Yes, I am a cat lover. So in addition to all of the amazing history and architecture I knew I would see in Istanbul, I was really looking forward to seeing all of Istanbul’s stray cats (does that sound weird?). I heard they would be everywhere and I was not disappointed – even though I […]
The Cutest Stray Cats in Istanbul Read More »
Okay, so I guess there are other places you could conceivably stay in the Kakheti region of Georgia. Heck, there’s probably at least one or two other places in the town of Telavi itself. But I really don’t know why you would want to stay anywhere other than Eto’s Guesthouse. I found myself not wanting
Eto’s Guesthouse: The Only Place to Stay in Kakheti Read More »
When I first saw the Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi, Georgia, I have to admit I sort of thought “what the heck is that?” A curving monstrosity of glass and steel, it just seemed to stand out like a sore thumb, connected to one of the oldest areas of the city. To me, it seemed
Saturday Scenes: Tbilisi’s Bridge of Peace Read More »
Greetings from Azerbaijan! The longer I travel, the more quickly these monthly update posts seem to come. I swear I was just writing about being on the road eight months and, here I am, already writing about nine. I’ve gotten gushy and emotional quite a bit over the last few months, talking about
A State of the Blog Post (a/k/a My 9 Month Update) Read More »
> Mestia is one of those still slightly hidden, hard to reach places in the Republic of Georgia, located high up in the mountains in the region of Svaneti. To get there, I had to take an overnight train from Tbilisi to Zugdidi, followed by a three hour marshrutka (mini-bus) ride up winding mountain roads.
Nestled Away in Mestia: The Nest Hostel Svaneti Read More »
I stepped out of the Otogar metro station in Istanbul and looked around me in awe. I had no idea where to go next. I was expecting a single bus station with a few dozen buses sitting out front – not over 100 offices for various bus companies forming a circle around the metro station.
Busing Around Turkey Read More »
Once upon a time, there was a magnificent city on the banks of the Akhuryan River whose splendor and prominence rivaled that of Baghdad, Cairo and Constantinople. On the map since the 5th century, it became the capital of the Armenian Bagratuni kingdom in 961 A.D. and enjoyed a golden age during the reign of
The Ancient Armenian Capital of Ani Read More »
One of my favorite places to visit in Armenia was the 9th century Tatev Monastery in the southern part of the country. Not only does the monastery hold significant cultural and historical significance in Armenia, its setting on a cliff overlooking the Vorotan Gorge is simply magnificent. For more pictures from Tatev and the surrounding
Saturday Scenes: Tatev Monastery in Armenia Read More »
When traveling, first impressions mean a lot – especially when it comes to hostels. Over the last eight and a half months, the hostels I have enjoyed the most also tended to be the ones that started things off on the right foot. The Old Town Hostel Tbilisi was actually the third hostel I visited
Tbilisi’s Old Town Hostel: First Impressions Are Everything Read More »
It is impossible to understand the history of Istanbul or of Turkey as a whole without getting a good feel for the history of the Ottoman Empire – one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history. The Ottoman Empire peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries under the rule of Suleyman the Magnificent, with
All I Ever Wanted to Know About Ottoman Architecture Read More »
