Why is this woman, a gypsy traveling by ferry (somewhere between Eminonu and Sariyer), smiling with a peanut in between her teeth? And how about that expression on her face–what was she thinking/feeling? And how the heck did I, a nonsmoker, end up smoking a couple of cigs with her–and yeah, eating some of her…
This photo is of the Galata Bridge, which spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul. It has been crossed by millions of people over the years, and while standing on it, you can look west toward Europe and east toward Asia. No trip to the city is complete without visiting it. The person who successfully guessed…
Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, aka, the Egyptian Bazaar or Mısır Çarşısı (in Turkish), was different than I imagined it would be. I knew I’d see spices and dried fruits and other goodies. But I had no clue that I’d also encounter some quirky stuff. Turkish Viagra monsters, a circumcision mannequin…and yes, a celebrity lookalike. Ready to…
Taking a break from shopping is always a good idea. This Muslim woman, whose photo I took near the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, obviously thought so. I suspect she was happy to be enjoying a moment of peace while outside and away from the chaos of the bustling market. She caught my attention because of…
What would you do if you spotted a mysterious Turkish Van cat, with two different colored eyes, while exploring a town? You’d take its photo, right? That’s what I did. And then, as a result, I got drawn into something totally unexpected. Here’s the story… Where: Seljuk, Turkey I was wandering around Seljuk–recuperating after a…
This wild horse, whose photo I took in Cappadocia, Turkey, caught my eye not just because of its beauty, but because of the sense of freedom it conveyed as it galloped among the surreal fairy chimneys of Goreme. The weather was perfect that day–and I felt happy to be traveling solo–and so, when I saw…
Because I’m a low-budget traveler (a backpacker most of the time), I’ve found myself sleeping in a number of…um…unusual situations. Sometimes it was due to the unique circumstances I found myself in. At other times, it’s been by choice…I simply chose one option vs another less desirable one. Note: no alcohol was involved in any…
Mysterious statues with prominent heads. A remote location in the middle of nowhere. A unique energy from the past.
Sounds like Easter Island, right? Well, it is. But it’s also Mt. Nemrut, Turkey. While these sites are from different historical eras and are on opposite sides of the planet, they do seem to be connected with a faint and sort of fascinating dotted line.
And while I have no doubt that Easter Island is a peak travel experience on many travelers’ bucket lists, I know that many don’t make it to that part of the world or simply can’t afford the trip. If you fall into that category and happen to be traveling to Turkey, then you might want to check out Mt. Nemrut. It’s an affordable alternative that’s not exactly shabby.
Before getting into the reasons for visiting Mt. Nemrut, here’s some information about the one and only Easter Island.
