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Category: Photo Essays

Mardin is a gem in the middle of the Silk Road

The further I got into Eastern Turkey, the more I heard about the mystical city of Mardin—placed on top of a hill, overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia and once a very important hub for everyone trying to make their way through the Silk Road. There’s a reason why every tour agency includes Mardin as one of its top… (continue reading)

The doomed town of Hasankeyf

Deep inside Turkey’s far east, part of the awesomely-named province of Batman, there’s an ancient little town with almost 4,000 years of history and a pretty grim future. Hasankeyf has been part of every major empire that existed in the area, from Romans and Byzantines to Arabs and Ottomans. In recent times, the population shifted into… (continue reading)

Göreme is a paradise for hikers

I arrived to Cappadocia on an overnight bus from Antalya and, after having spent several days on the sunny coast, stepping out into the cold streets of Göreme was like entering a dream. The sun was barely rising and as I walked up the slippery cobblestone streets, dozens of hot air balloons floated silently over my head. Unmoving, you could think they have always been there,… (continue reading)

An unexpected hike to the top of Nemrut Dağı

“You are lucky,” said Mehmet, as he parked the car on the curb of the road. “We usually have to stop way before this point.” Gusts of wind hitting the vehicle with an angry force; and right in front of us, the snow covering the rest of the path to Nemrut Dağı implied that we would have to walk under… (continue reading)

An afternoon fishing with locals in Antalya

I gotta be honest, my first impression of Antalya was not good. After spending more than a week almost by myself in the isolated town of Olympos, coming back to such a big hub was simply striking. Dozens of resorts along the coast line, millions of people all over the place and a traffic jam only comparable to the ones I… (continue reading)

Exploring Kayaköy—a ghost town on the Lycian Way

As I was dusting off my sweater, after falling from a small mound of loose rocks, I looked up at the closed gate and the big blue sign on top of it, blocking the entrance to Taxiarhis—the “Upper Church” of Kayaköy. “For your own safety, entrance to the building is strictly prohibited.” “Well,” I thought. “What’s the point… (continue reading)

An honest opinion about Pamukkale

We can’t deny the fact that Pamukkale is an incredibly beautiful place and there’s a reason why it’s been famous across the globe for thousands of years. It’s pristine white layers of calcium which resemble cotton—thus giving this place its name—and the turquoise blue of its hot springs are a sight that no one on their right judgment should miss…. (continue reading)

Finding our way through the Tatra Mountains

You know that feeling you get when you’re certain you’re about to do something stupid? That beeping sound in your head—your instinct telling you to get the hell out of there, you dumbass. Well, that was me at almost 2,000 meters above sea-level, as we were deciding whether we should continue walking forwards over the Tatra Mountains ridge line… (continue reading)

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