Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in Turkey? With the right preparation and research, absolutely. While I’ve done a lot of solo female travel in Turkey, I’m not an expert — that’s my friend Katie Nadworny, who has been living in Istanbul since 2013 and has traveled Turkey more extensively than anyone […]
Solo Female Travel in Turkey — Is Turkey Safe? Read More »
“Go to the Asian side — it’s one of the best things to do in Istanbul.” Nearly everyone told me this on my first trip to Turkey nearly two years ago. Yet for some reason, I spent my first trip firmly ensconced on the European side of the Bosphorus (journeys to Sabiha Gocken Airport notwithstanding).
A Day in Kadikoy: Scenes from Istanbul’s Asian Side Read More »
Mario and I have been on the road for two months now! From Malta to Dubai, here is the best and worst of Month Two of the SOTM Tour. Countries Visited Malta, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, United Arab Emirates Favorite Destinations Ohrid, Macedonia — What a nice, beautiful, fun, and dirt-cheap summer resort town!
SOTM Tour: Month Two of Twelve Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »