What I learned in the last days ...

... is that tulips came from Persia to Turkey and were then given to the Dutch. It's the tulip festival in Istanbul and they are plenty and beautiful. In Persia, to give a red tulip was to declare your love. The black centre of the red tulip was said to represent the lover's heart, burned to a coal by love's passion. To give a yellow tulip was to declare your love hopelessly and utterly. Just a little random knowledge ....

A few colourful hyacinths from the Topkapi Palace crept in as well. Back to certainly not spring like London tomorrow, but we enjoyed a little sun and colour, as well as, of course, loads of sightseeing! xx

(photos my own)