En route to one of Turkiye’s most magical places, we stopped in a place a little less magical, but certainly worthy of a stopover…the cosmopolitan capital of Ankara. We were also fortunate to arrive in this thriving city of 5.5 million people on the 100th Anniversary of a date which helped sealed the deal for Turkiye becoming a republic: Victory…

Continue ReadingOut of Istanbul and Into Ankara, Türkiye

Where we Lived In August 2022, we gratefully put down roots and unpacked our clothes for a month in a third story seaview apartment on the outskirts of Istanbul in a community called Dariča. The "c" is pronounced as a "j" by the way. Since we had already experienced staying in the city, we splurged on amenities and comfort over…

Continue ReadingLiving in Istanbul like a Local

After spending weeks in the Bulgarian countryside, arriving to Istanbul was an assault on all our senses...in the best way possible. The smells, the tastes, the sounds, the sights, even the lingering heat of the air and the sea breeze, the unbelievably inexpensive prices...all simply divine. We hadn’t been to a city of this size (14.5 million, biggest in Europe)…

Continue ReadingIstanbul: The Turkish Delight

We had three more days in the land of Türkiye, as the Turks prefer their country name pronounced, just enough time to squeeze in a couple more jaw-dropping wonders. Türkiye was about to add to its already significant wow factor for us at Pamukkale & Ephesus.  Paumukkale, aka the Cotton Castle, is not made of salt, nor freshly fallen snow.…

Continue ReadingPamukkale & Ephesus: Cottony Clouds & Ruins of a Legend

Antalya...was love at first sight. We were enamored by the southern Turquoise Coast that glimmered before our eyes. It’s easy to see how this area explodes with Russian and European tourists during the summer months, but for us, being here in March, it was blissfully slow paced, and sweetly idyllic as it woke up from its winter, sleepily welcoming the…

Continue ReadingThe Bejeweled Turquoise Coast: Antalya, Kalkan & Kaş

We can safely say the Lycian Way is epic… or is it magical… or…merely indescribable!?! it has blissfully undeveloped wild mountain terrain matched only by aqua seas and white limestone beaches that mesmerize and majestic old black pine and cyprus tree forests grow alongside ancient olive groves clinging to life on terraced cliffs. The serene mountain hamlets and hidden under-any-radar…

Continue ReadingTrekking the Lycian Way: A Turk-uoise Paradise