sunset … and the start of feasting.

Enjoy Ramadan in Turkey, for it comes only once a year and you are fortunate to be able to experience it during your trip!

Home-grown San Marzano tomatoes ripening

If you know me, you will know why I have not been writing many posts for my blog lately.

It’s Summer and like the bumper-sticker says, I’d rather be … sowing, harvesting, tending, pruning, walking, meeting friends and generally enjoying the extra joy that comes to me each day from beautiful blue skies and sunshine.

Each morning, I enjoy my espresso while I catch up on emails and tend to client files.  Later, I catch up with the tasks and errands that we all have and (here’s the best part)  wherever I am and whatever I am doing, my clients are still able to reach me.  I was a willing victim of Apple’s brilliant marketing a couple of years back and switched my Blackberry for an iPhone and my notebook computer works almost anywhere and sits inside my handbag allowing me to contact company databases etc. in the drop of a hat.  My wireless account enables me to stay in touch with everybody;  family, friends and clients.

Years ago, my market research firm was agency of record for market research for BC Mobility (latterly Telus Mobility)  and I can remember talking to Autotel and Mobiltel Users about the introduction of cellular technology into Canada and their propensity to switch to the new technology.  I conducted focus groups with consumers who found the concept interesting, but difficult to fathom.  Well … some years later, and many research studies later, here we are – totally mobile wherever in the world we may be.  I like it.  It really talks to the sense of freedom that early adopters of the technology were anxious to experience.

I love wireless technology and how it facilitates individual expressions of freedom.  If you, on the other hand,  prefer to be “wired” for your communications, that’s fine too.  Just let me know so that I communicate with you in a way that is comfortable with you.

Enjoy your Summer, whatever you will be doing and remember I am just an email, phone call or tweet away!

It’s the weekend and time to relax!

Make yourself comfortable, pour yourself a glass of wine or your favourite beverage and savour the notion that your dreams are waiting to be fulfilled.   Read Virtuoso Life magazine online.

As Summer places its wonderfully welcome grip firmly on Vancouver, the thought of yachting in the Aegean is tantalizing.

If you love to sail, you may want to know about the the 5th International Aegean Yacht Rally, organized by Setur Marinas, from July 18 and 30 2010. I can think of no better place to sail than the crystal clear waters of the Aegean and this is why I encourage my clients to include a sailing element in their private tours.   Read more

My friend Jennifer, an Edmonton native,  is actively involved in the textile industry in Turkey, and sells lovely, organic and handwoven towels, pestamels, robes, scarves and more from her small and cute store in the Arasta Bazaar in Istanbul.  Jennifer will warm your heart with stories of her visits to the weavers that she buys from.  Drop by for a cup of tea and take your time looking through her textiles … they are truly beautiful and very soft to the touch.  Please note that there may be other stores that have the name Hamam or Jennifer in that area, but when you see the two together, you are at the correct store:  Jennifer’s Hamam.  Her new website is currently under construction, but her store is definitely worth a visit.

If you would like to read more about Islamic Textiles and Dress, this link from the Victoria & Albert Museum suggests some valuable reading resources you may wish to explore before your trip to Turkey or other Islamic countries.