Is a Tulip a Tiny Turban?

Tulip Time Trivia and Travel Tidbits

My clients live all over the country, but I do have a heavy concentration in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. At this time of year, there are two big floral events in these parts. 

The first is the bluebonnets and other wildflowers that carpet stretches of the state every spring, leading to many afternoon trips to take family portraits, formal or informal, framed by dense displays of these deep indigo blossoms.

The second is rather the polar opposite in terms of cultivation: the annual Dallas Blooms "exhibit" at the local arboretum, against the immediate backdrop of White Rock Lake with the Dallas skyline in the distance. The most spectacular of said blooms tend to be the gigantic collections of flowers that grow from bulbs, especially narcissus and tulips.

Tulips are one of the most beloved flowers in the world, with their vibrant colors and delicate petals. Fields and gardens filled with tulips are a favorite visual delight for millions of people the world over, and the tulip itself has a fascinating history.   

The Asian Origins of the Tulip

The popularity of tulips can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, when part of Kazakhstan was conquered by the Ottoman Empire.  The tulip was discovered in the mountains of Kazakhstan, and, enchanted with its beauty, the Ottomans brought its bulbs to present-day Türkiye. Planted in the gardens of the most powerful people in the empire, tulips quickly became a symbol of wealth and status. Even the word itself is derived from the Persian word for a head covering almost resembling the flower: tulipan means turban.

How did they end up in Europe?

Sultan Suleyman the First offered tulips as gifts to important guests, including diplomatic representatives from Europe. During this time, tulips found their way to the Netherlands, where they quickly became a national obsession. Dutch botanists and growers were fascinated by the variety of colors and patterns that could be produced by crossbreeding different types of tulips.

In the 17th century, the tulip trade in the Netherlands reached its peak, with bulbs being sold for astronomical prices (think in terms of trading your house for a flower bulb). However, this tulip mania eventually came to an end, with the market crashing and leaving many investors bankrupt.

Despite the decline in the tulip trade, tulips remained a popular flower, both in the Netherlands and around the world. Today, tulips are still one of the most beloved flowers, with millions of bulbs being planted each year. They are also the national flower of the Netherlands, where they are celebrated each year during the Tulip Festival. The renowned Keukenhof Gardens are only open for nine or ten weeks every year, and many visitors to Holland time their trips to coincide with this period.

But guess what? There's also a Tulip Festival in Istanbul!

The tulip is also the national flower of Türkiye. Its capital city is awash in these precious blooms every spring, and parks all around town are exploding with color. In fact, as you take in other sights of Istanbul, you will find symbolic representations of tulips everywhere, from textiles in the Grand Bazaar to the intricately painted Iznik tiles of Topkapi Palace.

In addition to their beauty, tulips have also played an important role in medicine and culture throughout history. In traditional medicine, tulips were used to treat everything from headaches to stomach ailments. And in art and literature, tulips have been used as symbols of love, beauty, and rebirth.

So the next time you admire a beautiful bouquet of tulips, remember the rich and fascinating history behind these beloved blooms. From their origins in the Ottoman Empire to their status as a symbol of Dutch pride, tulips have captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the world for centuries.

Mon Voyage Aims for Tulip Time, Times Two

Of course, no one can predict Mother Nature's precise schedule, you just might be able to see tulips in BOTH Amsterdam and/or Istanbul in 2024 with Mon Voyage Small Group Trips.

Each trip will be a one-week immersion in an incredible cultural capital, and is planned on a tidy weekend-to-weekend schedule, allowing those with less flexible schedules a better chance of joining us. The land dates for Amsterdam will be March 17-23 and the land dates for Istanbul are expected to be May 5-12.

Same Flower, Different City Vibes

The particularities of Dutch geography have had a great and unyielding influence on the history of The Netherlands, and visiting Amsterdam (with a day trip or two) offers one of the more unusual experiences in Europe. It is not so often that you have vital engineering projects doubling as legitimate tourist attractions. That's not to mention the history, art and music treasures to be found in this cosmopolitan destination. It's a great walking city, almost completely flat, with nifty architecture or fun people-watching around practically every corner. But watch your step on the cobblestones and the canal bridges with stairs--and be ever-alert for bicycles whizzing by!

Istanbul is like nowhere else I''ve been, a real melding of East and West. I mean that literally, of course, as the city sits astride the literal meeting point of Europe and Asia. But Istanbul is at a special figurative intersection, too--a crossroads of cultures and civilizations on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait. At designated times throughout the day, you will hear the Islamic call to prayer being sung from minarets from all over the city simultaneously; you may experience this as you stroll the distinctly European district of Beyoglu or the area around the Blue Mosque (which is also on the European side). I especially loved exploring the area by ferry, crisscrossing and sailing through the waterways that divide and surround its different land masses.

If you would like to be on the "First Dibs" list for either of these trips, please reply to this email and let me know. Over the coming weeks I will be finalizing the initial brochures for both trips and begin taking deposits, and those who have raised their hands in advance will have the first opportunity to book.

Other updates for 2023 and early 2024:

Luxe Loire and Brilliant Bordeaux (October 2023): Mix and match packages available for the wine and food lover (or just the French culture lover). Four nights in the Loire Valley, a fabulous but laid-back cruise on three rivers, and a VIP Grand Cru experience in Bordeaux. Only three rooms remain for the land extensions, and balcony cabins on the ship are selling fast!

Celebration of Classical Music on the Danube (November 2023): Scenic river cruise highlighted by special itinerary additions for the music lover, with optional extension packages for Vienna and a Hungarian wine tour. This trip will benefit The Dallas Opera.

Vietnam and Cambodia (January 2024): Our trip to Southeast Asia became a "Snooze, You Lose" situation over the last 30 days. This ship is now sold out. Unless we can catch an open stateroom on a cancellation, the only way you can join us now is by talking one of our solo passengers into adding a roommate.

If you are interested in either the Bordeaux or Danube trip, don't be left out due to delaying your decision.

Speaking of avoiding delays, if you want expert assistance in planning your private trip for 2024, it's time to get yourself into my book! 

Á la prochaine,