Turkey

Staying in a cave hotel is part of the Cappadocia experience, and Vezir Cave Suites is a comfortable centrally located option. Cappadocia’s network of caves and rock churches, pigeon homes, and labyrinthine…

Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world. Its unique east-meets-west culture is fascinating and its food is hauntingly delicious. But beyond the things that make Istanbul stand out are…

Carpet shopping in Istanbul is an intense experience. With an endless amount of styles, sizes, and colors to choose from, picking the right one from the right shop can stress out even…

It’s been almost one year since we returned from Turkey and I’m still missing it. I felt something amazing during our time in Istanbul, and I fell in love with the whimsical…

One night in Istanbul, Matt and I visited the Çemberlitas Hamam. It was both a relaxing and off-putting experience, but the hot steam and warm tubs were a nice change from the…

I didn’t realize how much I really enjoyed the food in Turkey until recently, when I walked into a Turkish restaurant in New York City for dinner. Bite by bite, it all…

After spending several days visiting the important historical sites in Istanbul like Aya Sofya and the Grand Bazaar, and after a few days in Cappadocia wandering around the fairy chimneys and road…

Read about the first half of this Cappadocian road trip here! Soganli The second half of our road trip picked up after a lunch of Turkish treats and some hot tea. The…

When we arrived in Cappadocia, Turkey, the weather looked grim. We’d planned on hiking and spending time idling through the valleys, but it seemed that Mother Nature had other plans. Only one…

I am a such sucker for markets. So when a market appeared in the corner of my eye while waiting at a bus stop in Göreme, of course everything else was put…

As an introduction to my next destination in Turkey, Cappadocia, this week’s photo is is taken in the Cappadocia region. Goreme is one of the main towns in the area, and is…

Our days in Istanbul were few, but full of movement. Though my highlights from Istanbul were big things like our cruise on the Bosphorous and a visit inside the Blue Mosque, some…

So, Istanbul is on two continents. Wait, what? Yes, two continents. Europe had to end somewhere and it seems Asia had to start somewhere as well. But why split a country over…

The Basilica Cistern is one of the weirder tourist attractions in Istanbul. It’s weirdness has nothing to do with the Basilica Cistern itself though – cause that part is pretty awesome. It…

The Blue Mosque, or locally known as the Sultanahmet Mosque, is hands down one of the most iconic buildings in all of Turkey. Not only has it been featured in many American…

I love markets. Markets are generally one of my favorite parts of travel. Farmer’s markets never disappoint me with their bright colors, tempting smells, and fascinating people watching. But other markets selling…

It’s one of the first things you notice when arriving in Sultanahmet, Istanbul – enormous minarets piercing up through the maze of buildings and trees. Though there are a scattering of minarets…

After all these years of traveling, there is still nothing that can compare with the feeling of experiencing a country for the first time. The initial footsteps outside the doors of the…