As I walked through the streets of Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s historic center, I noticed that there were quite a few cats milling about. That’s nothing special — you see that in most cities. Probably Rome more than anywhere else. But upon further inspection, I realized that unlike the frail, weak stray cats that fill most cities, […]
Stray Cats in Istanbul Read More »
As I prepared to leave the sub-zero temperatures of Cappadocia in November, I had one thing on my mind: I need to get warm. And with that, I headed to Turkey’s southwest corner on the Mediterranean — to Fethiye. Oh God, this was such a wonderful place. I first heard about Fethiye from Julia and
Fethiye in Winter: Pure, Chilled Bliss Read More »
While spending the holidays at home in Boston, I took a quick trip to see my sister (and get my India visa) in New York City. I was fighting a pretty bad cold, so I wasn’t motivated to run around the city all day, but I got to see lots of my friends — and
New York: As Seen By Instagram Read More »
If you ever plan on getting into a hot air balloon someday, here’s a suggestion for you: do it in Cappadocia, Turkey. Hot air balloon flights are incredibly popular in Cappadocia — several dozen balloons go up each day, even in the winter, so people can see the incredible landscape from the air. I booked
Freezing in a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia Read More »
Happy New Year, everyone! I posted the following on my Facebook page on New Year’s Day: If you’re still looking for a resolution: Don’t let go of your travel dreams because people (significant others, friends, family) don’t want to go where you want to go or don’t want to travel the way you do. This
Yes, You WILL Travel This Year. Here’s How. Read More »
While in Istanbul, I spent the majority of my time doing two things: eating and walking. And eating while walking, and walking to restaurants. Have I mentioned that I enjoy food? One of the most memorable meals was in a tiny, nondescript restaurant by the Galata Bridge called Kismet Muhallebecisi (Kucukpazar Cad. 68, Eminonu, Istanbul). Jodi
Strange Food: Istanbul’s Chicken Pudding Read More »
Of all the landscapes in the world, there is NOWHERE that looks like Cappadocia. That’s what drew me to this region of central Turkey — this freaky, otherworldly landscape. During the Tertiary period (65 million to 2 million years ago), volcanic activity formed the mountains in the region. Over the next few millions of years,
Hiking in Cappadocia: The Freakiest Landscape on Earth Read More »
I had never heard of the Birmingham Christmas Market until fairly recently — and soon learned that it was the largest Christmas market in the UK. That was enough of a reason for me to go! Birmingham, in the West Midlands region of England, is the second largest city in the UK, and you’ll find
A Day at the Birmingham Christmas Market Read More »
Istanbul is an insanely photogenic city — mosques and minarets dotting the landscape, the Bosphorus so much bigger than it looks on a map, the cramped streets filled with meticulously tended buildings, the blood-red Turkish flag waving in the breeze. So of course I had to get out my iPhone to capture this beauty! Here
Istanbul: As Seen By Instagram Read More »
When I got to Istanbul, I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had just had a very fun but very tiring week in Jordan, which came immediately after an exhilarating but exhausting week at WTM in London. Planning those back to back wasn’t the brightest idea in the universe, and I had basically been going
Taking a Break in Istanbul — and Where to Do It Read More »