Cycling tours have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially amongst adventure travelers who are looking to explore the world from the seat of their bikes. One of the leaders in organizing these kinds of adventure cycling trips has always been Tour d'Afrique ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Turkey
Cycling the Silk Road
Cycling tours have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially amongst adventure travelers who are looking to explore the world from the seat of their bikes. One of the leaders in organizing these kinds of adventure cycling trips has always been Tour d'Afrique ...Istanbul's hammams becoming more popular
In Ottoman times they were the daily ritual of the wealthy and middle class. Hammams were a place to unwind and socialize while getting clean. But in the twentieth century with the rise of internal plumbing and changing attitudes, the traditional hammam declined. Many ...The ten toughest castles in the world
Castles make a pretty backdrop to any vacation. They conjure up images of brave knights and damsels in distress, but the reality was less romantic. Castles were fortifications built to defend important cities, ports, fords, or mountain passes. The best military minds in the ...Last Ottoman dies, but the civilization endures
It was only a blip on the world news last week, but historians will remember it as the end of an era. Ertugrul Osman, the last heir to the throne of the Ottoman Empire, has died at the age of 97. He was the last grandson of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II, and would have become ...Cyclist circles the globe in 174 days
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Last weekend, British cyclist James Bowthorpe rolled into London's Hyde Park, finishing an epic ride around the globe, and setting a new world's ...Lost Temple Discovered in Turkey
According to National Geographic, an ancient temple has been discovered in southeast Turkey, on the site of an ongoing archaeological dig, near the border of Syria. The temple sits at a location that is believed to have been a cultural and economic crossroads for centuries, ...Most expensive hotel in Europe almost ready for its first paying guests
Recession? Not for everyone apparently. Russian Billionaire Telman Ismailov just spent $1.4 Billion of his own money building the most expensive hotel in Europe. The Mardan Palace hotel is located in Antalya, on the Turkish Riviera. The building was inspired by the Ottoman ...Turkish smoking ban? Your survival plan
I never thought I'd have to write about a smoking ban in Turkey. It just struck me as one of a handful of locations that would never extinguish the flame. But, on July 19, the impossible will come to pass.
In part, it exists already. Since May of last year, smoking has not ...12 Amazing Crater Lakes
Environmental Graffiti, the same website that brought us those amazing views from the tops of the Seven Summits last week, returns with even more great images. The subject of their latest story is the 12 Most Incredible Crater Lakes on Earth. These amazing natural wonders ...Travel Read: 100 Places Every Woman Should Go
I never knew there could be a book so thoughtful and inspiring for women as this one. Stephanie Elizondo Griest's second travel book, which lists far more than just 100 Places Every Woman Should Go, is truly an encyclopedia for women travelers. It's the kind of book that ...Ferry Pier Sinks in Istanbul
It was a rather bizarre series of events. A floating ferry dock on the European side of Istanbul became unhinged, began to list, and then sank during a particularly violent storm over the past weekend. Usually it is the boats themselves that are at the center of ferry ...Batman, Turkey accuses Batman, Superhero of identity theft
Let's play word association. I'll say a word and then you tell me the first thing that comes to your mind (I can hear you, trust me). OK, ready?
Batman.
Great. I heard "Robin," "cape," "Batmobile" and a something that sounded like "kablam." While there are no wrong ...Photo of the Day (10.28.08)
Usually I pick a Photo of the Day that's somehow reflects on my current situation or feeling as I shop around for photos. But sifting through some of the pictures during my weekly duties last week, I stumbled across the picture of a mosuqe taken by flickr user flicts in ...Photo of the Day (10.18.08)
I love colorful travel shots, and this one by flicts is fabulous. Taken in Bergama, Turkey, I appreciate the quiet feel of the street. Makes me feel like the photo was taken around lunchtime, when no one is really out and about, the tractor is idle and people are more ...Drunk Man Tries to Hijack Turkish Airlines Flight
A man on a Turkish Airlines flight from the resort town of Antalya, Turkey to the Russian city of St. Petersburg threatened to blow up the plane unless it was diverted. The man, who appeared to be drunk, approached a flight attendant and handed her a note to give to the ...Photo of the Day (08.12.08)
Istanbul's Blue Mosque -- one of my favorite places in the world in one of my favorite cities in the world. Walking into The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of those jaw dropping experiences that you remember for the rest of your life, its vaulted ceilings and Ottoman and ...Talking travel with Sacred Places of Goddess author Karen Tate
When I headed to the West Hollywood Book Fair last September, I didn't know which writers I would meet or what to expect. The scope of offerings was impressive, and one book in particular caught my eye. Sacred Places of the Goddesses: 101 Destinations pulled me in for a chat ...Photo of the day (06/30/08)
Beautifully cropped! A shot of a hot air balloon in Istanbul by smallscreen. This is what they call big sky in Turkey, I guess.
I realize I am a little late with this Photo of the day, but it's still June 30 here on the West Coast.
***To have your photo considered for ...Euro 2008: Turkey's flags competing with Germany's in Berlin
It's that time when Germans dust off their national colors and fly them proudly. It's because of the 2008 European soccer championships, which you could argue is the biggest soccer tournament in the world next to the World Cup. The last time you would have seen so many ...The pleasures and perils of the Turkish bath
Over at the San Francisco Chronicle's Travel section, Melissa Myers tells about her recent first-time trip to a Turkish bath in Istanbul.
Before their first Turkish bath, many Westerners are unfamiliar with the correct protocol and procedure involved. Should I be naked? ...
