As my plane landed in Istanbul I had a whole new appreciation for Turkey. What initially felt like a risk, a danger, coming to a country bordering war zones with …
Hot Air Balloons and the Cappadocia Green Tour | Backpacking Turkey (Part 5)
On this trip, I hit a new level of planning anarchy. Even in Turkey, at its “level 3 security threat warning” according to the US state department, I decided to …
The Beauty of Izmir…felt, not seen | Backpacking Turkey (Part 4)
The relaxed port city of Izmir was a wonderful respite after the past two months of being busy and proactive nonstop. Despite the long list of sites to see in …
An Ephesus Tour: Walking through Ancient Rome | Backpacking Turkey (Part 3)
A couple hours south of Izmir lies the city of Ephesus, home to some of the most well preserved Roman ruins in Europe, and the Temple of Artemis, one of …
From Greece to Turkey | Backpacking Turkey (Part 2)
The sun was shining bright, reflecting off the concrete ground and walls of the port as I walked through the port city of Mythilini for the last time. One more …
Backpacking Turkey (Part 1): The Decision to Go from Greece to Turkey
As my time on the Greek island of Lesvos neared a close, I was contemplating where to go next. For nearly two months, I volunteered with refugees by teaching English …
10 Day Turkey Itinerary: How to Visit Turkey on a Short Vacation
A country sitting between two worlds, the Middle East and Europe, with its capital bridging the two perfectly. Once home to empires (the Romans as well as the Ottomans), Turkey …