When I was planning my trip for this season, I knew I wanted to go to Turkey but didn't know how to go about it. This was another trip where I felt more comfortable joining a tour rather than traveling alone. Once I saw that BusAbout, one of my favorite tour companies, offered a new overland Turkey … [Read more...] about Overland Through Turkey with BusAbout
Europe
My Favorite Turkish Meals
What made my trip to Turkey so memorable was definitely the people, but the food also stands out in my mind. I'd had "Mediterranean style" cuisine before, namely kebabs, but I had dishes I'd never heard of and may never find back home. What's so memorable isn't necessarily the restaurants … [Read more...] about My Favorite Turkish Meals
Staying in Istanbul’s Beyoglu
While Sultanahmet may get all the glory in terms of places to stay in Istanbul, visitors should also wander across either of the two major waterways. There may not be the Ayasofya, Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace in the European Beyoglu, but it's where the locals live. My first impression of … [Read more...] about Staying in Istanbul’s Beyoglu
Where I Slept in Turkey
*As of 2018, this post has been reorganized to provide more information about each place I stayed. This post was from before I started taking room photos and includes affiliate links.* I pride myself on being a budget traveler who is most comfortable in hostels, but I also got to stay at … [Read more...] about Where I Slept in Turkey
For the Love of the Turks
It's the best country in the world, the Turkish teenager proudly proclaimed to the Texan couple sitting behind me on the flight from Paris to Istanbul. I laughed to myself, as it certainly was a bold statement. As much as I love my homeland, I would never claim that the United States is the … [Read more...] about For the Love of the Turks